Production Photos
Locked Out is a found footage/analog horror student short film by Joseph Thomas that started production in late 2021. Initially created for a narrative filmmaking course at the University of Tampa, the short film was pitched as a traditional supernatural horror story before being restructured to be told through the lens of a 20th century broadcast aesthetic; inspired by the television shows Twilight Zone and American Horror Story: Double Feature - Death Valley, and audio-only entertainment such as the 1938 Mercury Theater on the Air reading of War of the Worlds, and the satire podcast Welcome to Night Vale. The short film was shot with Black Magic 4k cameras and Sony Rebel T3i cameras in the University of Tampa's Virtual Production Studio, at the time referred to as the "Black Box studio," two years prior to the installation of the virtual production LED Screens.
In 1965, a live television program comes to a screeching halt as Station 9 of Cannible County, Northeast Pennsylvania succumbs to an otherworldly encounter; leaving few traces of the broadcast station behind. Among the debris recovered are the recordings of Theodicy Theater hosted by Felix Holdo (Griffin Sutek), capturing his final televised appearance.
Following the publishing of "Locked Out" in late 2021, the short has won the "Best of the Fest" Award at the University of Tampa's Black Box Film Festival in Spring 2022, featured in the 2023 Gasparilla International Film Festival, and played at the Fear Fame Film Festival 2023 as a nominee for Best Student Film.
“Surprising and told in a unique way.”- Bryan Wendorf, co-founder of the Chicago Underground Film Festival
“On the edge of experimental, but has a consistent aesthetic and unique voice.”- James Leming, screenwriter & film director
Photo courtesy of Fear Frame Film Festival featuring "Locked Out" in their 2023 official selection and as a nominee for Best Student Film.
