"Some people fail to realize that the scariest thing on earth is another fellow human being...."
We open in darkness; it's the middle of the night. We are in a makeshift recording studio; actually a small bedroom, wallpapered with acoustic foam.
Andreas Balmaceda is about to record the first lines of a story for his YouTube channel Mr. Haunted. His finger presses the record button, and we hear:
We learn how an affinity for performance, plus an understanding of the internet’s influencer phenomenon, combined to lead Andreas to create the personae, Mr. Haunted.
Taking a professional approach to telling his stories, Andreas has established a YouTube channel to bring Mr. Haunted to the public. He has over 30 thousand subscribers.
As this part of the interview nears its end, Susan tells us that she would now like to introduce her son.
A large, black monolith crosses the frame and approaches her. Her son’s chest is massive; his head is somewhere beyond the top of frame. The camera zooms out to show Andreas, head to toe, dressed in black, and his mother next to him, looking child sized, giving her son a hug.
The voice continues to tell a story firmly bound up in the mystery / Twilight Zone genre.
Andreas is seated behind and microphone. He is a big man, but he is wearing black; blending into the darkness, making it hard to know how big he really is.
His deep voice is measured, authoritative, but not threatening.
When he reaches the end of the speech, the film unexpectantly cuts to a non-descript, suburban patio. We see what might be a movie set: a few lights, cameras, people milling about. There is a woman seated in a chair. We seem to be looking at a formal interview.
We are talking to Susan, Andreas’s mother.
She provides some back story that explains the recording session. We learn that, as a teenager, Andreas was attracted to magic. At the age of fifteen his parents gave him a magic kit, and he started to develop his skills. Eventually, his interest in magic evolved toward a fascination with, and at the same time, a fear of, the occult.
He will tell us how Mr. Haunted got his start and how the YouTube channel has grown to attract so many fans.
When asked about the challenges he has had to overcome, Andreas will tell us that he has been diagnosed with ASD - autism spectrum disorder. He is on the high functioning end on the spectrum, but he is...different.
The interviews will continue with two more people who are playing an important part in Andreas' life.
While in middle school, Andreas met Joseph Lo Re, and they became friends as they realized they shared a quirky taste in humor. Joey will tell stories about pranks they played and the trouble they could not avoid getting into. The autistic are thought to have difficulty forming friendships; so his relationship with Joseph, who has ADHD, has something to teach us.
Note: In very general terms, people on the autism spectrum process information differently; this is particularly true in dealing with others. What other people are thinking or feeling can go unnoticed or be misinterpreted. The nature of autism has been explored in many books and films. This film looks at one person on the spectrum and how he is making his way through life. It will not offer statistics, history, or theories on the causes of autism. The subject of autism may receive increased media attention due to current events, but the film will not take a political position. We will, however, ask our subjects to comment on what they hear in the news, and some of their opinions will likely be unexpected.
While a friendship between an autistic person and one with ADHD is unique, even more unexpected is the romantic relationship between Andreas and his girlfriend Mariana Olivo. Autism and romance are often thought to be mutually exclusive. People with autism have the same desires for love and intimacy as neurotypical folks, but difficulties in understanding the emotions of others can make these relationships problematic.
Andreas and Mariana were college students during Covid and met during an online class when the professor had his student introduce themselves. She was impressed with his voice and eventually tuned-in to one of his middle of the night internet streams. The progression of their relationship and the growth of their commitment to each other is central to the film and Andreas' prospects.
Mariana is an up and coming, talented writer. She and Andreas have worked together on content, and we will see them collaborating on at least one of these projects.
The film will break out of the interview format when we follow Andreas and Mariana to an event. This will be a “Super-Con” type of gathering where the attendees arrive in costume to see and be seen in a world of influencers, collectors, and celebrities. We make the point again - the kids on the spectrum are happening.
The final line of questioning will about the future.
‘The future’ is usually a difficult and foreboding subject for those on the spectrum and their families. Andreas is twenty four years old but doesn’t drive a car and still lives with his parents. He has had parttime jobs, and he derives some income from the Mr. Haunted channel, but these have not generated enough for him to live on his own. Where will he be in ten years? Does he see himself in his own home, perhaps married?
By the end of the film, we will be familiar with Andreas’ challenges, but we will not end this film on a note of pessimism regarding an uncertain future. No. Andreas will harness his talents, and we will follow him as he takes the initiative, not only to find a job, but to establish a career.
We anticipate a line of questioning that will challenge Andreas to approach his future endeavors with the same dedication that he brings to his Mr. Haunted character. In this way BALMACEDA will do something unusual for a documentary film. The film will not only work to influence its audience, but also to motivate the choices of its subject.
As Mariana tells us: ' it isn’t hard to imagine Andreas having success as an actor... with a specialty in voice-over narration.'
We will follow Andreas as he meets with talent agents and, hopefully, we will see him book his first gig. The filmmakers cannot guarantee an outcome, but, in any case, we will witness his progress into adulthood.