Jacob: The Series

Hey guys, I thought I'd finally show my series now that it has it's own website up! 

http://www.jacobtheseries.com

The story this time around follows a young man named Jacob who ran away from an abusive home to live on his own, and is proving it to the world. Soon afterward though, strange things start to haunt him, especially someone named Ben who has taken quite the interest in Jacob.

Here's the trailer that premiered on ABC Halloween night!



And here's the first episode.



This web series has a little ARG into it at first but I also want to make the series easier to get invested in as it grows. I'm a huge fan of Slender Man and the creepypasta mythos and it's an inspiration for the show. While at first it may be familiar to common to fans it will get more epic and I can't wait to show you guys!

Official Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Jacobtheseries

Follow Jacob on twitter.
https://twitter.com/Jacobblackwater

I'll start watching it! Hopefully it'll get some attention, and if you need any notes or advice I might be able to help!

I've only seen the trailer, but I've gotta say...that looks amazing. 

I'm also glad that I'm not the last person on Earth who thinks Jeff the Killer (I'm assuming that's who the clown is?) has huge horror potential. Granted, most of his Creepypastas are terrible, but I've always thought that the official picture of him was really creepy. Actually looking at a killer clown attack a person will probably be much scarier than reading about it in a Creepypasta. 

Or maybe I just like killer clowns in horror. Either way, looks awesome, count me in as a viewer!

I just now watched the trailor, and I gotta say, I'm really excited! I'm about to watch the first episode. Usually, a lot of things ruined Jeff the Killer for me, but this: this is going to make it a little fresh.

Also, I now know how good it feels to know what another user on here looks like.

Thanks guys! Trust me, you aint seen nothing yet. Things are about to get a lot more epic.

Do you have an idea of when the next video will be, or is that a secret?

Oh it updates every sunday afternoon.

Good! I love it.

And I love the sounds in the ending credits it really massages my ear organs

Having seen the first 2 episodes, I will tell you what I think. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion, and this is the early days of your series.

The Positive Stuff:
The atmosphere: The atmosphere is really, really good, especially whenever someone is walking around the house at night. This being a horror series, that was an important thing to get right, and you have nailed it. 

Jeff the Killer: That guy you have playing him is really convincing, and what little we say of him was legitimately convincing and frightening. As a guy who loves clowns in horror, this is particularly awesome to me.

Acting: So far, I really like your acting (I assume Jacob is you). And as I said, Jeff the Killer is (bad pun warning) killing it. 

The Kind of Not So Positive Stuff:
Character backstory and motivation: so far, I don't really have a clear idea of what your character's backstory is. He hasn't talked about living with an abusive father has done to him, and not all of his motivations are very clear (example: he wants to become a policeman. ...why?) 

Jane: I am assuming that Jane is in fact Jane the Killer. Now, as far as I know, there are two types of Jane the Killers: a "normal" sane one who wants to stop Jeff, and a totally insane one whose motivations make absolutely no sense. You seem to be trying to combine the two, and I'm not sure it's working. Also, she looks fairly normal, whereas in the Creepypastas, she's pretty deformed herself. At least really pale. There's probably a behind the scene reason for that, though. 

Title card and end credits: this is a very personal thing for me, so don't really take it into account, but having a title card and end credits kind of kills immersion for me. Again, personal to me, and I understand that you want to be recognized. If I made something this supremely awesome, I'd want to be recognized for it, too.


I just want to restate that so far I am loving this series. Whatever gripes I have are really minor compared to how much of this you are excelling at. Also, as far as I know, the two things I personally think could use work (only two; that is incredible) are already being fixed by you in future episodes. 

I have supreme confidence in wherever this is going. Keep up the awesome work. (Sorry this is so long.)

It means a lot that you guys like it! (though side note, Jacob is NOT me lol, that's a good friend of mine).

Also, the site has been ramped up! There are a ton of new features and designs: 
http://www.jacobtheseries.com

Hey, it´s really awesome that you started your own series and congrats that the trailer even made it to ABC, not many people can say that about their series
Thanks for the links, it looks interesting

Episode 3 is up and fun fact about this one is that the ending was nearly last minute.

That was interesting, and the 

Spoiler:

definitely raises the intensity bar.

My issue with this is that there's a lot of "show, don't tell" going on. Instead of showing Jacob waking up in random locations, we're told that he wakes up in random locations. Instead of showing on the actors' face that he's scared/angry/confused, we're told his emotions. A little facial expression goes a long way. Maybe in the next episode, we just see a quick clip of him looking really sad, sitting on the sofa with his head down, or silently weeping. Don't overplay it, just keep it a simple emotion. (I know I'm in no position to give you advice, but for whatever it's worth, there it is.)

Also, this is an issue with several vlogs, but Jacob filming that private conversation was really weird and kinda intrusive. Maybe next time, he can put the camera down, and it can cut to that hidden camera.

On that subject, the hidden camera was really creepy, as were all the "cutaway clips", as I'm calling them. The "we do" in particular was well done. I'm very interested to see what these masked peoples' intentions are. Nice use of night vision, by the way. 

Also, thar car crash! I'm interested in what it means, but holy crap! How did you do that?!?!!?

Davros wrote:

Also, thar car crash! I'm interested in what it means, but holy crap! How did you do that?!?!!?

I went through a lot of cars and monkeys. ; )

A bit off topic, and not really the constructive criticism you're getting, but I think I have the same goggles as the supposed Ben.

You must be Ben then! 

PLOT TWIST!

Hehehe

Also, Jacob is getting some more color grading too, and the next episode will be the first 2 parter of the series! I got something special cooked up for these.

Ooh, I can't wait! Also, I took a look at your website, and took a look at your store. These posters look pretty cool, I might buy one. Now I'm positive I have goggles like Ben's

Path1 is up. Shit just got real.

That was pretty interesting, to say the least. Things that stuck me in this video: 

• I'm getting the sense that Jacob has some serious psychological issues, constantly talking to the camera, relying on an audience of YouTube viewers to talk to. The scene where he says "You're the only people I can talk to" was pretty moving and sad, and him walking backwards was a nice touch. I really got the feeling that he had lost everything, and he was trying to escape reality. Having a damaged protagonist really isn't something done often enough. 
  
• I'm a bit confused as to how he perceives Ben. If a person "magically" hacked into my videos (which is impossible, something Jacob should be aware of), I'd be more confused than angry. This also raises the question: If he can see Ben's part of the videos...why is he not concerned about the hidden cameras that are in his house?
  
• What's going on with Jane? Considering that she presumably lives near Jacob, and her importance to the Jeff...er, "mythos", I guess (was there ever a mythos? I'm genuinely curious) her absence is troubling. 
  
•  THANK YOU for establishing an actual reason for him filming everything (the memory loss).
  
• That thing...coming out of the ground at the end...

  WHAT?:

  My two guesses are a tree demon of some kind (which would be awesome) or the Slender Man's tentacles (which would also be awesome).
  

I'm getting more and more into this. I agree with Davros. What the heck was that thing? I love the effects!

That was indeed tentacles. Path2 may be delayed a week though. I'm going to be shooting in 2.5k raw soon and it takes more time to work with in the cutting room floor.

That's fine, don't feel the need to always follow a strict schedule, especially if you're not satisfied with what you're putting out.

Yup, delayed to next week, though I have comprised a promo that shows a snippet of what's coming next.