FOUND TV is thrilled to announce the unique streaming launch of What Occurred to Suzy on Friday, February twenty first. This new discovered footage thriller, directed by James Ersted, has been making waves within the competition circuit, with upcoming screenings on the Golden State Movie Pageant this February and Toronto Indie Horrorfest on April third.
To rejoice the movie’s launch, we sat down with director James Ersted for an unique Q&A about his inspirations, challenges, and what’s subsequent.
Q&A with Filmmaker James Ersted
What impressed you to inform the story of What Occurred to Suzy?
Dave Larson and I had an concept for a script pre-pandemic that made much more sense as quickly as COVID-19 hit. We have been spending loads of time in isolation, so writing was a great way to maintain our minds occupied. As quickly as restrictions began to raise slightly bit in 2021, I started preproduction on it.
What have been your important influences in crafting the movie’s tone and environment? Had been there any specific movies, books, or filmmakers that impressed you?
I’ve all the time preferred the discovered footage style, however you’ll not see a lot affect from movies like The Blair Witch Challenge or Hellhouse LLC. You would possibly, nonetheless, discover some affect from Looking, which knowledgeable a few screenlife selections I made. Unfriended and Creep have been different movies I checked out, although I didn’t watch them till I began co-writing Suzy in late 2020. There are additionally some movies I didn’t watch till after ending manufacturing, like The Final Broadcast, which I want I had as a result of it will have impacted a few of my selections. Different influences that may shock individuals embrace Citizen Kane, which employs many discovered footage and mockumentary methods, particularly in the course of the interview sequences.
What was the largest problem in making the movie?
The most important problem in making this movie was the truth that it was a characteristic. Brief movies by no means ready me for the sheer soul-crushing nature of endeavor such a feat. My second characteristic, Can’t Wake Up—a supernatural horror movie now in put up—was a lot simpler to make as a result of I discovered to suppress the fear of being crushed alive by circumstances exterior of my management.
How did you’re employed along with your actors to attain pure and plausible performances?
To get naturalistic performances from the actors, I obtained out of the way in which. With a undertaking like this, the actors in all probability know the characters higher than you do, so it’s essential to step in solely when mandatory. Actually, 90% of the laborious work is finished in the course of the casting part.
What was your favourite or most rewarding second within the course of of creating this movie?
Probably the most rewarding second was ending manufacturing—I might lastly breathe a sigh of aid! However extra particularly, taking pictures the cave scene, which was very difficult logistically. All of it got here collectively, and I’m principally pleased with the outcomes.
What’s subsequent for you? Are there every other initiatives within the works that followers of What Occurred to Suzy ought to maintain an eye fixed out for?
I’m in post-production on a supernatural horror movie known as Can’t Wake Up, a few younger lady who returns residence to select up the items after her mom’s mysterious and premature dying. It will likely be completed by the tip of 2025 if every part strikes ahead as deliberate. I even have a script for an motion/horror movie known as It Fell to Earth that requires slightly little bit of funding. Whereas I anticipate Daddy Warbucks, I’ve plans to make one other discovered footage characteristic—this time, a a lot scarier one.
If you happen to needed to describe the movie in simply three phrases, what would they be?
Social. Thriller. Horror.
Don’t miss the unique streaming premiere of What Occurred to Suzy? on FOUND TV, Friday February twenty first. For individuals who wish to expertise it on the large display, catch the movie on the Golden State Movie Pageant in Los Angeles on February fifteenth or at Toronto Indie Horrorfest on April third.
About FOUND TV
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