Found Footage Film Techniques

The camera's point of view in each scene represents which character, and how does this affect your connection to the characters?

• It represents a specific character, making you feel more connected to their experiences.

• It always represents the director, distancing you from the characters.

• It represents no one, making the scenes feel impersonal.

• It represents the audience, making you feel like an observer only.

The handheld or shaky camera style contributes to the realism or tension of the story by:

• Creating a sense of immediacy and immersion for the audience.

• Making the scenes appear more polished and controlled.

• Reducing the emotional impact of the scenes.

• Distracting viewers from the main action.

The film appears to be edited by the characters themselves. What clues suggest this?

• The film includes jump cuts and direct addresses to the camera by the characters.

• The film uses only traditional editing techniques with no character involvement.

• The film is shot in a single continuous take without any edits.

• The film features only background narration with no character interaction.

The types of devices (phones, camcorders, etc.) used to capture footage influence the look and feel of the film.

• Different devices like phones and camcorders affect the film's visual style and atmosphere.

• The devices used have no impact on the film's appearance.

• Only professional cameras can influence a film's look and feel.

• The look and feel of a film is determined solely by editing, not by the devices used.

Sound is used to maintain the illusion that found footage is “real” by including which of the following elements?

• Moments of silence, distortion, and background noise

• Continuous orchestral music

• Perfectly clear dialogue with no background noise

• Loud sound effects throughout

The film uses natural or available light to enhance the realism of the footage by:

• Creating a more authentic and believable atmosphere.

• Making the scenes appear overly dramatic and artificial.

• Reducing the visibility of important details.

• Using only studio lighting for all scenes.

The characters acknowledge the camera. How does this affect the believability of the footage?

• It makes the footage feel less believable.

• It makes the footage more believable.

• It has no effect on believability.

• It makes the footage confusing.

The film gives the impression of happening in real time. Which technique helps create that impression?

• Continuous long takes

• Frequent flashbacks

• Animated sequences

• Non-linear storytelling

Timestamps, GPS data, and other digital overlays are used to support the found footage style by:

• Enhancing realism and authenticity for the audience.

• Distracting viewers from the narrative.

• Making the footage appear more fictionalized.

• Reducing the believability of the footage.

Identify the moments that challenge your belief that this is “real” footage and explain how the film tries to overcome those challenges.

• Moments that seem staged or unrealistic challenge belief, and the film uses editing and narrative techniques to overcome them.

• Moments with clear audio and perfect lighting challenge belief, and the film ignores these issues.

• Moments with famous actors challenge belief, and the film uses special effects to overcome them.

• Moments with obvious CGI challenge belief, and the film adds more CGI to make it believable.