SLIDESHOW: The Dawson War (stills and behind-the-scenes)

Poster artwork by: Tony Vardon
Photographs provided by: The Dawson War Fan Page and Teri Bridges (Beauty for Ashes)
Slideshow created by: Roxanna Coldiron

Behind The Scenes: Ghosts On The Set

On Saturday, July 27, 2013, we filmed at the Carter House, part of the Portage County Historical Society. The house was built in 1835 and is in such great condition that it's like walking back in time as soon as you enter through the front door. On the grounds of the historical society, you'll also find the Lowrie-Beatty Museum, the Strickland House, the Mahan New England Barn, a log cabin and an Indian Village. Those of us not directly involved with the particular scenes being filmed had the opportunity to tour the grounds.

But we weren't alone!

When we toured the Strickland House, several cast members felt a heavy presence. The original owners of the house, George Strickland and his wife Lucreta Welton, built it in 1869, about two years following their marriage. The couple shared the land with George's father Willis, who lived next door in the Salmon Carter House. Apparently, some of the residents have never left...


Photo: Portage County Historical Society

Teri Bridges, our makeup artist, and her assistant Marlene Brown walked off to one of the rooms by themselves. Teri experienced a sensation of someone holding her hand several times, but no one was standing next to her.

Then the women heard a whoosh and saw the tail end of a person running past them right after Teri had heard another woman's voice asking her why she was in the house. Needless to say, Teri and Marlene screamed and ran toward the rest of us.

Other cast members could definitely feel a presence in the house and experienced the paranormal in different ways. Do you feel someone watching you? Well, you're probably not wrong....

Actor Q & A: Richard Phillis

Actor Richard Phillis

Richard Phillis knows his way around a movie set. According to IMDb, he's already completed nine film shorts with one film in post-production and another (ours!) currently in production. You've probably seen him in The Farm, and he's reprising his role as Sheriff Franklin in our latest production The Dawson War. Now you can get to know the actor a little bit better because we asked him a few questions. Enjoy!

Ghost Walk: What's a typical day in your life like?
Richard Phillis: I start my day by walking an hour as fast as I can walk for conditioning my legs and heart and my wind. Then I eat breakfast, shower, come home and study my latest script, go to bed early so I can get up early.

GW: If you were trapped in a haunted mansion with hostile ghosts, you would...
RP: Try to reason with them.

GW: What would people be surprised to know about you?
RP: I don't drink any alcohol.

GW: What motivates your character Sheriff Francis Franklin?
RP: I think he likes people to underestimate his abilities as a sheriff. He doesn't want people to see him coming, so he gets the upper hand.

Catch up with Richard in the latest installment of the Dawson family, coming out in 2014!

Actor Q & A: Robbie Barnes

Actress Robbie Barnes plays the lead female role in The Dawson War, our latest film project. In the film, she portrays the strong Estella (Dawson) Harper, who has been the most harmed by her family's darkest secrets. The love of her life, Johnny Harper (played by John Chiara), helped to bring her out of the darkness, but her family's skeletons are soon to fall out of the closet and haunt her again! We caught up with the busy, beautiful and versatile actress to talk to her about acting, spooks and her latest role:

Actress Robbie Barnes

Ghost Walk: When did you first get the acting bug?
Robbie Barnes: I was first bitten with the acting bug when I was four years old. I remember watching The Terminator and never being afraid of it, but wishing I was a part of it. My parents explained to me what a movie was so I wasn't scared of what I was seeing. I remember the second film and thinking Linda Hamilton was the coolest woman ever and I wanted to be like her. As I got older, nothing changed. I still want to be an ass-kicking chick making movies!

GW: How do you get into a role and put on the skin of the character, so to speak?
RB: I like to psychoanalyze the roles I get and figure out the background of the characters, the part of the script that's not written. I go over 100 questions about the character that will be on my mind when I portray her. I try to find relatable events in my life so I can play the emotion as accurately as possible. Even if it's a villain character who is doing something I would never or have never done, I still try to find a way to relate and to like my own character, even if no one else does. All villains have humanity to them; but with that, all heroes also have evil.

GW: Tell us about the first time you ever saw a ghost. How did you react?
RB: The first time I had a ghostly experience was in Gettysburg. I've had several there; I used to ghost hunt pretty frequently. Most of the time, I'd never see anything and it was just a feeling. A sensation that you're not alone...It would always creep me out. It wasn't pleasant, but of course, that'd come with the territory. It was a lot of negative energy. I was in an old house in Richmond once investigating, and I walked into an old parlor room and was hit with the smell of cigar smoke, though no one was smoking. It was the first time I ever smelled a phantom scent and it was...refreshing. A lot more relaxed. I felt calm. I made me smile. They were clearly having a party, and all was well.

GW: What do you like most about your character Estella in The Dawson War?
RB: I like that she's tough. She has her moments of being a pain to those around her, but she gets what she wants and can take care of herself. I've always loved strong, independent women roles.

GW: What was your favorite scary movie growing up? Why?
RB: The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre from the 70's. The idea of wearing someone else's skin that you cut off of them is just creepy. Not to mention that loud, scary chainsaw cutting through limbs and being hung on a meat hook. And I know it was an indie film made on a very small budget, and it was clearly a huge success. Bravo to them for turning it into a classic!

You can learn more about Robbie Barnes by visiting her website and her Facebook fan page.

Actor Q & A: Holly Neelie

If you've seen The Farm, then you've already "met" actress Holly Neelie as "Lynn Dawson", Estella's not-so-kind aunt. Well, the lovely and talented blonde is reprising her role as Aunt Lynn in The Dawson War, the prequel to The Farm. We caught up with her to ask her a few questions about her acting and her take on ghosts. Enjoy!

Ghost Walk: What do you like most about acting in ghost/horror films?
Holly Neelie: I enjoy acting in films period. :)

GW: If you were stuck in a haunted house for the weekend, you would...
HN: ...sit huddled in a corner, arms wrapped around my legs, and using my knees as a chin rest, cautiously observing.

GW: What is the scariest or funniest thing that has happened to you while on set for The Dawson War or The Farm?
HN: While filming my last scene for The Farm, I had a heck of a time attaching the clasp on that prized necklace. I must've stood there for upward to a minute each take in total silence before I could say my line!

GW: How would you describe your character Aunt Lynn?
HN: Aunt Lynn is controlling and truly believes herself to be superior to others.

You can learn more about Holly Neelie ("Aunt Lynn") by visiting her website at http://hollyneelie.com/.

Take a look at what's new for Ghost Walk Studios:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-dawson-war-startup-campaign-ghost-walk-studios

Ghost Walk Productions is now GHOST WALK STUDIOS!
http://ghostwalkstudios.com/

http://ghostwalkstudios.com/