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It may not be Hallowe'en, but we're delighted to reveal that our latest Film of the Month winner is A Clear Picture of Myself, a very creepy short film which was made by teenage filmmaker Aaron, from Coventry.
A Clear Picture of Myself (engaging for ages 14+) sees a young man settling down for the night when his hallway becomes the stuff of nightmares. We got in touch with Aaron to find out more about his film.
Genuinely terrifying!
Film of the Month judge on 'A Clear Picture of Myself'
Congratulations! How long have you been making films?
I began making films "properly" when I began taking GCSE film studies and have continued into A-level. I have my teacher, Mr Gunn, to thank for pushing me to become the best filmmaker that I can be.
Where did the idea for A Clear Picture of Myself come from?
The idea for the film initially came from the eeriness I feel when in an empty corridor - you can't help but feel a slight discomfort in an empty setting, right? With that said, I wanted to create a concept which took the ordinary and twisted it. After all, I feel the best horror concepts are based upon real human fears…
The sound design and score are incredibly creepy. How did you and your composer create that?
Many projects that I had watched in order to grasp an understanding of the horror aesthetic utilised a juxtaposing score/soundtrack to really emphasize a disequilibrium. Me and Zac (my Composer) spoke on multiple occasions, where I spoke about creating a jazz-like instrumental, similar to that of I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra, reaffirming the need for an upbeat melody which contrasted the film's tone.
What was your experience like filming?
To film, it took around 4/5 hours in total. Writing the screenplay was not as challenging as my previous project, as the plot was contained within a single setting. Despite this, the concept itself took quite a bit of brainpower, as I had played around with a number of human fears, seeing how they'd translate visually.
Are there any films or filmmakers who had an influence on A Clear Picture of Myself?
The colour grade was inspired by the films of James Wan, who made a huge difference to his projects by playing with saturation; lower saturation in his projects make a huge difference to the films' tone.
If you could make A Clear Picture of Myself again, what would you do differently and why?
I'd re-film the ending, with the ‘satisfaction' of the character containing additional, longer shots to bring the pace down entirely.
Do you have any other film projects in the works?
I'm currently in the process of editing my next film: a horror/thriller following the story of a man with multiple personalities.
What top tips would you give to a young filmmaker about to make their own creepy short film?
Don't be afraid to obey convention. Sometimes the best techniques are the simplest. And don't let circumstance get in the way of something brilliant; a smartphone is just as good as a Hollywood-level camera (if you know how to use it…).
Aaron's film will now be showcased to over 300,000 film club members online and all of our Film of the Month films are now on the Into Film YouTube channel, and he has also secured a £100 Amazon voucher to help further develop his future films. Think you could win Film of the Month? Find out more about how you can enter our ongoing Film of the Month competition.
If you've been inspired by A Clear Picture of Myself then make sure to check out the following films:
- Inside Cinema: Jordan Peele (2020, Unclassified, 14mins) Engaging for ages 16+
A look at the work of Black horror director Jordan Peele, his influences, and the themes within his films. - Unfriended (2014, 15, 81mins) Engaging for ages 14+
An online group-chat between five teenage friends takes a sinister turn when an account belonging to their dead classmate joins the conversation. - Ghost Stories (2017, 15, 98mins) Engaging for ages 14+
A sceptical professor investigates three unsolved cases involving the paranormal in this playful British horror based on the stage play. - The Little Stranger (2018, 12, 111mins) Engaging for ages 14+
British Gothic horror set in 1948 in which a doctor becomes a close acquaintance of a wealthy family who believe they are being haunted.
