Hauntings of Manitoba

Update!

I just watched the footage with the advice used from our great techs here at RRC. The audio is perfect, so the problem must have been with the camera mic. The lighting is superb! And overall, I'm happy that this footage can be used because I was sad to have lost it.

Documentary this far

Main floor, this iron stove is a supposed hot spot for paranormal activity.

I have been lagging on the production of the Manitoba Hauntings documentary. Third semester is coming to a close and with it, the endless array of assignments we had to produce kept me away from my project. However, earlier this week I started production at the third haunted Manitoba location mentioned in the film, the St. Boniface Museum.

I met with museum directer Philippe Mailhot Phd. after hours while the museum was closed to start filming and do an interview. We had decided on a great place to set up the interview, in the main entrance where the tour begins. This area is a tribute to Louis Riel and many of his artifacts are found right here at the museum including one of his coffins, this one in which was burnt.  We had decided to film in the dark and use my equipment lighting as the main source of light for this interview. In preparation, the famous Louis Riel Heritage video turned on, like it is known to do from time to time reported by museum staff.



This didn't alert me, I was for warned that this happens from time to time. We continued to film, and it was odd that the lighting as bright as they are required that I use more than one. The interview turned out perfectly, I couldn't have written the script better myself, Dr. Mailhot is a terrific speaker.

After we finished the interview, we went through the museum, filming locations reported to be active by museum staff. All of this was filmed in the dark, that is with all of the museum lights off  and using the equipment lights to add a eerily haunting hue around what I was filming. Everything was going well. We were filming in the chapel, I was focused on the Virgin Mary statues when BOOM! A light knocked over and broke. Neither I or Dr. Mailhot were near this light. We connected the disturbance to possible the cord getting knocked over somehow.

So with one light, we ventured upstairs to film the famous rocking chair. I admit that the mannequins spooked me. We then went down to the basement, where the biggest activity presence has said to have taken place. All in all I was extremely pleased with the footage as I played it back through the camera. Everything looked spectacular and creepy. However, the audio is horribly distorted as it shouldn't be. I didn't have the levels on the mic or the camera up high at all. In fact the audio levels were set the medium on the dial and this somehow has caused distortion even  through the wind and other ambient sounds that were filmed outdoors.

I had made only one attempt to film here so far, so the fact that I have to re-record an interview and ambient sound is not an issue. I have a few more interviews to shoot as well. The one thing that does disappoint me, is the fact that my tape seems to be corrupt. I watched everything on the camera, but I can't get the tape to work in an edit suite using Final Cut Pro. The tape plays a black image and keeps rewinding itself.

I can only hope, that my instructor or the techs at school can help me with this problem. That is to say, if it is a technical problem.

~Jenn

Leo is Thirsty for More

As many of my readers know, I am a Creative Communications student in my second year. A huge part of our curriculum is our Independent Professional Project (IPP). My IPP is a documentary on three haunted places in Manitoba and I am pleased to say that this IPP is well on it's way. I have documented two out of the three sites and have done some paranormal research of my own.

The fact is, that based on my script and proposal, only one story is supposed to have an investigation. All three are filmed using different mediums. One involves a reenactment, one is an investigation and the other is filled with eye-witness accounts.

From what I have noticed, my friends both at school and out of school have been recommending that I visit sites from all over the province. I really enjoy investigating and don't need anymore locations to be researched for my IPP.

However, I have decided that as part of my marketing tool, to get this documentary placed on national television, I should continue to investigate and blog about my findings.

I have decided that a blog full of investigations would be a great piece to have when I pitch my idea for national television. Who knows, maybe if I don't find a job right after graduation, I will have a career in a television series waiting for me. One can only hope.

In the mean time I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing. Not only for my documentary, but for my overall interest in this topic. I absolutely love the rush of completely spooking myself out! And I hope you all will enjoy reading about it as well.

Thank you to all for your support and feel free to recommend haunted places, movies and books. I appreciate the interest all of you have in my project as well as the support I have received.

On Location Part 2

Today, I spent almost the entire day filming. I went to two locations. I filmed footage of the Jefferson tree and surrounding areas this afternoon and attempted some on-camera footage for the first time. Unfortunately, I had some issues. I believe at one point during, I said "I am under the Jefferson tree where the legends derived from, and it is raining." I am sure that I said shit and laughed a lot too. Haha. I don"t know if I am cut out for this. But I did it so much, that I am sure something good came out of it.

I also had challenges, because the boom mic battery died on me and I had to switch to the lav mic. Oh boy, It sure took a while. Once I returned to the car to put the audio away all snug, I realized I had to leave to pick up my boyfriend from work. So I will be returning tomorrow to finish the rest of the Jefferson tree footage of the forest mazes, old quarry, and old quarry wall.

Afterward, we returned to St. Andrews Anglican Church. It was nearly dusk and I had to rush to re-take all of the previous shots I did without sound. At one point while shooting the cemetery gates, I believe that a frog kept croaking at me. It sounded like it was inside of the stone wall! Soon, it got dark and I continued to film with the LED light. It was creepy, there were noises all around. But the tombstones looked amazing in the dark illuminated by light.

I filmed the end scene of my reenactment and during all this, about four cars pulled up in the dark, saw me and left. I did however see an old 1930 s car, pull onto the street and drive off. Yes, I filmed it. It was awesome, because there is a ghost sighting story about this type of car to be seen on location.

Lastly, while I was packing up, John, my boyfriend, was standing near the equipment facing the church and all of a sudden he says,
"Whoa. Shit!"
I say, "what?"
He says, "nothing."
I say, "what?! Tell me!"
He says, " I thought I saw something walk by."
I say, "Oh, that was my man in black."
He says, "What? Really"
I say, "Yeah, I am filming him in my reenactment."

John did not know the story of the Man in Black. He later told me that he saw a shadowy figure. I say, awesome! That is so cool! Too bad I was kneeling down to put everything away. We had to leave right then because, we had to pick up our son from my parents. Too bad, I will see the Man in Black someday.

~Jenn

Ps. I went to the haunted St. Boniface Museum location this week to talk to the Museum Director. It was great, and I will blog about it soon. Till then, happy haunting!

Something growled at us!

That's right, while on our vigil, we were growled at three times! Tonight was a fun, yet a scary night. We did some screaming, but well, we asked for it. Tonight's investigation was supposed to take place last weekend, however I was faced with some unfortunate circumstances and had to postpone all of my shooting. Tonight at the Jefferson tree, myself and fellow CreComm friend and investigator, Amanda Hope spent hours on location. We scouted for a few hours, got lost in the forest maze, left on a mission, then returned at night fall to film in the dark. It was super fun and super scary.

The crazy thing is, that even though a couple of elderly people set up camp to have some sort of fire, while at the tree, we felt completely off and uneasy.  We decided to venture off to an area, that we never had been. It was our first time, attempting communication there, and quite possibly our last (without boys anyway). It was terrifying! The thing that set us off was being growled at so much and something running towards us that the only way we felt safe was to loudly sing the coconut song from The Lion King!

I am happy to say, that I snapped a ton of photos, like 4 or 5 per a minute, and the orbs in each set, are different. Some move, some disappear. It is exciting. I don't know if you believe, and I know that orbs can be defined as the lens being too close to the flash causing a light reflection. But I ask you, in a few seconds how can some be there and some not. And some move. Believe what you will. I still don't know what to believe. Only, I hope to never to get growled like that at again!

~Jenn

IPP Progress

Not much to say that has happened this week. I have done no filming, or sighting. I have, however made a contact with my second location to document and am calling tomorrow, to make further plans.

As for the documentary itself, the script is nearly finished, the incredibly first draft anyway. I spent the majority of the weekend, reading, researching, writing, thinking and thus developing my draft. I have also planned the next few weeks and made a schedule. Lots of filming ahead of me. It is almost October and at least two thirds of my doc needs to be filmed outdoors, if not more.

New Jefferson Tree photo, what is this red thing?

I plan to go back to the Jefferson Tree location this week to further the investigation with my good friend Amanda Hope, however we both got sick after our last venture out there and aren't 100% yet. But I have learned that the tree we thought it was, may not be the right one, Apparently the tree we need to find is hidden somewhere in the maze at the park. Not sure if I believe this, but its worth a look.

I also plan to go back to St. Andrews next weekend to re-shoot and do a little research of my own with my guy. Sounds like a great date! Haha, just kidding, but you never know.

Till then,

~ Jenn

Ghost Hunting Day 1

Not really....

Today, as the first step of my IPP (Independent Professional Project) a classmate and I adventured out to case study #1, St. Andrews on the Red Anglican Church. The church built in 1848 is one of the oldest historical sites in Canada. The supposed paranormal activity at this site is astounding and in so, has become my first story to tell.

The church has open visiting hours annually from May until, well.. this weekend. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to grab some footage! It wasn't bad. The inside of the church itself isn't really all that cool and pretty small. Except for a stain glass window which is said to be the original from 1881. I filmed it.

We filmed the entire grounds. Nothing really creepy happened, seeing as it was before dusk. Although we did encounter weird 'hammering' type noises that seemed to mirror our every location. There were a couple of times while filming we would look at each other and say, "did you hear that?" Most likely our creep outs were caused by the fact that we knew we were on haunted grounds, but that's okay...

However, in regards to my footage, I spent two hours filming 15 minutes of boring shots! But, that's the way it goes. This documentary is a long process, as it should be, but still totally fun. Exploring the grounds, research, interviews, and reenactments! Now this is right up my alley.

I knew filming just randomly would help heat things up in my mind. I have so many questions. Like why all these children died in 1894, Manitoba archives here I come!

~Jenn

Ps. I met a women on the grounds while filming who told me of another legend. It is said that if you run around the church three times you will see something paranormal and even possibly... disappear.

Time To Get Going

School is one week away and my IPP (Independent Professional Project) is nowhere to be found. For this documentary I have chosen Manitoba Hauntings. One of my topics, recommended by my dad is to get the story on St. Andrews on the Red, located near Selkirk.

According to this site, this spot is number 3 on their top 5 places to visit in Manitoba. Sweet! My first research piece is discovered.

(Taken directly from the site)

3) Selkirk, St. Andrew's on the Red: Dreams of Gates

St. Andrew's on the Red is actually the name of the church in front of the cemetery that is said to be haunted. There has been a man in black and a lady in white said to be drifting through the graveyard at night. A ghost car coming out of nowhere has also been described as well as the sighting of two red eyes staring out through the dark. There also has been a strange connection between those who have visited this cemetery after dark. It is said that they have all had dreams of the cemetery gates rattling.

The sign at the bottom right says - NO TRESPASSING AFTER DUSK

 - Huh!