Topic > The use of the Found Footage style in film production

Films have been shot in many different ways, styles and shots. However, a new form of cinemetagrophy that flourished after the release of the paranormal activity film triggered the growth of the style popularly known as "found footage". Using a more commonly used form of filming that generally mimics the way a person records an event as it happens. This technique was used with a horror film which essentially places you inside the film experiencing everything as if you were there personally. Paranormal activity has opened the world to a new style of filmmaking that embraces the experience of reliving through a more realistic and more believing way. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay For starters, Paranormal Activity uses found footage to give a more realistic feel to the film. In the film, the character Micah, Katie's husband, decides to use a camera to record the experiences they had in their home. The camera represents how an average person would film a situation in reality. This places the audience in a more believable environment that allows us to interact more with the film. The camera was set up on tripods and was hand held, giving us a variety of shots to complement this style of film. The camera is positioned on a tripod throughout the film giving the audience a wide view of the room where Katie and Micah sleep. This allows the audience to freely look across the entire room to see if they can find anything that is “irregular” and doesn't belong to them. In the film they use the footage in a time-lapse manner to make the time pass faster without wasting a second. Once something interesting happens, the film resumes normal speed and continues. The interactions that happen in that moment give the audience the opportunity to observe the situation and what is happening while still being able to freely look around the frame. This is a unique way to give the audience more control over watching the film. The bedroom shots of the film are clean and still and benefit the style of the film. Subsequently, the film features smooth transitions that fit well with the environment in which the camera was placed. When Micah put baby powder on the floor to see if the "Demon" moved around the house they went to sleep. They were woken up by a loud noise and Micah immediately rushed towards the camera to hold it. The way the camera was held was perfect for the transition from a positioned single shot to hand held “Live” film. This allowed the audience to engage with the outcomes as the characters do. This is smart because it produces a more horror type of film that creates a darker and more sinister atmosphere. As the camera moves quickly in Micah's hands, the viewer is stunned by what is happening, quickly looking across the screen to see what is happening. Causing the audience to react more accordingly. The placement of the baby powder and the low-lit shots give the audience a bluer feeling that leaves them on tenterhooks. The moves also leave the public uncertain about what will happen. The camera movement really emphasizes the frantic pace of fear coursing through the characters' bodies. Additionally, the final shot with Katie sitting on the floor unsure if she is possessed leaves the audience on edge. When the camera stays in one position while everything is happening and after hearing the impact of the sound of the screaming but not being able to see, it instills fear in the audience..