Epistolary storytelling has been immersing readers in fiction since the very dawn of literature. Using simulated letters, diaries and other documents to craft complex tales with shifting points of view, the format inevitably ended up attracting inventive filmmakers who realized that it could be adapted into a cinematic tool to instill terror. From The McPherson Tape to The Blair Witch Project, Found Footage movies have kept the epistolary tradition alive through their use of faux home video and other diegetic media.
However, with over four decades of Found Footage experiments out there, the genre has seen quite a bit of innovation. Personally, I think one of the most interesting off-shoots of Found Footage is the ongoing trend of Screenlife films, where the entire narrative is told within the confines of digital screens. While this curious format has only recently become popular in mainstream media, it’s actually older than most people seem to realize,...
However, with over four decades of Found Footage experiments out there, the genre has seen quite a bit of innovation. Personally, I think one of the most interesting off-shoots of Found Footage is the ongoing trend of Screenlife films, where the entire narrative is told within the confines of digital screens. While this curious format has only recently become popular in mainstream media, it’s actually older than most people seem to realize,...
- 8/22/2022
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
A while back we told you about a lawsuit concerning The Collingswood Story and Paranormal Activity 4. Today we reached out to director Mike Costanza for an update on that situation, but we got a whole lot more. Read on for details.
In terms of the lawsuit Costanza tells us, "This was a matter that was very important to me and I am pleased that the matter has been resolved amicably." That's very cool to hear, but what he dropped on us next was Extremely juicy...
"The fact remains that Collingswood was put on the map by the online horror community," says Costanza. "That's pretty damn cool considering the film had zero distribution at the time. Collingswood then screened at festivals like FrightFest in London, Fearless Tales in San Francisco, and won awards such as Best Indie Film and Best Cast. Then the late, great Mo Claridge of Anchor Bay...
In terms of the lawsuit Costanza tells us, "This was a matter that was very important to me and I am pleased that the matter has been resolved amicably." That's very cool to hear, but what he dropped on us next was Extremely juicy...
"The fact remains that Collingswood was put on the map by the online horror community," says Costanza. "That's pretty damn cool considering the film had zero distribution at the time. Collingswood then screened at festivals like FrightFest in London, Fearless Tales in San Francisco, and won awards such as Best Indie Film and Best Cast. Then the late, great Mo Claridge of Anchor Bay...
- 1/22/2014
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Another film in the vein of The Collingswood Story has popped up, and it looks pretty decent. Still, we really have to wonder why no one has picked up Collingswood yet. The movie was Way ahead of its time. In any event... trailer time, kids!
The Death of April, directed by Brit Godish and Ruben Rodriguez, is being screened in NYC on October 7th at the Producers Club on 358 West 44th Street, New York, NY. Check out the goods below, and look for more soon!
Synopsis
Megan Mullen, freshly moved into her East Coast home, keeps in touch with her friends through a video blog. As her entries (and her life) become more complex and emotional, strange things begin to happen in her apartment, and the camera captures it all. Told from the point of view of a webcam mixed with documentary footage, The Death of April explores the unsettling...
The Death of April, directed by Brit Godish and Ruben Rodriguez, is being screened in NYC on October 7th at the Producers Club on 358 West 44th Street, New York, NY. Check out the goods below, and look for more soon!
Synopsis
Megan Mullen, freshly moved into her East Coast home, keeps in touch with her friends through a video blog. As her entries (and her life) become more complex and emotional, strange things begin to happen in her apartment, and the camera captures it all. Told from the point of view of a webcam mixed with documentary footage, The Death of April explores the unsettling...
- 10/4/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Whilst Paramount prep the fifth installment in their ever weakening found footage 'Paranormal Activity' franchise filmmaker Mike Costanza, responsible for 2002's horror feature 'The Collingswood Story', has decided to sue the studio and producers of 'Paranormal Activity 4'. It seems the writer/director has filed the suit at the La Superior Court claiming that certain elements used in PA4 were submitted by himself to the studio in 2010 including material relating to teen webcam chats etc. He believes that the paranormal sequel is almost identical to that of his Collingswood story and is suing for unspecified damages. 'Paranormal Activity 4' was helmed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost and starred Kathryn Newton ('Bad Teacher') and Matt Shively ('True Jackson, VP')....
- 4/25/2013
- Horror Asylum
One would think that any lawsuit over Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.s Paranormal Activity 4 would be from the directors. own Paranormal Activity 3, thanks to the fourth film running the franchise into the ground while boring the shit out of viewers. But today there was a much more practical lawsuit filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Michael Costanza, writer and director of the zero-budget 2002 independent horror film The Collingswood Story, has filed a claim against Paramount Pictures as well as producers of the Paranormal Activity franchise, stating that he presented sections Collingswood to the studio in 2010 for a pitch meeting that ended with his material being turned away, and that portions of the fourth entry of the found footage horror series are almost exactly the same as the ideas he brought to them. If you haven.t seen The Collingswood Story and...
- 4/25/2013
- cinemablend.com
In what is probably the most bizarre news story of the day, indie filmmaker Mike Costanza (The Collingswood Story) is waging a legal battle against Paramount regarding Paranormal Activity 4. Read on for details.
THR reports that Costanza has sued Paramount and producers of Paranormal Activity 4, claiming that the film used specific concepts from his work without permission and without credit or compensation. Costanza, who directed and wrote the excellent 2002 independent horror film The Colllingswood Story, argues in a suit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that in 2010 he submitted material from that film in a pitch meeting with the producers. The material included details of webcam chats by characters in their late teens.
Costanza says he was told at the time that producers Steven Schneider and Spencer Medof were not interested in his concepts or in making a film based on his Colllingswood script, which he had registered with the Writers Guild.
THR reports that Costanza has sued Paramount and producers of Paranormal Activity 4, claiming that the film used specific concepts from his work without permission and without credit or compensation. Costanza, who directed and wrote the excellent 2002 independent horror film The Colllingswood Story, argues in a suit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that in 2010 he submitted material from that film in a pitch meeting with the producers. The material included details of webcam chats by characters in their late teens.
Costanza says he was told at the time that producers Steven Schneider and Spencer Medof were not interested in his concepts or in making a film based on his Colllingswood script, which he had registered with the Writers Guild.
- 4/25/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Michael Costanza, who broke new ground with his innovative indie horror film The Collingswood Story, unearths disturbing found footage for his upcoming feature The Market Street 6. Set in San Francisco, The Market Street 6 chronicles the final hours of six people who become stranded when the subway they're riding supposedly breaks down. Forced to blow the train the passengers band together to locate the nearest emergency exit... Althou…...
- 6/20/2011
- Horrorbid
Some early details are emerging from below ground on Michael Costanza's The Market Street 6. This is a found footage genred horror film, which follows the last moments of several subway goers. Their final texts and phone calls suggest a cruel element at play.
Costanza is best known for this independent horror release The Collingswood Story. This previous film is also a terrorific tale of one psychic hotline gone wrong. And the supernatural elements of both The Collingswood Story and The Market Street 6 shows a consistent nod to all things otherworldly, from Costanza. Expect casting details to emerge on The Market Street 6 shortly!
Tagline: "What really happened to The Market Street 6?"
The synopsis for The Market Street 6 is here:
“The Market Street 6 chronicles the final hours of six people who become stranded when the subway they are riding supposedly breaks down. Forced to depart the train the passengers band together...
Costanza is best known for this independent horror release The Collingswood Story. This previous film is also a terrorific tale of one psychic hotline gone wrong. And the supernatural elements of both The Collingswood Story and The Market Street 6 shows a consistent nod to all things otherworldly, from Costanza. Expect casting details to emerge on The Market Street 6 shortly!
Tagline: "What really happened to The Market Street 6?"
The synopsis for The Market Street 6 is here:
“The Market Street 6 chronicles the final hours of six people who become stranded when the subway they are riding supposedly breaks down. Forced to depart the train the passengers band together...
- 6/18/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Michael Costanza (The Collingswood Story) has a new flick on the way. The Market Street 6 is a found-footage film, and Costanza is keeping plot details pretty tight. He describes the film as "a new and altogether different type of hyper-horror" and since he doesn't offer an explanation of what "hyper-horror" is, we get to use our imagination. I like to think of it as a Ritalin overdose with a Pixi Stix chaser. The few plot details we do have are shared after the break. The Market Street 6 are six passengers on a San Francisco subway. The subway breaks down, and the passengers work together to find their way out. All were scheduled for red eye flights out of San Francisco International Airport,...
- 6/15/2011
- FEARnet
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