Kane Parsons: From YouTube to Hollywood with A24's 'Backrooms'
At the age of sixteen, Kane Parsons produced a viral short film that transformed into 'Backrooms', an A24 project. A self-taught creator, he started learning visual effects online at ten and has crafted nearly four hundred videos that remain unpublished. He also creates music under the name Kane Pixels. During a press conference on July 31, Parsons characterized the film as a natural progression from his YouTube series, emphasizing emotional connections over horror elements. He utilized a RED Komodo for digital shooting, later transferring the footage to VHS to achieve analog flaws. Rather than focusing on horror, he delves into themes of memory and nostalgia, representing a new wave of filmmakers influenced by internet culture and self-directed learning.
Key facts
- Kane Parsons, 16, created a viral YouTube short film that became the A24 film 'Backrooms'.
- Parsons is self-taught, learning Blender and After Effects via online tutorials.
- He began designing virtual spaces at age ten playing LittleBigPlanet.
- He produced nearly 400 unpublished videos before going viral.
- He composes his own music under the name Kane Pixels.
- International press conference held on July 31.
- Parsons sees the film as a natural evolution of his YouTube series, not a break.
- The film was shot digitally with a RED Komodo, then transferred to VHS and re-digitized.
- Parsons rejects the horror label, aiming for introspection rather than scares.
- The film explores existential themes like memory, grief, and nostalgia.
- Parsons attributes human qualities to buildings, imagining the Backrooms as a living organism.
- He considers some of his favorite pieces those made with zero budget for YouTube.
Entities
Artists
- Kane Parsons
- Kane Pixels
- Zach Cregger
- Philippou brothers
Institutions
- A24
- YouTube
- Blender
- After Effects
- LittleBigPlanet
- RED Komodo
- el Hype
Sources
- El Hype —