trying to find a safe vantage point to tape the monster!  what!  No,  run from the damn monster!  
As for cloverfield, I suspect videotaping while fleeing doesn't work out too well.  I suspect you also said the same of Blair Witch 
As for the rest of your post, I sympathize.  My brother in-law stylizes himself as a professional musician / voice actor / singer.  No one can convince him otherwise.  Even when his customers slug him in the face for whatever that sound he makes is supposed to be.