MVP and Mutantville.com are proud to announce the addition of Charlotte-based actor Davis Osborne to the already stellar cast of “G.H.O.S.T.”  Davis joins Dave Tunik on the set this weekend.  He will play the part of “Joshua” in the first of a series of new scenes introducing the eponymous ghost hunting team in “G.H.O.S.T.’

Davis has appeared in a multiplicity of productions in and around the Charlotte area – including “Pursuit”, “Tolerance”, and the award winning short film “Chekov’s Children” by director Robert Fillion.

Davis initially auditioned for “G.H.O.S.T.” at the casting call back in August of ‘09 – but  was unable to accept a role at the time due to schedule conflicts.  Director J.T. McRoberts states, “I was very impressed with Davis’ auditions.  Davis quite literally blew us away with his reading.  I was always disappointed that we weren’t able to align our schedules to allow him to join us at the time.  As soon as I started reading through the new scenes and thinking of the talent in the area – Davis’ name immediately sprung to mind.  I reached out to him about participating and he graciously accepted.”

Davis’ philosophy on acting is proudly displayed on his website where he states, “every character . . . ever written, has an emotion to convey . . . to evoke in the silent bystander . . . the one in the shadows . . . the viewer.  Pity. . .hate. . .fear. . .lust. . .love. . .concern.  It is my job as the actor to search deep inside of me. . . . and find the parts of my human nature that I can use and magnify to deliver more than a performance. . .”

Mutantville Productions is headed back to the set this week as the new shooting schedule for “G.H.O.S.T.” begins in earnest!  Principle photography was completed in November, pick ups were filmed over December, and the first assembly was completed over the winter holiday.   After the first cut came in at a healthy 47 minute run time  – producers Brent Bowers, Geo Blalock and writer/director J.T. McRoberts decided to invest in shooting some new scenes to expand the short film into a full length feature.  After weeks of heavy work on the script for new scenes – the pieces are set in motion and MVP is on it’s way back to the set.

This week – we stop at a local bookstore where the fans will have a chance to meet and greet the one and only G.B. Cunningham from “G.H.O.S.T. “  Actors Dave Tunik and Davis Osborne are excited to head back to the set to bring the new scene to life.   Filming on these additional scenes will continue through the few months and is expected to conclude in April.  Keep watching Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news!

This past weekend, the Mutantville Players weathered the storms across two states to converge on an one hundred year old house in the sleepy town of Smyrna, South Carolina to film the scheduled last scene for G.H.O.S.T.. Director, J.T. McRoberts, cinematographer Geo Swanko, and costume designer Luis Machicao joined actors Scott Thomas and Kathy Sandvoss to bring this dreamy sequence to life.

MVP was originally scheduled to film this scene back at the beginning of December but was forced to postpone due to poor weather conditions and sub-zero temperatures. This scene was designed in order to showcase the amazing costume designs of couture designer Luis Machicao. We searched long and hard for a suitable location that would pass for a Civil War period home – Luis himself was able to secure this amazing location for us.

Sunday morning saw storms cover the Carolinas – but we were in luck as the area around Smyrna was clear. MVP decided to take the risk and go forward with the shoot.  It was quite a long trip down to the backwoods of South Carolina – but it was well worth it. The cast and crew had to drive through torrential downpour to make it to Smyrna – but everyone arrived safe and sound. We were pleased to round the bend to overcast – but calm skies and an amazing landscape nestled in a cloud of fog. The conditions couldn’t have been more conducive to filming our dream sequence if we had planned it that way.

Our hosts Kevin, Laura and Cameron were very gracious and patient with us as we dressed the cast in Luis’ gorgeous costumes and took them out in the field. Six year old Cameron was quite interested in our activities and even offered his ideas for a few horror scenes for our movie which he thought should include zombies. We had a few close scares as the sky tossed a short downpour or two on us during filming – but for the most part we went unmolested by the rain. Kathy and Scott took to their task like true professionals and we were able to shoot our way through the scene without any difficulty. Keep watching Facebook over the coming week as we share the bevy of gorgeous photos taken during the shoot.

Mutantville Productions would like to extend our most gracious thanks to our hosts Kevin, Laura, and Cameron for allowing us to come into their home. This was the scheduled final shoot of G.H.O.S.T. – but we can’t celebrate just yet. With the announced plans to continue working on G.H.O.S.T. to extend it to a full length feature run time – this is not the ending – but another amazing beginning.

Thanks, MVP. We’ll see you back on the set soon!

**Jamie McRoberts

Streebo

Mutantville Productions LLC
Mutantville Productions, changing the face of independent horror – one G.H.O.S.T. at a time.

We reviewed the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T. last night and the verdict is in – it looks great!  We were very pleased with what we have so far.  Plans have been set in motion to shoot additional scenes for G.H.O.S.T. to expand the proposed short film into a full length feature!  We’re planning a horrific new intro scene to set the tone for the movie as well as a few new introductory scenes for the members of our G.H.O.S.T. team.  The wheels have been set in motion and a new schedule will be planned out over the coming weeks.  The new scenes should put us back in front of the camera for the next few months – extending the filming of G.H.O.S.T. into the spring.  We couldn’t be happier with our progress on G.H.O.S.T. and can’t wait to share it with you all.

~~Jamie

The energy is high on the Mutantville Mothership as the producers of MVP meet tonight to review the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T..  G.H.O.S.T. was originally proposed as a five minute short for the Chiller Dare to Direct contest – but was expanded in a longer 30 minute short film.  The first cut of G.H.O.S.T. came in at a unexpected 47 minutes.  Everyone is so pleased with what we have so far – that we are excited about the possibility of expanding G.H.O.S.T. into a full length feature with an approximate run time of 70 minutes.  Tonight we will discuss what works or doesn’t work in the first cut as well as going over the visual FX needed and possible approaches to the score.  We will also have our final discussion on the new scenes to be filmed to lengthen the movie before locking them into a new version of the script.  What a long strange trip it’s been – and we’re only getting started!

**Streebo

Since we’ve reached the end of the first cut of G.H.O.S.T., let’s take a look back at the genesis of the project – beginning with Brento’s initial walk through of the opera house.

Work for G.H.O.S.T. started back in January with the launch of the MVP Blog here at Mutantville.com and the beginning of intense pre-production on G.H.O.S.T.. The cast and crew put in many a long day and night throughout production during October and November and we’ve carried that level of intensity into post-production by shooting pick ups all through December. We started editing during the second week of filming and are finally nearing completion of the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T..

There is so much going on behind the scenes that’s it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep producing timely updates in addition to doing the actual work. This has been an amazing adventure so far. The footage looks great. The performances were fantastic and the special make-up FX are spectacular. Just as it seems we’re nearing the end – we are in fact reaching a new beginning. It’s not official yet – but we are working on ideas for new scenes to shoot for the movie – to expand it from it’s intended half hour format into a full length feature! That’s right – we will still be able to cut G.H.O.S.T. down to a very tight half hour TV pilot s intended – but there is enough material there that with a few smart additions – we can expand the story a touch and turn G.H.O.S.T. into a full movie.

I’m so excited that I can hardly contain myself. While this is good news for us – it also means that this non-stop rollercoaster of work that we’ve been on since July will continue for the foreseeable future! Thank you all for your help in making this dream a reality. Everyone in MVP plays an important role and we couldn’t have made our movie without you! Keep checking the MVP Blog for more updates as they happen!

**Streebo

Last night saw the Mutantville Players return to the opera house once more for another round of pick up shots.  Luckily we weren’t just shooting windows and door frames this week as we were able to suit up and get bloody for another cool special make-up FX shot.  Alan Whitley out his boomstick down and picked up the latex to play the part of our supernatural visitor.  Alan underwent a grueling 3 hour session at the hands of special make-up FX kingpin Todd A. Britt.  The air was chilly but Alan’s spirits were warm under layers of silicon, tubing and buckets of blood as he brought our ghostly friend to unatural life!  With this shot in the can – we have only two major FX shots left and G.H.O.S.T. will be complete.  This Sunday, the Mutantville Players are heading to the green and grassy hills of South Carolina for our final pick up shots with two of our leads – Kathy Sandvoss and Scott Thomas.  The journey to make G.H.O.S.T. has been an amazing one.  It will be sad to see it all come to an end.  Be sure to keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news!

~~Streebo

Principle photography on G.H.O.S.T. ended two weeks ago – but you would never know it on the Mutantville Mothership.  The producers have been hard at work keeping the websites updated, shooting pick up shots, designing posters, and editing the actual movie.  The first assembly is coming together and we couldn’t be happier with the results so far.  We keep producing new promo posters so keep checking here and on Facebook for the latest designs.  Be sure to add your feedback so we know which posters people like.  Speaking of posters – here’s a strong early contender for final poster status.  It’s a simple still shot taken during filming – but it says everything about the project in one powerful image.  What do you think?

Keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news and more.

~~Streebo

Make-up FX Maestro Todd A. Britt brings another ghostly creation to life during the wee hours of the night.

Last night, Mutantville Productions wrapped principle photography on G.H.O.S.T. after a long fifteen hour shoot.  Kathy Sandvoss earned her final Scream Queen stripes and Super Diva status by battling her way through another challenging shoot.  Thanks to our good friend, couture designer, Luis Machicao for lending his tremendous talents in supervising the filming of his costume designs for the finale of the movie.  Lead actor Scott Thomas persevered another bloody and bruising shoot to bring our central ghost to life.  Clint Jones showed his horror heart by enduring several make-up sessions.  Dave Tunik gave his all in taking another bloody bite out of his role and a gelatin prop.  Jason Wheely gave a heartwrenching performance as a haunted young TV producer.  Jack Stecher pulled out all the stops to give a bravura performance as the crazy caretaker of the opera house.

Special thanks goes out to MVP’S own maestro of make-up FX – Todd A. Britt for bringing all of his Sith talents to bear in creating several macabre make-ups over the course of the fifteen hour marathon.  Additional thanks goes to Sylvia and Sierra for lending their talents to the make-up department by resurrecting our supernatural visitors once more.  Thanks again to Allan Whitley for toughing out another long night to lend a strong hand and keep our boomstick steady for another night.  Special thanks goes out MVP’S own Costume Diva, seamstress and assistant to Mr. Machicao, Angela Pritchett  who although unable to attend our final shoot due to schedule conflicts, put in many a long night on the set of G.H.O.S.T., lending her considerable costuming talents to help bring the production to life.  Thanks to John R. Sexton for putting on a layered performance as Grandfather last month.  Thank you to Kayli Tolleson and her mom Janna for lending their talent, energy and support to G.H.O.S.T. over the course of the shoot.  And last but not least a very special thanks goes to my mom, Momma Streebo, for being a beacon of strength and inspiration to me over the years and for dusting off her sewing machine to create Johnny Reb’s jacket in whole – mere days before the first shoot.  And to anyone that helped that I may have overlooked here, thank you for your help, we could not have done it without you all.  Thank you.

This project has been an amazing journey and I thank you all for sharing it with me.  Production may be complete – but post-production begins immediately as we will continue with editing, sound design and shooting final make-up FX shots of the movie.  Be sure to keep tuning in to Mutantville.com and Mutant TV for your up to the minute news on G.H.O.S.T., C for Chaos, and MVP.

~~Streebo