IN-HÄUS MEDIA presents Fifteen Minutes, a 22-minute mockumentary centered on the twenty first century phenomenon of viral fame through the perspective of three different subjects.

WHAT is Fifteen Minutes?

We’ve all heard the term, “fifteen minutes of fame,” and we can all think of people who have experienced this social phenomenon: Vanilla Ice, Psy, the cast of Jersey Shore, just to name a few. For a brief moment in time, they become superstars and everyone wants a piece of them – next thing you know, the public has moved on to the next flavour of the week.

But what happens to these “stars” when the world moves on? How do they move forward from the moment that’s defined them? Do they move forward, or continue to cling to their brief moment of “fame?”

Fifteen Minutes explores this concept while focusing specifically on the Internet - after all, that’s where most overnight sensations are born these days. It follows three subjects: a fame-hungry YouTube sensation and his manager, looking to capitalize on his notoriety; the parents of a former viral video star, still clinging to their child’s success years later; and the creator of a viral trend gone wrong.

WHAT is a mockumentary?

A mockumentary is a work of fiction that’s shot like a documentary for comedic effect. Think of The Office, Modern Family, or Parks & Recreation – the characters are aware of the camera’s presence, and sometimes react directly to it. Mockumentaries are often used for parody; because the purpose of parody is to imitate or satirize something else, and the realism of the documentary format makes this imitation more believable, mockumentary is a natural fit for Fifteen Minutes.

WHAT is the purpose behind this project?

Fifteen Minutes challenges viewers to think critically about the way they interact with online media. Sure, Chris Crocker might have been seeking attention with his “Leave Britney Alone” tirade, but aren’t we all? Isn’t that why we post selfies on Instagram, share our spontaneous thoughts on Twitter, and announce all of our achievements on Facebook? Touching on such contemporary topics as slacktivism, superfandom, cultural appropriation, and more, Fifteen Minutes offers a unique commentary about our culture, and attempts to identify what “fifteen minutes of fame” represents today.

WHO is behind this project?

Meet the IN-HÄUS MEDIA team:

Julian Smither - Executive Producer/Casting Director

Will Reid - Supervising Producer

Josh Ghatak - Production Manager

Rachel Siegel - Director of Photography

Aaron Streight - Audio Supervisor

Riley Hunt - EPK/Transmedia Manager

Ben Kaplan - Writer/Director

Mark Ellis - Writer/Director

WHERE does the money go?

WHY should I contribute to this project?

Fifteen Minutes is IN-HÄUS MEDIA’s senior thesis project for Ryerson University’s RTA School of Media. However, this is more than a school project. We’ve shot the pilot, but we’ve also created a full story arc to span across a full season. We plan to pitch the series to relevant distributors, studios, and networks, to explore what the future holds for these characters. This is your chance to be part of something big!

WHEN will the project be complete?