Found Footage with Bite: Tribeca-Premiering ‘Man Finds Tape’

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, filmmakers Peter Hall and Paul Gandersman join No Film School's GG Hawkins to discuss their chilling feature debut Man Finds Tape, premiering in the “Escape from Tribeca” section at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The Texas-based writer-director duo explores their found-footage horror hybrid, rooted in documentary realism and intimate character drama. They dive deep into the film’s decade-long evolution, DIY production tactics, narrative experimentation, and the collaborative scrappiness that made their micro-budget creature feature resonate on a grand scale.In this episode, we discuss:How a shelved podcast idea evolved into a Tribeca-premiering feature filmUsing documentary experience to inform a found-footage horror aestheticWhy keeping a tight creative circle allowed for fast, agile production decisionsShooting scenes with GoPros and iPhones for final edits—and why it worksCasting actors willing to dive into a highly iterative, experimental processCrafting practical and VFX-driven creature moments that elevate low-budget horrorEditing techniques that treat the narrative as a real documentary-in-progressHow found footage can stay emotionally grounded and narratively justifiedGuests: Peter S. HallPaul GandersmanSubscribe to the No Film School Podcast on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogleGet your question answered on the podcast by emailing podcast@nofilmschool.com Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here: This episode of The No Film School Podcast was produced by GG Hawkins.

Jun 9, 2025 - 18:25

Found Footage with Bite: Tribeca-Premiering ‘Man Finds Tape’

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, filmmakers Peter Hall and Paul Gandersman join No Film School's GG Hawkins to discuss their chilling feature debut Man Finds Tape, premiering in the “Escape from Tribeca” section at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The Texas-based writer-director duo explores their found-footage horror hybrid, rooted in documentary realism and intimate character drama. They dive deep into the film’s decade-long evolution, DIY production tactics, narrative experimentation, and the collaborative scrappiness that made their micro-budget creature feature resonate on a grand scale.

In this episode, we discuss:

How a shelved podcast idea evolved into a Tribeca-premiering feature film
Using documentary experience to inform a found-footage horror aesthetic
Why keeping a tight creative circle allowed for fast, agile production decisions
Shooting scenes with GoPros and iPhones for final edits—and why it works
Casting actors willing to dive into a highly iterative, experimental process
Crafting practical and VFX-driven creature moments that elevate low-budget horror
Editing techniques that treat the narrative as a real documentary-in-progress
How found footage can stay emotionally grounded and narratively justified

Guests:

Subscribe to the No Film School Podcast on:

Get your question answered on the podcast by emailing podcast@nofilmschool.com

Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:

_{This episode of The No Film School Podcast was produced by GG Hawkins.}