Hey man thanks for watching and giving your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Yes, I was definitely inspired from the Ben tapes. I thought it, especially using the found footage, was a great experiment to try out and put into a more cohesive narrative.
I had thought about doing it for awhile but I didn't really have a camera besides an old iphone.
I actually won a small Cannon t3i rebel from a friend in a betting pool we had. So I wrote up a script and went out and shot it over the course of two-ish days.
To be honest, I wish I had taken more time with it. I arbitrarily chose a festival I wanted to have it submitted to in tome and while it put a fire underneath my ass to get it done, I didn't really marinate with it as much as I would've like to.
That being said, there was no budget, except the $20 for the ferris wheel tickets and the $3 pack of needles. I shot it all myself, no crew, used all natural lighting, and edited it together too.
In hindsight, having just now rewatched the Ben Tapes after your comment, I think you're right, it could've gone a little darker, grittier.
Again, man thanks for watching! I really appreciate it.