Why Movie Studios Love Found Footage Movies

"Found footage" horror movies are becoming more prevalent in the market today. Movies that are based on footage that was found from some type of catastrophic paranormal event are not only interesting to moviegoers; they are also interesting to movie studios. Many young directors are finding that these types of movies are a great way to break into the industry.

Found Footage

For those that are not sure about the type of movie that I am referring to, think of "The Blair Witch Project" or "Cloverfield." Found footage movies use lower-grade film, such as from a video recorder, to show events that are going on. The characters involved are supposed to be everyday people that end up having something paranormal happen to them. The footage is uncovered some time later and is being shown in theaters to show what actually happened to these young people.

Cost Effective

One aspect of found footage movies is that they can cost a lot less to make. Lower grades of film cost less. There are usually opportunities to use less lighting so large cinematography crews do not have to be paid for. In some cases, like with "The Blair Witch Project," filmmakers can actually get away with telling a scary story without using much makeup or any special effects.

Actors

Found footage movies usually star unknown actors. Of course, this lowers the cost, but it also adds to the mystique of the movie. Who would believe that Brad Pitt and George Clooney somehow went missing three years ago?

Shooting Schedule

Since the people in the movie are not supposed to be actors, they do not always have to be perfect in their onscreen performance. So what if they trip while crossing a log? So what if they stumble on a line of dialogue? Who cares if they are standing a little out of frame or that the light is not showing a full range of facial expressions? This is real life. It also means that reshoots do not have to be made and a movie can be shot in a weekend instead of over a few weeks or months. Again, this cuts down on the pay that the actors will get and cuts the price of the movie down as well.

Today

Movies like "Grave Encounters" and "The Tapes" are gaining cult followings even if they do not come out in the movie theaters. People have so many stresses in their real lives, they want to see someone like themselves deal with something in what is supposed to be real life. With paranormal reality shows, it is easy to believe that a group of researchers might stumble on some hidden mystical power that unleashes hoards of ghosts from "the other side."

If you have an opportunity to see some of the newer found footage movies that are coming out, I would suggest that you do. You might find that you not only enjoy them, but want to emulate them. You might be surprised how a group of people can shoot a decent horror movie in a weekend. Who knows, you might become famous for it.

More from this Contributor:

'Grave Encounters' Does the Right Thing on Many Levels
Reemerging Trend in Horror Movies: Movies Based on Realistic Scenarios
Why Ghost Movies are a Reemerging Trend in Hollywood Horror