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when the director understands his limitations

Hairaising

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What if the limitations of an independent film are actually what make it great?

In this video, I break down Curry Barker’s Obsession and how its small cast, limited locations, and lack of big set pieces helped make the film what it is. I also look at the Hollywood version of Obsession we could have gotten, and why I’m glad we got this one instead.

#CurryBarker #Obsession #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #FilmEssay #VideoEssay #Screenwriting #TheDoorThatExitsEarth #FreakyNikki #IndeNavarrette

8 Comments

@felixjacobsen5324 7 days ago

One specific detail that really impressed me about the movie (among many others) is the effective use of LED walls. In all the scenes shot inside the car these walls created the impression of driving through the city. The camera is constantly moving slightly, you hear the engine, see lights and buildings passing by the car at varying distances. It's so well done that even tho I know the fact they're not really driving and it's just the LED walls, it still seems to me like they actually do.

Also to be fair the car is always so very dirty and fogged up that you would hardly be able to make anything out through the glass anyway. Could have been the reason why neither Sarah nor Bear saw Nikki coming 😄
Anyways that's a great way to save money. Otherwise they would have needed a massive set for the car to drive through

@tristintroy1105 8 days ago

Also when your movie cost a lot of money and then a lot of money in advertisements you got to make all that money back. Obsession cost a million dollars and it made $460 million in the theater. Let that sink in

@freshtastetv 5 days ago

holy refresh pull i like how you break down this film you have a very easy going style

@albiedanoob 7 days ago

Great video. I live literally blocks away from some of the locations and it's been so nice to be around people talking about it. It really has had a big impact in the scene. He knew exactly what he was doing.

@sanky230 5 days ago

Good points but mostly works with horror genre. Bcz horror needs characters to be cornered.

@chadhamelfilmmaking 9 days ago

Obsessed with the narrator of this video

@themanofmeats 7 days ago

Great video and super inspiring as an independent artist. Most times actually getting things done is way more important than completing a dream idea. Its so important to work with what you have and find peace in that.

@xaviersschool-b2k 8 days ago (edited)

He honestly just got lucky. If you look at the actual making of the movie, you'll see that he pretty much didn't know what he was doing much of the time and everyone else around him basically had to carry the load and baby him throughout the whole process. The movie was honestly garbage too as it's pretty much a movie devoid of substance or deeper intent and instead, is mostly just carried out by audience projections due to how the movie accidentally tackled some issues relevant to Gen Z right now (dating anxieties, consent, incels etc).

In short, this guy sucks. Listening to him in interviews gives me a headache as it's blatantly clear that he has no clue why his movie was a hit or what he was even trying to say with it (if anything at all). He's probably just gonna end up as the next M. Night Shyamalan or Neill Blomkamp. Someone who peaked with their first film and later just made nothing but flops for the rest of his career.