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FOUND TV is thrilled to announce the exclusive streaming release of What Happened to Suzy on Friday, February 21st. This new found footage thriller, directed by James Ersted, has been making waves in the festival circuit, with upcoming screenings at the Golden State Film Festival this February and Toronto Indie Horrorfest on April 3rd.
To celebrate the film’s release, we sat down with director James Ersted for an exclusive Q&A about his inspirations, challenges, and what’s next.
Q&A with Filmmaker James Ersted
What inspired you to tell the story of What Happened to Suzy?
Dave Larson and I had an idea for a script pre-pandemic that made even more sense as soon as COVID-19 hit. We were spending a lot of time in isolation, so writing was a good way to keep our minds occupied. As soon as restrictions started to lift a little bit in 2021, I began preproduction on it.
What were your main influences in crafting the film’s tone and atmosphere? Were there any particular films, books, or filmmakers that inspired you?
I’ve always liked the found footage genre, but you will not see much influence from films like The Blair Witch Project or Hellhouse LLC. You might, however, notice some influence from Searching, which informed a couple of screenlife choices I made. Unfriended and Creep were other films I looked at, though I didn’t watch them until I started co-writing Suzy in late 2020. There are also some films I didn’t watch until after finishing production, like The Last Broadcast, which I wish I had because it would have impacted some of my choices. Other influences that might surprise people include Citizen Kane, which employs many found footage and mockumentary techniques, especially during the interview sequences.
What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
The biggest challenge in making this film was the fact that it was a feature. Short films in no way prepared me for the sheer soul-crushing nature of undertaking such a feat. My second feature, Can’t Wake Up—a supernatural horror film now in post—was much easier to make because I learned to suppress the terror of being crushed alive by circumstances outside of my control.
How did you work with your actors to achieve natural and believable performances?
To get naturalistic performances from the actors, I got out of the way. With a project like this, the actors probably know the characters better than you do, so it’s important to step in only when necessary. Honestly, 90% of the hard work is done during the casting phase.
What was your favorite or most rewarding moment in the process of making this film?
The most rewarding moment was finishing production—I could finally breathe a sigh of relief! But more specifically, shooting the cave scene, which was very challenging logistically. It all came together, and I am mostly happy with the results.
What’s next for you? Are there any other projects in the works that fans of What Happened to Suzy should keep an eye out for?
I am in post-production on a supernatural horror film called Can’t Wake Up, about a young woman who returns home to pick up the pieces after her mother’s mysterious and untimely death. It will be finished by the end of 2025 if everything moves forward as planned. I also have a script for an action/horror film called It Fell to Earth that requires a little bit of funding. While I wait for Daddy Warbucks, I have plans to make another found footage feature—this time, a much scarier one.
If you had to describe the film in just three words, what would they be?
Social. Mystery. Horror.
Don’t miss the exclusive streaming premiere of What Happened to Suzy? on FOUND TV, Friday February 21st. For those who want to experience it on the big screen, catch the film at the Golden State Film Festival in Los Angeles on February 15th or at Toronto Indie Horrorfest on April 3rd.
About FOUND TV
FOUND TV is the premier streaming platform dedicated to found footage horror, bringing the best of indie and underground genre films to fans worldwide. Register and watch FREE at https://foundtv.com
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