FEARHOUSE - the STORY

Fearhouse is an immersive video horror/comedy short presented on the 360 video platform.  A first-person experience, users wear a VR headset allowing them to see in all directions in a classic haunted house adventure. Featuring a large cast of live actors and elaborate sets, Fearhouse was an experiment to merge cinematic practices into immersive spaces generally devoted to gaming.

When production began in 2018, the 360 format was quite new - techniques were largely unexplored. Writer/co-director Jonathon Stearns faced a series of challenges – with the user able to see in all directions, how do you conceal the lights, the cables, the crew? There were few points of reference, no YouTube explainer videos.  Stearns had to be innovative to find solutions for challenges not normally encountered in traditional filmmaking. Additonally, Fearhouse was quite low budget - even by 2D horror film standards.

One innovation was to film the majority of Fearhouse in an enclosed miniature set. Stearns’ art directing experience drove the design and construction of a 1/6 scale set featuring the interiors of the Klunch Manor (the haunted house).  Via a remote-controlled micro dolly, the 360 camera moved along long corridors and through functional doorways to banquet rooms and side chambers. One room brilliantly designed by co-director Stacy Dawson Stearns (aka Frau Klunch) featured giant vampires (played by live actors), their faces embedded into the walls. In another room, a ghostly tarot reader deals a dark forecast from beautiful animated cards painted by Abira Ali. A menacing hellmouth serves as a gateway to the inner chambers of the manor. The set was intricately detailed, resulting in a kind of hyper-realism that adds energy to the experience. No one who has seen Fearhouse has ever identified that it was miniature set. Actors were later filmed and superimposed into the space.

In the next phase of production - working with live actors - there were also many challenges. As the traditional green screen technique was infeasible, a black screen key was used. Stearns designed a large black box space, with black fabric draped over a tall wooden frame. The cast of actors, in full costume and ghostly makeup, performed individually with the camera as the crew watched through a remote camera feed. The black screen resulted in partially opaque keys, which worked well as the performers were playing ghosts.

Post production also took contemplation and experimentation. Again, there were few points of reference, but editing commenced, the actors were superimposed into the miniature sets.  On Halloween 2019 Fearhouse was soft-released. In 2020 production continued and scenes were added; a vintage car with a ghoulish driver, exteriors of Klunch manor, an elaborate ghost feast sequence, stop motion skeletons and many other elements. Some images like blood spatters were digitally composited. It was re-released in 2022.

Fearhouse proudly won Best Experimental and Audience Scream awards at the 2022 LA Indie Horror Festival.

Aftermath
In spite of an initial push for 360 by big tech such as Samsung and Google, the format ultimately fell short of wide scale public adoption. The need for specialized hardware and other obstacles dissuaded mainstream audiences. Additionally, there were few narrative 360 releases - Fearhouse was somewhat isolated in its uniqueness. Furthermore, as Meta took over Oculus and restricted content based on their own standards, the space for immersive horror - especially for monetization - greatly diminished. Fearhouse can however be viewed on Youtube with a headset, or on smart phones/tablets/computers for a partially immersive experience.

Fearhouse took a lot of innovation, determination, and many long days of hard work from the production team and performers. It successfully bridged the gap between gaming and cinema which was the essential goal. Everyone involved had to shift their way of thinking and it was powerful. A short documentary of the story is in development. 

Creative Team
Jonathon Stearns - Writer, Co-Director/Producor, Cinematographer, Set designer, Editor, Animator, SFX, technical designer
Stacy Dawson Stearns - Co-Director/Producer, set designer, wardrobe and makeup designer, lead actor, SFX, scenic artist
Jason Shuler - co-producer, set designer, scenic artist, principle actor
Ian Stahl - sound designer, composer, swing crew, performer,
Kindred Gottleib - set designer, technical lead, scenic artist, SFX
Gregory Barnett - costume and makeup, principle actor

Fearhouse - The Invitation won both BEST EXPERIMENTAL HORROR and AUDIENCE SCREAM awards at LA INDIE HORROR FEST 2022!

contact: channelb4@gmail.com