there is no home (WIP) // analog horror series
Role: Co-Creator & Sound Designer
The Idea
For our graduation project, we wanted to do something that we have been obsessed with for a long time now. The rise of analog horror web series has been massive over the last few years and we were both captivated by the storytelling and world-building these creators were able to achieve.
We set on to combine what we loved about these existing works with our own narrative, creating something we would find ourselves watching in the middle of the night. The idea was to make 9 little tapes, which slowly reveal the story of a town in the United States, that vanished in the 1980s. The story needed to feel convincingly real, by making use of the analog aesthetic and extensive research.
The Production
After writing the scripts for each episode, we experimented with different equipment and gear we could use. We decided against the use of artificial analog plugins. Instead, we recorded on a real VHS camcorder and ran everything else through a VCR. For us, this was the only way to create authentic-looking shots. It also allowed us to add real distortions by simply messing with the cables and connectors.
This way we were also able to recreate that iconic sound these tapes carry. Yet, a lot of post processing was necessary. Not only did we have to account for the degradation of the tapes, but we also had voice actors for each role. This meant I had to recreate all audio tracks from the scenes that were shot on camera or represented audio recordings. It was crucial for us to get the audio just right, as it carried most of the tension, horror and emotions.
The Result
At the moment we are still working on finalizing the tapes…
Credits:
Lukas Brandstetter (Co-Creator, Video Editor)
