Brookfield - Did A Giant Monster Attack Milwaukee?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Jonathan Richter / Avery Guerra

Little did J.J. Abrams realise what his 2008 "Blair Witch" style monster movie, "Cloverfield" would do to the independent film industry. Ever since the movie first made it into theaters two years ago, film makers have once again felt inspired to make their own giant monster films.

A quick look at either Youtube, or the movie listings on the SyFy channel, will provide all the evidence you need to see that once again, like the late 1950s, when it comes to monster movies in the year 2010, the bigger the monster, the better.

"Cloverfield" has not only inspired the movie making community, but the fan community as well. Over the past few years, ever since the first viral video, concocted by Abrams to promote his monster movie, first hit the Net, fans have been making their own. In fact, over the past year some of these have gotten so good that media types, like myself, have thought that they may be new viral marketing on the part of Abrams to promote the rumored "Cloverfield" sequel.

Now entering into the "Cloverfield" inspired movie business comes Jon Richter of Supermassive Studios with his own spoof of Abrams film entitled "Brookfield". A series of film shorts about a giant creature that rises up from Lake Michigan, attacks the City of Milwaukee and the government cover-up that proceeds it.

Richter explains, "Brookfield was created for a film event that happens every other month here in Milwaukee. For each event there is a theme. Last January the theme was a parody of monster attack movies like Cloverfield. Since I own a small VFX and production company (Supermassive Studios), I was asked to create the original version so that people had an idea of what to contribute. My short also became the trailer for the event. The footprint image was the shadow matte used in 3D to make the footprint hole seen in the film.

One more interesting tidbit — the orange sculpture seen flying down the street in the beginning is a notorious piece of street art here in Milwaukee called 'The Sunburst'. Many people dislike it and have petitioned for it to be removed several times. We thought it was funny to have our monster throw it down the street."

So, did a giant monster rise up out of Lake Michigan and attack Milwaukee? Probably not, but after watching the footage that Richter supplied for us, you may wish it had.

No, I'm kidding, the "Brookfield" videos are a great spoof of "Cloverfield".

Maybe, just if the monster would have eaten that basketball guy......never mind.

Here are two more pics, and the three videos from "Brookfield":