From conception, my feature Against the Night, about a group of friends who sneak into an abandoned prison, was always going to be a down-and-dirty movie.
We cast all local actors, and I was going to shoot it myself to keep the energy up and the budget down.
Because of the low-light aspects of the film, I never really considered another camera besides the Sony a7S. I had seen enough camera tests on Vimeo to get a feel for the latitude, and had always envisioned doing something that was not only cost-effective, but something a studio movie wouldnt let you get away with: namely, shooting with only flashlights.
Ill be honestwe cheated a little bit with one LED panel light for the scenes that were intended to take place in complete darkness. That didnt come without its own set of challenges, however. Trust the hype, flicker is a real problemand we would have been in real trouble without the Flicker Free plugin for Adobe After Effects. This did add some extra time to the post schedule, but it we only needed to do work on about 15 percent of the shots.
The first time I took a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphiaa historic former prison thats now a U.S. national landmarkI thought the place was begging to be the set of a horror movie. The hub-and-spoke Gothic architecture and decaying walls were scary enough; the only thing that was missing was the human experience (oh, and a script and all that other stuff).
When I cracked the story, I went on several scouts to flesh out the screenplay and start the permitting process. I found that filming inside the Penitentiary was pretty much just as difficult as filming inside the Philadelphia Art Museumno running was among the many ground rules. This seemed like a tough sell for a horror movie, since having my characters power-walk away in fear wouldnt really work for this project.
Fortunately, Amy Cutler, Phillys best location manager, suggested Holmesburg Prison. Not only was Holmesburg another abandoned hub-and-spoke prison in the same city (in operation until 1995), it was much more film-friendly than ESP, and film-ready! There were no exit signs above every door, no placards hanging on the walls; just chipped paint and splattered blood from another movie that had been shot there (so we were told).
First, I consulted with our producer, Arielle Brachfeld, as well as co-producer Hank Braxtan and cinematographer Will Barratt, who shot all the Hatchet movies and the 2010 feature Frozen (the ski-lift one, without Olaf). Will even came in and did a day of second unit for me when we had a big effects day with actor Frank Whaley.
There are only two scenes in the film for which I used a tripod. The rest of the time I used a SHAPECage and a SHAPE Offset Shoulder Mount for the Sony a7S, with counterbalance weights to make the shots seem like they were floating, not shaking.
I used only one Rokinon35mm T1.5 Cine DS lens. Even my sound guyRob Zogby, who is an all-around filmmaker in his own rightthought I was crazy. Rob often encouraged me to change the lens or to use my matte box or follow focus, but I didnt have the heart to tell him I had neither. In retrospect, I wish I had used a matte boxsome scenes have a little too much flair for my taste, but I was perfectly happy riding the barrel on my own. Who has time to switch lenses, anyway? The aperture range really let me push the camera as far is it could go and any grain thats in the film is there on purpose.
I used an AtomosNinja Assassin 7.1 4K monitor, which I also recorded to, and an Israeli Arm to position the monitor right in front of my face, so I could see myself missing focus over and over again. Some scenes are even a little more lit than I would have liked them to be, because it was just too hard to hit my marks in low light.
The entire camera department consisted of film students. Nick Furer was our DIT from Drexel University who helped me feel confident that we were actually making a movie. Christian Buffo was my gaffer from Temple University, and we really hit the jackpot with him. Not only does he have a great eye and improved most of my setups, he was patient enough to Hollywood (i.e. hold by hand) the light panel everywhere we went. I dont think we even had a light stand on set.
Actor Frank Whaley as Detective Ramsey in Against the Night
The rest of the lighting team was the cast. They were patient enough to repeat takes for me as a director and a cameraman, and they also literally lit every scene. As natural as I hope it comes across in the movie, this was a challenge in every scenario. Simply pointing a flashlight at another actor isnt a great way to light someone. It was a constant cat and mouse game with the prison walls to get just the right amount of bounce without it appearing as though the actors were one step away from putting some diffusion on a flashlight, pointing it at the ceiling.
Im sure youre dying to know what kind of flashlight we used. It was a Husky 1000 Lumen Virtually Unbreakable Aluminum Flashlight (the actual name). Its the best film tool you can buy at Home Depot for $20. And I believe it to actually be unbreakable. (We tried). Christian was always by my side, toying with where the flashlight should be pointed while I talked through the scene with the actors. Theres no doubt it was a challenge, but once we got into a rhythm it was really fun to discover what we could do to make something a little creepier. If there was a group of characters in a scene, we would play with how many of the flashlights should face a certain direction and when it was appropriate to confront someone with a beam of light dead on.
Whenever anyone was outside they were under the sodium vapor lights of Philadelphia, which was fun, but didnt give a lot of latitude in post. Our color timer, Michael Banks, worked a lot of miracles but when we played with the street lights we just kept getting pushed back to where we started. The lesson learned there is to just embrace it, especially since sodium vapor lights are disappearing from cities every day.
The other huge factor in this movie is the film within the film. Found footage has gotten a bad name over the years. Although none of the footage in this movie is found, I believe it can still be a great technique to help tell a story. I made a documentary about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro where the host was using a handycam as a personal diary, and I dont recall anyone referring to it as found footage. (Did I just come up with another idea for a movie?)
For the found footage in Against the Night, we used the SonyFDR-AX53 4K Handycam. Its the best 4K camera with night vision on the market, and this movie truly couldnt have happened without it. There is much to be learned in the world of consumer night vision. For instance, sometimes you have to cover the infrared light because youre just seeing too much. Blood doesnt show up especially well in night vision. Without too much of a spoiler, we did encounter some of these issues. It seems as though anything thats white might be a better alternative for those scenes. In some cases, we resorted to shooting the image clean and color-correcting it to night-vision green in post.
In the end, there was a lot of trial and error to get the right set-up. Yet the prep we put into it paid off and allowed us to shoot extremely quickly. We were done with principal photography in just under one week, and the reception that the film has been getting is tremendous. I dont think anyone on set looked at the film student standing next to me, holding a panel light, and thought that the film would end up playing in New York and Los Angeles and here we are. It couldnt have happened to a better crew and cast (or rather, actor-gaffers). MM
Against the Night opens in theaters September 15, 2017, courtesy of Gravitas Ventures.
Read this article:
How They Did It: Shooting a Flashlit Prison Horror Movie, Against the Night, on the Sony a7S - MovieMaker Magazine
- Blumhouse to Return Insidious and Other Titles to Theaters for Halfway to Halloween Fest - Hollywood Reporter - March 16th, 2024
- Every Movie In The Wrong Turn Franchise Ranked - SlashFilm - March 16th, 2024
- Blumhouse Celebrating 'Halfway to Halloween' With Five Horror Movies Returning to 100 AMC Movie Theaters - Bloody Disgusting - March 16th, 2024
- DeWanda Wise Sings Creepy Theme Of New Horror Film: 'Imaginary' - The Root - March 16th, 2024
- Hostel: Part II (2007) WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? - JoBlo.com - March 16th, 2024
- New LEPRECHAUN Movie Will Be Funny, Scary And Full Of Practical Effects - FANGORIA - March 16th, 2024
- Blumhouse Celebrating Halfway to Halloween With Five Horror Movies Returning to 100 AMC Movie Theaters - IMDb - March 16th, 2024
- The Horror Nail-Biter On Max With A Controversial Ending - Giant Freakin Robot - March 16th, 2024
- "Says the person who was in Madame Web": Sydney Sweeney is Getting Skewered for Saying Modern Horror Movies ... - FandomWire - March 16th, 2024
- First trailer for horror movie reboot The Crow features an unrecognizable Bill Skarsgrd on a bloody mission of revenge - Gamesradar - March 16th, 2024
- You'll Never Find Me Is Unforgettable Horror, See The Terror In Action - Giant Freakin Robot - March 16th, 2024
- The First Omen star has seen all of your internet theories about the horror movie prequel and, well, they're all wrong - Gamesradar - March 16th, 2024
- Sltface take on horror movies with their new single, 'Final Grl' - Dork Magazine - March 16th, 2024
- From 'Five Nights at Freddy's' to 'Imaginary': Why Blumhouse loves PG-13 horror - theday.com - March 16th, 2024
- The First Omen's Big Death Reveal Really Doesn't Bode Well For The Prequel - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- 20 Scariest Horror Movies to Come Out in the Last 5 Years - MovieWeb - March 16th, 2024
- 'The Animal Kingdom' Exclusive Clip Previews the Gnarly Body Horror of Magnet's New Movie - Bloody Disgusting - March 16th, 2024
- 'Oddity' Review: This Supernatural Horror Film Will Tear You To Pieces | SXSW 2024 - Collider - March 16th, 2024
- "Marketing is failing this movie tremendously": David Dastmalchian's Late Night With the Devil Dubbed as One of the ... - FandomWire - March 16th, 2024
- STOPMOTION is a handcrafted tale of beauty and horror - Moviejawn - March 16th, 2024
- Horror Lovers Will Love this Dining Spot in Texas - klaq.com - March 8th, 2024
- Is Late Night With The Devil Based On A True Story? - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- Kooky King: 6 of the Weirdest Stephen King Film Adaptations - Nightmare on Film Street - March 8th, 2024
- The Unknown, the Viral Willy Wonka Experience Villain, Is Already Getting Their Own Horror Movie - IGN - March 8th, 2024
- 13 Original Horror Movies We Can't Wait to See in 2024 - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- From 'Imaginary' to 'Five Nights at Freddy's.' Why Blumhouse loves PG-13 horror - Los Angeles Times - March 8th, 2024
- Imaginary Movie Review: M3gan Meets The Boogeyman - Mama's Geeky - March 8th, 2024
- Christopher Nolan Originally Conceived Inception As A Horror Movie - SlashFilm - March 8th, 2024
- 'Whalefall' Movie in the Works From 'No One Will Save You' Director Brian Duffield - The Mary Sue - March 8th, 2024
- Horror Movie Based On THE UNKNOWN From Glasgow's WILLY WONKA Experience In The Works Horror Movie ... - CBM (Comic Book Movie) - March 8th, 2024
- Horrifying 'Late Night With The Devil' Trailer Released - Outkick - March 8th, 2024
- Imaginary review: M3GAN, take the wheel - Dexerto - March 8th, 2024
- The Unknown: Horror Movie Based on Unofficial Willy Wonka Experience Is in the Works - ComingSoon.net - March 8th, 2024
- Imaginary Film Review: Light on Frights - Loud And Clear Reviews - March 8th, 2024
- Dead Mail Directors on Their '80s Horror Influences - MovieWeb - March 8th, 2024
- HORROR BEAT: Blumhouse offers a non-update on the future of THE EXORCIST - Comics Beat - March 8th, 2024
- And the Oscar for best picture doesn't go to ... horror! - NPR - March 8th, 2024
- Shaitaan OTT Release: When And Where To Watch R Madhavan And Ajay Devgn Starrer Horror Thriller Film - Indiatimes.com - March 8th, 2024
- The 'Wonka Experience' Is Being Turned Into A Horror Movie - UPROXX - March 8th, 2024
- 8 new horror movies on Netflix, Max, Shudder and more in March 2024 - TechRadar - March 8th, 2024
- 10 Horror Movies More Deserving of the Best Picture Oscar Than the Winner - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- The Horror Movie That Inspired 'The Shining' Actually Scared Stephen King - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- 10 Most Anticipated Movies Of March 2024 (According To Real Data) - IMDb - February 28th, 2024
- 10 Best Classic Horror Movies with No Oscar Nominations - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- THE WATCHERS Trailer Puts Voyeuristic Creatures in the Irish Woods - Nerdist - February 28th, 2024
- Christopher Nolan Originally Conceived 'Inception' as a Horror Film - IMDb - February 28th, 2024
- The Watchers trailer: Dakota Fanning is stalked by the unknown - BGR - February 28th, 2024
- This Czech Horror Film Turns the Terror of 'The Zone of Interest' Into Weird Comedy - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- The Jennifer Lopez Horror Movie That's More Interesting Than It Seems - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- This '90s Kids Movie Is the Grossest Flick of All-Time - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- Eli Roth's Big 2024 Movie Couldn't Be More Different Than His Thanksgiving Horror Hit - Screen Rant - February 28th, 2024
- How The Butterfly Effect with Ashton Kutcher filled a void in US cinema - Post Magazine - February 28th, 2024
- 'Stopmotion' Review This Hand-Crafted Horror Film Is One of a Kind - Collider - February 28th, 2024
- 10 Tasty Horror Movies (Including Thanksgiving) Streaming on Netflix - Gizmodo - February 28th, 2024
- They Did the Mash, They Did the Monster Mash: 10 Epic Horror Crossovers You Can't Miss! - Nightmare on Film Street - February 28th, 2024
- 20 movies that mostly take place in one location - Yardbarker - February 28th, 2024
- Scream: What Happened To Jenna Ortega's Character? - GameRant - February 28th, 2024
- One of 2024's most anticipated horror sequels finally gets a promising update, as director teases "weird idea" for fourth ... - Gamesradar - February 28th, 2024
- DYK This Christopher Nolan Classic Was Conceived As A Horror Film? - Republic World - February 28th, 2024
- New Paranormal Activity Video Game Revealed by the Mortuary Assistant Team - Beebom - February 28th, 2024
- 10 Best Cult Classics of the 1970s, Ranked - Collider - February 19th, 2024
- 51 Best Horror Movies Of All Time That Are Suitably Spooky - GLAMOUR UK - February 19th, 2024
- M. Night Shyamalan's Horror Movie From 8 Years Ago Is More Impressive Based On Its Budget Record - Screen Rant - February 19th, 2024
- 10 Horror Movie Monsters That Were Way Scarier Without CGI - Screen Rant - February 19th, 2024
- 10 Most Anticipated Horror Movies Releasing in 2024 - IMDb - February 19th, 2024
- Top 30 best horror movies of all time - Dexerto - February 19th, 2024
- Sting Trailer Releases Spider Movie into the Horror Comedy World - MovieWeb - February 19th, 2024
- Trailer For The Survival Horror Movie THE WOODS ARE REAL GeekTyrant - GeekTyrant - February 19th, 2024
- The horror movies that inspired Emerald Fennell's 'Saltburn' - Far Out Magazine - February 19th, 2024
- 15 Best Body Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked - MovieWeb - February 19th, 2024
- Hunter Schafer Responds To Scream Queen Compliment As Horror Debut Cuckoo Premieres In Berlin: I Love Horror Movies and Screaming Is Really Fun -... - February 19th, 2024
- The Horror Movie That Terrified Martin Scorsese and Guillermo del Toro - Collider - February 19th, 2024
- Where To Watch Thanksgiving On Streaming - Screen Rant - February 19th, 2024
- The Correct Order To Watch The Amityville Horror Movies - SlashFilm - February 19th, 2024
- New Jordan Peele movie set to be released in 2025 - Dexerto - February 19th, 2024
- The real-life haunting of Ti West and 'The Innkeepers' - Far Out Magazine - February 19th, 2024
- Trailer For Werewolf Film Blackout Puts The Monster Front & Center - 411mania.com - February 19th, 2024
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Had the Production From a Nightmare - IMDb - February 19th, 2024
- 65 Years Ago, a Legendary Director Invented a Terrifying New Trick And Launched a Trendy Gimmick - Inverse - February 19th, 2024
- Cuckoo Review: Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens Keep You Glued Even When This Reproductive Horror Careens Off the Rails - Hollywood Reporter - February 19th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero