We're 100% funded! Thanks to all our backers!!

If anyone comes along who still wants to be a part of the project, though, we'll happily still take donations. Our target was the absolute minimum we needed, and I'm sure there will be lots of hidden costs along the way. It would be kind of fun to top $10,000. But now we know we'll at least be able to make the show. Whew! Thanks again!

Proof-Of-Concept Episode - "First Investigation"

A Paranormal Parody

Spooked is a comedic web series following the misadventures of a group of amateur paranormal investigators. Shot in documentary style, each episode will feature a new investigation, using the “haunting” as a backdrop for our characters to showcase their unique personalities and insecurities. Think "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" crossed with "Parks and Recreation" done as "Ghost Hunters", in the style of "The Office."

The plan is to have fifteen ten-minute episodes in the first season. We've completed scripts for the first three episodes, which center around the opening investigation, and introduce our main characters: there’s Quint, the reluctant skeptic, Max, the eager believer, and Fred, the lovable fool seemingly along for the ride. We've also developed the overall arc for the season, which brings in a female member to the group, a rival husband-and-wife investigation team, and a number of recurring side characters, including an obsessive Bigfoot expert, a helpful pawn shop owner, and a slovenly lab tech. We plan to finish writing the majority of the episodes by the end of the Kickstarter period, and will post excerpts for potential input from backers. 

Evolution of Spooked

In the beginning, there was Spook Chasers, a 20-minute short film based on an idea by Ty Keltner and Jason Sanders (both of whom also starred in the film). We made the flick for a University of Alaska Fairbanks film festival and went on to win Audience Choice. In retrospect, the film is a bit uneven, but filled with lots of love and some truly inspired moments. Plus, we learned a lot about how to make a mockumentary.

After moving to Portland, I thought it would be fun to do a sequel called "Squatch Watch". Over time, and with help from the third Spook Chasers star, Alex Grantham, this concept morphed into what is now Spooked. It's no longer a sequel; rather, we borrowed the basic premise, some of the ideas and character archetypes from our old film, and reformed it into something we think is substantially better.

Not Just a Web Series

In addition to the series, we intend to make the experience interactive, including in-character blogs and podcasts hosted on the main website, as well as faux websites based on assorted characters and organizations we'll meet during the course of the show (Oh, I still plan to use the “Squatch Watch” idea). Another important note about the show is that whenever possible, we hope to travel to actual supposed haunted locations in and around the Northwest. Portland will serve as our central location, but there will be episodes venturing to the Oregon Coast in search of the elusive Bandage Man (Look him up! He's "real"), the Oregon Vortex, Sasquatch-Sighting Locations, and maybe even the occasional Seattle haunting. Ideally the series can double as a travel show of unique locations in the Northwest.

Just Who Do We Think We Are?

We're a group of friends who enjoy the supernatural and making movies. Some of us are true believers, others cautiously optimistic, and some just enjoy the paranormal as fantasy fiction. We're equally wide-ranging in our filmmaking experience. Some have spent the majority of their time in front of the camera, some are self-taught, while others have had formal training.

Myself, I attended two years of film school before finishing up my degree in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was in Fairbanks that I made many of the friends I went on to collaborate with. We've made a slew of ambitious short films over the years. Low-budget filmmaking presents many challenges, but we've always been able to overcome them and end up with finished products; products that have gone on the win numerous film festival awards. I've also produced a number of local commercials, both in Alaska and here in Portland, and most recently co-produced a documentary that will be airing on PBS next month.

Why We Need Your Help

To do this right, we’ll have expenses beyond what we can afford out of pocket. Cast and crew will be donating much of their skills, time, and equipment. However, there are unavoidable production costs such as buying or renting equipment we can't build or borrow, feeding cast and crew, and travel fees. Plus, we need to purchase domain names and maintain the websites. That's where you come in! With your much-appreciated donations, we can raise the funds needed to make this show a reality. 

If This is Your First Kickstart

If you're new to Kickstarter, here’s how it works:  you can contribute whatever amount you like. It's an all-or-nothing deal, so we only get the money if we manage to raise the total goal in our allotted amount of time, and your card isn't charged until that occurs. If we're successful, you're also entitled to rewards (located to the right) corresponding to your level of donation. Pretty neat, right?  So please, donate what you can, and most importantly, spread the word! This is crowd sourcing after all.

Don't Be a Stranger

And please keep checking back. We'll be updating this page with new videos and information about the project as pre-production commences. We plan to start shooting some of the "archival" footage showing our characters’ early days soon. Plus, we’ll be filming a couple of short "minisodes" that will serve as trailers and character introductions. There will also be some exclusive content available only to backers, so keep an eye out!

For Our International Friends

We wish that shipping to other countries didn’t make things more expensive, but it does raise the cost a bit. Canada/Mexico Backers: Please add $8 to your pledge to cover the additional cost of shipping your rewards. Overseas Backers: Please add $15.

Thanks for reading this much and for considering our project. It means a lot! If you have any questions, please contact us and ask away! We'd love to hear from you.

Cast Interviews