2009 Summer Update

With our film Ghosts of War going into post-production, I will be looking at a couple new projects for the fall. In the book realm, I am currently finishing my book for Llewellyn Publishing, The Ghost Hunters Field Guide to Haunted Locations. It is scheduled for a 2010 release (more on that later). Once that is out the door, I will continue writing about guerilla filmmaking, finish my Haunted Memphis book and possibly concentrating more on fiction work.

On the film/video front, I am currently in the process of adapting a story by H.P. Lovecraft into a short feature film (approx. one hour in length). Once I finish clawing my way through the legal mire that is the Lovecraft's copyrights/estate, I will know for sure whether or not I can proceed with this project. That said, I have a couple scripts of my own that may have to be used instead (this is in addition to the ever-in-development project Shimmer).

Ghosts of War, as I mentioned above, is now officially in post-production and I plan to have the final cut of the movie ready for October 1st and a Halloween release. That said, we plan to limit the release to local screenings at this point (one each in the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois) to get some feedback and to repay the locations that allowed us to shoot with a fund-raiser screening of the film. I hope to get a television premiere of the film for the winter and a DVD release in early 2010 (come on networks, drop me a line...).

At this point, though, I'd like to thank everyone who made the movie possible and worked with us to get the film finished. First off, thanks to the locations in the movie: The Eldred House, the Harney Mansion, Octagon Hall, Magnolia Manor, and the Deason House. Second of all, thanks to our sponsors: Flip Video, Ghost Augustine U.S.A., and Digital Dowsing. I also want to thank the other members of Paranormal Inc, Mike Uelsmann and Brandon Delrosa, for their production help and for investigating each of the locations and getting killer evidence of the hauntings there. And finally some miscellaneous thank you's: Sullivan Journal (press), Haunted Times Magazine (press), Jim Taylor (for his wonderful and authentic music that is featured in the film), and the Memphis & Shelby County Film Commission (assistance with locations, permits, etc).

Stay tuned for upcoming screenings of Ghost of War, as well as more information regarding the general release and premiere of the movie. Cheers!

2009--The Outlook is Great...

Well, it's the new year and we at Elsinore Productions are hard at it! My newly released book, Cinematic Game Secrets (Focal Press), is on the shelf and three--count 'em three--more books are currently in production:

Guerilla Film Secrets is my new book chocked full of guerilla filmmaking skills, tips, and knowledge. We're not talking about film theory, or people telling you what you should do to make your low-budget movie. This book is about how to shoot your low-budget movie. Anyone can tell you to get free actors, write a script that takes place in nearby locations, and to avoid special effects. This book is about getting dirty, building and making what you need, and getting the job done. Should hit shelves late this year.

Haunted Memphis is my second book and is the culmination of working with the Paranormal Inc team and shooting our first feature documentary Ghosts of War. It's a 250-page, crammed full book of haunted locations, weird history, and information for ghost hunting in general. Read about infamous places like the Woodruff Fontaine house, the Hunt-Phelan home, or the legendary Brinkley Female College ghost story. This book will be dropping this summer.

Lastly, I have compiled a listing of over 1000 hauntings across the United States for my book The Ghost Hunters Field Guide to Haunted Locations. There are listings for every state--and every location is accessible to you, the budding ghost hunter! More information regarding this title's release will be forthcoming.

On the film front, we are in the final month of shooting our documentary about haunted Civil War sites called Ghosts of War. We are down to our last major location--but we can't seem to decide which we really want it to be! We're looking at the Harney mansion in Missouri, the Myrtles plantation in Louisiana, and Cedar Grove in Vicksburg, MS. Whichever we go with, you can bet it will be good! Our other eight locations have paid off in spades. Other than that, we are looking at a couple days for pickup shots and reshoots. When I return from speaking at the SXSW Interactive Festival, I will be diving headlong into editing to get us a summer release.

Stay tuned as we have lots more planned for this year on the film front: A narrative feature, a second documentary, and (most likely) a new short for the Elsinore Productions catalog.

Posted by: Rich Newman Contact Rich at info@elsinoreproductions.com

October Production Update

Lots of good stuff going on at Elsinore Productions these days! With several books, an online/television series, and a feature film in the works, we are quite busy and working our collective arses off. That said, here is an update and news about what's happening...

Cinematic Game Secrets

Well, the time has finally come for my first book from Focal Press to hit the shelves. The official street date is Oct 24, but don't let that stop you from getting your copy now! There is a link on this page that will allow you to pre-order the book from Amazon.com at a discount price. With interviews from game greats like Will Wright, Richard Rouse III, and Noah Falstein and film luminaries like Jay Duplass (The Puffy Chair and Baghead), Bob Sabiston (Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly), and Austin casting legend Donise Hardy, you are bound to learn a lot about the current convergence of the film and game industries. Pick up a copy today!

Paranormal Inc

Well, we are wrapping up the investigation portion of our first season of Paranormal Inc and have started with the production footage. With haunted locations that include the Eldred House, Devil's Backbone, the National Ornamental Metal Museum, Bethel Cumberland Cemetery, and many more, the series is sure to satisfy your paranormal needs. Check out the official webpage of Paranormal Inc (just click on the banner to the right) to hear EVPs captured, video, and eerie photographs. We'll keep you informed when the show hits the air!

Ghosts of War

The feature documentary Ghosts of War, about haunted Civil War sights in the Midwest and Mid-South, is now fully underway. After securing our locations we have just shot out first sequences at the famous Woodruff Fontaine house in Memphis, Tennessee. Known for visiting war generals like the infamous Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Woodruff Fontaine house is now a haunted museum and tribute to the life in the 1800's. Visit the Elsinore Productions homepage often to get more updates concerning Ghosts of War, as well as the release date as it grows nearer.

Haunted Memphis

As a sort of companion piece for the documentary, I am currently writing a book titled Haunted Memphis that I hope to have out this spring. The book contains listings for over thirty haunted locations in the city and area surrounding Memphis, Tennessee. Information about the book, as well as the publishing date, will be released on this site as it occurs.

Also stay tune for possible events in the future, such as book signings, haunted trips and tours, as well as screenings. We are in development now for our next Focal Press book about guerilla film production, an online series called the Redbird Report, and are still plugging away at the graphic novel Far West and feature narrative, Shimmer. Good stuff, good stuff...

Posted by: Rich Newman
Contact Rich at info@elsinoreproductions.com

Documentary Under Way

What started out as a general ghost/spirit documentary has now evolved to a more precise concept: Ghosts of War. The film will focus on the ghosts and hauntings of historic Civil War homes, areas, and battle fields in Tennessee and Mississippi. With the concept now finished--and the list of locations complete--we will begin formally shooting footage in September and October.

With footage being shot at Vicksburg, Shiloh, Corinth, Memphis, Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Natchez, the documentary will focus on the ghost stories and bloody tales surrounding these areas.

The documentary will feature interviews with local Civil War historians, ghost hunters, and (of course) the owners who have lived in many of these sites for years. The movie will also feature the actual evidence collected by the paranormal group Paranormal Inc during their investigations of the locations. This evidence includes EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomenon--recordings of spirits that the human ear cannot normally hear), photographs, video footage, and electronic data.

Ghosts of War will be a haunting film that you won't soon forget! Stay tuned to this blog for more information on the Elsinore Productions documentary, as well as the site for Paranormal Inc (www.paranormalincorporated.com).

Posted by: Rich Newman
info@elsinoreproductions.com

Paranormal Inc and Shimmer

Well, the production for our online/television series Paranormal Inc. is in full swing! With one investigation under our belt and another kicking off this weekend, we are on schedule to complete our first season of the show. The intent is to use the online version to sell the network version--and so far we are, indeed, getting noticed. You can keep up with the show and the investigations on the program's website: www.paranormalincorporated.com.

My first HD feature film Shimmer is also now in full swing. I have lined out the licensing for the movie's music, hired the major crew members in Memphis, and am now casting the major roles. The film will be shooting in Memphis and Austin over the late summer and early fall. We are trying to make the cutoff for the early 2009 film festivals. Don't forget that if you want to read for Shimmer, to send a current headshot to me at info@elsinoreproductions.com.

As far as my graphic novel Far West goes, the script and text has been completed. I am now putting together a sample chapter for my trip to the publishers. And speaking of which...my first book, Cinamatic Game Secrets is now completed and turned in to the publisher (Focal Press). That will be hitting the shelves in October. If you are a game developer (or a filmmaker thinking of getting into the game development arena), a student, or simply a creative director/producer who wants greater immersion in your game, pick up a copy this fall! Cheers!

Posted by Rich Newman

Updates

Ahh...a new chapter in the history of Elsinore Productions has just begun... We are now officially located in Memphis, Tennessee and are now moving into the year's slate as we speak. Now that I have finished my book on cinematic game design for Focal Press, I have the extra time I need for pre-production. The plan is to get a new short out fairly quick to make the festival rounds: Right now I'm trying to decide between Schism, FM, or Quietus--three short scripts that have been floating around the ether for some time--then I will move on into pre-production for the feature Shimmer.

Though we have mentioned Shimmer a few times already, it was obvious after several reads that the script needed an additional element. I wrote/edited the script again and now feel that the story has been developed enough to proceed. Early reads have gotten a better reception and I'm comfortable now to at least begin casting. We found our locations quite early on and I wrote a lot of the scenes based on these locations, so it just remains to get the cast and crew up and running.

On other fronts, we have shot about sixteen hours of footage for the documentary A Ghost Inside Us and it now remains to go into a lengthy editing session...oh, boy... We have been toying with the idea of generating interest in our ghost-hunting documentary by shooting a small online series called Paranormal Inc. This will get the name out there and hopefully generate enough hits through viral marketing to create a high visibility of the film.

Lastly, we have gotten absolutely nowhere new in regards to the graphic novel Far West. Lack of publishing contacts and pitches has stalled us out. So, it looks like the graphic novel will have to wait 'til winter. Alas...

If you're interested in casting for the short or feature and are located in Austin, Memphis, or Missouri (preferably Southeast), feel free to blast us your headshot and resume to info@elsinoreproductions.com. Cheers!

Posted by: Rich Newman

Current News

Welcome to the Elsinore Productions homepage! Right now, we are in pre-production for our first feature film, "Shimmer," scheduled to shoot Fall 2007. Since we will not be holding formal casting calls, anyone interested in reading for a part should send a current headshot and resume to info@elsinoreproductions.com. We are planning to cast one-on-one for each of the parts to avoid cattle calls. Shimmer is a thematically arranged film about relationships/sexual dysfunction and how these couples interact. Very much in the vein of Andres Dubus/David Lynch.

We have just begun production on our documentary, A Ghost Inside Us, that focuses on the whole phenomenon of ghost hunting and the quest to validate the existence of a spirit. It's going very well and the material is quite exciting. Early marketing analysis indicates this will be a doc most people will want to watch. I hope to have it finished by November to enter for next year's 2008 SXSW Film Festival.

In other news, I have been producing a 110-page graphic novel titled "Far West." This is a story set in a North America prior to European invasion--one full of the mythical elements and creatures of Indian lore. The story follows the Inuit Okoye as he journeys to find a mythical land of plenty. Along the way, he encounters cannibals, warring tribes, and a Lakota named Anapo who has been bred to destroy. The script is already finished, and we are currently developing the art. Here's the first scene (Okoye attacking a spirit in the form of a giant polar bear who has returned to attack his village):

Otherwise, we still have two other projects in development: "Astronomy," the story of an alternate reality and an astronaut on a mission gone horribly wrong, and "She Brightly," the tale of a cheating wife looking for redemption in all the wrong places. The Elsinore Productions produced site, Austin Film Guerilla (www.austinfilmguerilla.com) has also turned up the heat and is now featuring Guerilla News spots on KOOP Radio (www.koop.org) on 91.7fm, and I have just started writing a regular film column for Austin Wide Open magazine (www.austinwideopen.com). AFG promises to just get bigger and bigger.

Stay tuned for more info and news. See you at this year's SXSW. Cheers!

Rich Newman
Producer/Director
Elsinore Productions