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Horror Film: Fake Statistics + "Actual Events" Question

J

Joe Butch

I'm almost done with my short horror film and one question i had is I want the opening to display some information of a fake statistic. 1 in 10 hotel rooms have blank. etc This statistic would be false but impossible to check. Thoughts on doing this?

Also in the beginning i want it to say "Blank City - July 15, 2005". My theory is adding a city and a random date a few years back makes people think on a certain level that it might be based on actual events without actually saying so. Thoughts on this?
 
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I'm of two conflicting minds of this:

On the one hand, yes I can certainly see how this would create interest with this "fake factoid" as it were-and if this were 20 or more years ago, it would work rather well (even now, you can probably make up just about any type of "statistic" fact and find info that would support it.

On the other hand, we live in the internet age, and we can look up and find out just about ANY information-and I find there is no such thing as "obscure" information on the internet, my research for my mask projects has told me as much :lol:

IMO if you can really grab people into the story right away, they may not focus as much on that little "tidbit"-however there's always the chance that down the road some reviewer may call you on it...


I don't think that answers your question-just saying from my view it could go either way :)
 
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It's difficult to answer your question...

What is the exact statistic you intend to show? If it's believeable then do it, if not, don't. For example, if I saw "1 in 10 hotel rooms have a trouser press", I'd think, 'okay, maybe they do...', where as, if I saw "1 in 10 hotel rooms have no bed", I'd think 'that doesn't seem right...'.

You get what I mean?

I don't think having a location and date at the start of your movie will make people think it might be a true story. Every movie is set somewhere, on some date, most don't display this information, but others do. It really makes no difference.
 
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OPEN BLACK:

SUPER: According to the most current statistics released from a joint Hospitality & Leisure and The National Crime Lab the average hotel unit has 236 blood and semen stains on carpets, curtains and linens.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. SHADY LADY MOTEL - BALCONY - NIGHT

Rubber-neckers watch two men in dark ball caps, jackets and pants wearing latex
gloves carrying tackle boxes stoop under yellow police line tape.

They pass a small group of uniformed officers who wait at the entrance of Room 42.

The two men stop at the open door.

SUPER: July 15, 2005, Boynton Beach, Florida crime scene investigators document evidence of at least 3,669 blood and semen stains in room 42.

ROOM 42 INTERIOR

No officers are inside where a pile of dead bodies are stacked to the ceiling in the back corner of the room.

Blood stains cover every surface: carpet, bed, walls, ceiling, lamps and curtains.

The bathroom sink is filled with extracted teeth.
 
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rayw said:
OPEN BLACK:

SUPER: According to the most current statistics released from a joint Hospitality & Leisure and The National Crime Lab the average hotel unit has 236 blood and semen stains on carpets, curtains and linens.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. SHADY LADY MOTEL - BALCONY - NIGHT

Rubber-neckers watch two men in dark ball caps, jackets and pants wearing latex
gloves carrying tackle boxes stoop under yellow police line tape.

They pass a small group of uniformed officers who wait at the entrance of Room 42.

The two men stop at the open door.

SUPER: July 15, 2005, Boynton Beach, Florida crime scene investigators document evidence of at least 3,669 blood and semen stains in room 42.

ROOM 42 INTERIOR

No officers are inside where a pile of dead bodies are stacked to the ceiling in the back corner of the room.

Blood stains cover every surface: carpet, bed, walls, ceiling, lamps and curtains.

The bathroom sink is filled with extracted teeth.
Click to expand...

Fantastic! When do we see the teaser trailer! ;)

mad_hatter makes a good point too, what is the believability of the "facts"-that in turn could again lead to the idea of them looking up on the internet or other research (if it sticks out THAT much) to see the truth.
 
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