I keep reading ad nauseam on Bloody Disgusting (BD) about this "new generation" of filmmakers (BD head John Squires has used that phrase at least twice in the last week, that I can recall).
They're really selling this moniker and beating a dead horse with reminding us that this is now a thing.
Specifically, they are pointing to:
Curry Barker and his movie Obsession.
Kane Parsons and his feature expansion of his YouTube series Backrooms.
And Mark Edward Fischbach (Markiplier) and his indie video game adaption Iron Lung.
I have mixed thoughts on this phenomenon, but first let me explain my thoughts on each of the films listed above.
Iron Lung I bought tickets for last year (before Christmas) just based on the fact that it was an indie horror film with a limited release. I also knew, vaguely, that it was an adaptation of an indie video game. I guess I'd read about the game on BD because it has been on my Steam wish list forever. Anyhow, I heard my students talking about it, which surprised me, but shouldn't have (they are all really big fans of the Terrifier franchise... a franchise I have zero interest in).
Regardless, I went to see Iron Lung at a local Marcus Theater that gets all the limited release and indie horror. It was a 10pm showing and it was in early January, the dead of winter (it was probably 5 degrees outside... my favorite weather). The theater was packed. I took it as a good sign that an indie horror film, based on an indie game, was drawing such crowds at 10pm on a wintry Friday night. Now, as for my take on the movie: for the most part it was brilliant. It was a bit of a slow burn (meaning a slog) to get through some of the running time, but the end was pretty awesome.
When I heard my students talking about it later, I overheard them saying that Markiplier is a YouTuber. At first, I found this disappointing. But then my students told me all about his philanthropy and charitable giving. And, perhaps this is biased of me, but I also found out about his German heritage that endeared me to him immensely.
Now onto Obsession. Like most people, I was intrigued by the mysterious trailers shown before just about every single theatrical horror film. However, I totally called the "twist" (that the protagonist's wish would turn murderous). And, at the end of the day, it's the old "Monkey's Paw" story.
What I loved about the film was the performances and what the director did with lighting, shadows and imagery.
What I didn't love about the film was that the mythology wasn't consistent (or even logical... in terms of the diegesis of the film). There were lots of ideas that were left on the table and underdeveloped and that, I feel, weakened the film.
Backrooms I have not seen yet, but I am seeing it next week at my local drive-in on a double feature with, coincidentally enough, Obsession.
I also want to point out that another, and perhaps the first that I saw, movie from an "influencer" was Talk to Me by Danny and Michael Philippou.
I hated that movie.
I won't go into my detailed reason why, but I have no desire to re-watch and re-assess that movie and I am appalled (but not surprised) that it is getting a sequel. The Philippou's follow up movie (Bring Her Back) was, for me, slightly better, but still largely unoriginal, predictable and forgettable.
So, how do I feel about this new generation of filmmakers getting their start on YouTube?
As a general rule, I loathe social media. At first it was a free and easy way for me to keep friends (both stateside and abroad) abreast of my day-to-day life so that I didn't have to waste time on inconsequential details during phone conversations. I could keep intimate one-on-one calls to extremely personalized matters that I did not want to post for the world to read.
However, social media has become a toxic playground for trolls, "influencers" (who mostly profit off the gullibility of those who follow them) and oligarchs seeking to disseminate misinformation and hateful propaganda.
I maintain social media account, honestly, mostly for movie, video game and music news. That's it.
YouTube is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I hate that this new generation is addicted to ridiculous, nonsensical videos post on there (though TikTok is worse, in my humble opinion). On the other hand, I've received a lot of help playing video games and just generally finding life hacks and information on YouTube, so I can't dis it that harshly.
Bottom line: if this is the new generation of filmmakers (self-taught kids getting their start on YouTube) then there is literally nothing I can do about it (whether I love it or hate it).
And, in all honesty, I guess I haven't decided on which side of the fence I stand.
On the one hand, these YouTube filmmakers are not that much different from the underground directors I loved in high school; the guys shooting movies on VHS and self-distributing their movies. I learned about these guys through a segment in the back of Fangoria called "Notes from the Underground". It was through them that I learned about local St. Louis filmmaker Eric Stanze (Savage Harvbest), J.R. Bookwalter (Ozone, The Dead Next Door), Kevin J. Lindenmuth (Vampires and Other Stereotypes) and the amazing Leif Jonker (Darkness).
I guess I just give the above (underground) filmmakers a bit more credence, because they directed feature-length films and did everything guerilla-style (practical FX, using locations either illegally or through favors from friends, maxing out their credit cards to have a budget, etc.), whereas these YouTube guys typically have made shorts and had almost immediate dissemination through a digital pathway. Now, I shouldn't diminish the accomplishments of these YouTube filmmakers just because they had it easier (free, fast and digital distribution) than the filmmakers I grew up with (who had to film, edit, duplicate and distribute on VHS, then create box art and self-distribute it either through word-of-mouth, the (then) limited reach of the Internet or through printed resources like Fangoria). But it does seem like the filmmakers I grew up with had more grit than these youngsters today.
I don't know.
Regardless, the success of this new wave of YouTube filmmakers reinforces what my students have told me about the future of filmmaking: you need a social media presence and you have to go viral for anyone in show business to even look your way or consider what you're doing to be valid.
I've been trying to go in the front door (via the reception desk) of Hollywood for over a decade now, and it's just not working. About two years ago, two of my students offered to film and edit a TikTok for me wherein I could promote my screenplays. I should have jumped on that idea when it was presented to me. I guess at this point, with a TikTok viral campaign in mind, I need to plan my next move.
This is the future, I suppose.
Join the current, or stay on shore.
I'm still going to submit my scripts to film festivals.
And still (perhaps) send out a query letter or two.
I'm on the fence about pitchfests. It seems like the more of them I do, the more I think they are scams, or that the "VIPs" that attend them are just sleepwalking through a financial agreement and are not really serious about finding any truly promising prospects.
A lot to think about here.
Off I go to ponder the possibilities.
