Episode 1 (Amanda Tusing) discussion

ghostgeek · Last edited by ghostgeek on Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:20 am; edited 3 times in total

"Forgotten Fiancée"
A young woman vanishes while driving from her fiancée's house to her parent’s house. Four days after her disappearance, she is found in a drainage ditch. Lacking any substantial evidence, the investigation stalls. Can three paranormal experts help solve this mind-boggling crime using their unconventional methods?

Hey everyone…

Thanks for all your support – those of you that came out for the premiere get-together, and those of you there were there “in spirit”. Smile

We had a very nice turn out of around 50 people or so. I’ll never forget that night – especially WG’s goofy antics! Belly Boo rules! LOL.

Reviews for the show are coming in. Everything I’ve seen from the “established” media circles so far are positive. SciFi channel gave us a B+ the New York Post (notorious for panning new shows) gave us 3 of 4 stars.

Most of the posts I’ve seen on other sites have been saying they like the show. There have been a few negative comments posted, and that’s to be expected – can’t please everyone, right?

From those who like the show, the #1 criticism is that its too short at 30 minutes. After watching the premiere myself, I did note it seemed to be over very quickly, but as P.T. Barnum said “always leave ‘em wanting more!”

The next on the list is that everyone is hoping for resolution of the cases in the episode. I need to remind everyone – this is NOT Psychic Detectives (though it has the same look and feel in many respects). PD deals with reenactments of “cold cases” that are already solved. Our program is showcasing crime investigations that are (at present) still very much open – this is why each episode ends asking viewers to contact the authorities if they have any information. Think of Haunting Evidence as a cross breed between “Psychic Detectives” and “Unsolved Mysteries”. YES – if there is resolution in ANY of these cases, Departure Films and Court TV has assured us they will do an update segment – again, much like “Unsolved Mysteries”. Are any of the details given by John and Carla turning out to be of value to authorities? All I can say is several investigators have been VERY interested in some of the information that have been provided by the two of them. Time will tell if these leads help convict anyone.

Also, many have said they wanted to see more of me in the episodes; doing the technical side of paranormal investigation. I’m flattered, but it’s important to remember this is first and foremost a show about psychic abilities, so certainly you will see more of John and Carla than my work. In the mean time when I’m not behind my rig, my role is trickling out details to John and Carla (when they ask) so they can tell if they are on the right track. Yes, I might ask the “obvious” questions of them, but questions that need to be asked none the less.

Some have remarked “all he got was a single temperature spike”? Hey - activity either happens or it doesn’t, and I sure as hell won’t start “making” things happen. Those of us who actually have been doing this for any length of time know that it’s usually very subtle stuff that happens. Yes - a single temperature spike might be all you measure – especially when you are so limited in terms of the time you get to spend at each location, as we are. But I won’t sell my soul in the name of ratings – I know my true peers in this field will respect me for that.

I know that not everyone is pleased with the show for various reasons, and “Haunting Evidence” is sure to be a hot button of controversy with the cynics; not only calling into question the “activity” we are observing, but because some feel programs like this exploit crimes as entertainment. To that I answer, the potential good that can come from this program I feel outweighs everything else. What’s better? For these cases to be pushed further and further back into a dusty file cabinet; to be forgotten by everyone but the loved ones left behind, or for them to get a fresh look before a large audience, where someone might see something familiar and come forward with information that ultimately gets these cases solved? To those who would say the program is shameful for “false hope” to the victims families, that’s not really the cynics call to make, as they are NOT the families who are looking for answers. I feel everyone involved has been the utmost respectful to all the families we have worked along side, and the families themselves have expressed to each of us immense gratitude for the help we MIGHT be able to provide – but of course they know there are no guarantees. “False hope”? A cold case is NO HOPE until there is a break in the case, and yes – Haunting Evidence might provide that break either directly or indirectly. Amanda Tusings mother posted to the Court TV message forums that they started getting new leads the instant the program ended. And that’s the bottom line, isn’t it? That the families might get the answers they deserve.

Thoughts? Questions?
_________________
Patrick Burns
Founder and Director, Ghost Hounds

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein

My homepage - http://patrick-burns.com
My Blog - http://myspace.com/ghostgeek

sandmanfvr · Mist Joined: Apr 26, 2005 Posts: 133

I don't want to sound like an a$$, but the show is ok and needs work. Ok first off, I was surprised it was about you guys helping a police investigation. I thought it would be like Ghost Hunters, Most Haunted, Dead Famous, etc. where you investigated a haunted location. That is my problem since I didn't read any info on the show. The time frame of 30 minutes is pretty good, but an hour would better. Though you guys did better than other shows and really put meat in the show and 30 minutes did alot, so if you keep that up then 30 minutes will be fine (thought going to 1 hour would be nice).

The main thing I didn't like was the focus on the medium and psychic profiler. To me the show revolved around them and left you out, for the most part. Frankly you were protraded (sp?) as just the pararnormal investigator that was taggging along with the two psychics. Not to bash you, cause I am like you: scientific and such and love ghost hunting/paranormal investigating. I don't know. I got it recorded and can watch it agin, but Patrick you didn't shine in the show like the other two. I am not bashing the other two, they are fine people. I just think your role in the show was, well, pathetic and I blame the producers on that. You are just as important, frankly, MORE important than any psychic (no offense to sensitive, psychisc, mediums etc. on here). My friend is sensitive, but he can stand there all night long and tell me of what he feels, but a client or whoever also wants evidence and that is where I and others like me (you to) come in. Maybe I make no sense, but I just don't like shows like Most Haunted (hate it now) that focus on psychics to much. I LOVE Dead Famous due to the two on there are realistic and there is a sharing of hard evidence and spirtitual. I hope the future shows are more balanced. You were awesome in it and I hope you don't take offense to this review.

I give the show an 8 to 8.5 out of 10. I can't make up my mind on which, but not anywhere close to the 9 range.
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GeorgiaPeachMarie · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

I really liked the show. I thought it was tastefully done and provided ample background for us to be up to speed on the case. I honestly thought that Patrick added authenticity to this program and looked adorable to boot. Very Happy

I would have liked an hour, but as Patrick said, leave 'em wanting more. A great job was done by all. I'll return for next weeks episode. I'm a fan of HE.

-Marie
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"There is no death. It is only a transition to a different sphere of consciousness."

wingedguy · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject:

PB -

I am proud of the format of the show and your role in what was presented. I know that a lot of your technical work behind the scenes was not shown, but without that as a backup it would just be Carla's and John's psychic opinion. but knowing you were there listening and looking at the screens and using your knowledge made their work MORE presentable and validated them as truly gifted psychics. you were as important as the psychics and only those who know what is involved in the "tech" work appreciate that.

I understand the focus of this show. it was NEVER presented in the pilot to be another GhostHunters. (thankfully). I don't want to see another fruitless show which builds up the players and not the victim. and I think HE is not this kind of show -it has a purpose and point -to bring justice to the guilty and closure to the victims!

there is no way that a ghost show can really fit in this kind of theme -they are two different kinds of shows. this is a show about crimes unsolved and the clues brought to light through paranormal researchers -not a gang of ghostbuster wannabes which air out their personal laundry as a part of the show format. for that alone we are thankful!

I only hope that in the future it will be that the popularity and the ratings merit an hour show -just to know more or the facts of a case and to dive deeper into the scenario before the episode ends. I also know that first season shows are open to a lot of change and reworking -maybe the producers can hear from us that we think an hour IS merited with all the work that you three do on a case.

PB -we are immensely proud of the show! it is honorable to the victim and sensitive to the survivors. it shows a serious slant on crime and brutality which is an unfortunate part of our society. but most of all it aims to provide an answer to a senseless crime in the hopes of preventing others from happening. for that the show is ALL worth the effort! if another young college girl in not taken away from her loved ones and friends by some psycho jerk as a result of this show -the show met its purpose!

and the techie helped bring that to light! and as a part of that team you DO shine!

we are proud of that effort! you have a real reason to be proud of your work -it is quality.

chris
_________________
"just because you can't SEE them, doesn't mean they're not there!"

Setsu-P · Orb Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Dunwoody, GA.

HE seems to assume that people have already seen other shows like Ghost Hunters and the rest. I noticed they didn't go into much detail about that temperature spike, other than to point out that it was in response to John and Carla's revelations.

If what they were seeing was correct, I'd just like to point out that a real law-enforcement officer will never ask you to get out of your car.. unless of course you have some kind of criminal background, and he has backup. I believe they are also required to have identification visible as to which city, county or state they work for. It's pretty easy for people to get law-enforcement paraphernalia, from used Interceptors and all their accessories down to actual uniforms.

Still, a very enjoyable show, and I'll be looking forward to any future information they present on these cases.

- S
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Dreams have but one owner at a time. That is why dreamers are lonely. - Erma Bombeck

ponyboy · Ectoplasm Joined: Apr 29, 2006 Posts: 681

well, i guess i'm right along with what you've already heard, patrick. I enjoyed the show alot from an entertainment aspect. Honestly, I am highly skeptical of alot of phsychics. I'm not saying that John or Carla don't have some kind of ability, it's just one of those things that is hard for me to wrap my head around. I must say, I do hope some of the future episodes are a bit more related to the paranormal investigation aspect of it, but I think it was a damn fine piece of television, and it gets 2 thumbs up and maybe a pinky.

Kently · Mist Joined: May 08, 2006 Posts: 185 Location: Cumming

GG,
Couple of things:

GG Wrote:
"Also, many have said they wanted to see more of me in the episodes; doing the technical side of paranormal investigation."

Someone has to be the glue that keeps it all together. Just like a good investigation, you are the base.

GG Wrote:
"Some have remarked “all he got was a single temperature spike”?"

I have over 1000 pics and only get two I am proud to show, or many, many hours of audio with nothing to show. Your find was great to back up the psychics. They are a tool and your tools just backed them up as well.

As long as the crew can help one person and or family, keep up the great work and it is all worth it.
Thanks,

Kent
_________________
"People want to know why I do this, why I write such gross stuff. I like to tell them I have the heart of a small boy -- and I keep it in a jar on my desk." - Stephen King
http://www.myspace.com/kent_f

ghostgeek · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:47 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your comments! Both positive and negative! Keep 'em coming!

To turn to technical discussions for a moment, another point I wanted to make in regards to the temperature spike... I'm frequently asked about "cold spots" and if there are also such things as "warm spots". While the increase in temperature is regarded by most experienced investigators as much less common, it does happen, and this episode was one of the instances where I did manage to document it

I measure changes in ambient air temperature using a total of three thermistors (thermal resistors) in my rig for Haunting Evidence. All three sensors were placed within a 20 foot radius near where Carla was at the time. One viewer remarked to the effect that there would certainly be changes in air temp with a storm front moving through the area, which is true. However a naturally occurring temp fluxuation would cover a large area, and SHOULD have registered on all 3 probes simultaneously. It only registered on one probe at a time, indicating this was a highly localized "pocket" of warmer ambient air. Also the temperature rose only briefly (span of about 20 seconds), then fell back to its baseline level, seeming to indicate this was not merely the edge of a warm front rolling in.

While it didn't make it into the final cut, I *did* ask if Carla or the camera man had possibly brushed against one of the thermistor probes. They indicated they had not moved anywhere near where they were placed, and I agreed, as they were very restricted in terms of where they could actually stand near the edge of the drainage ditch. I also had not noticed them moving about the area on the video monitors, so I find that explaination highly unlikely.

There were also two other "smaller" temperature spikes of about 5 degrees, and these both occurred on a separate probe. This did not make the air cut either, but to me seemed to indicate this was not merely a temporary malfunction on one probe.
_________________
Patrick Burns
Founder and Director, Ghost Hounds

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein

My homepage - http://patrick-burns.com
My Blog - http://myspace.com/ghostgeek

Fayelle · Mist Joined: Jun 07, 2006 Posts: 246

I had a hard time with the show for various reasons but they have more to do with me than the actual content.....

It is always rough to gauge a medium or psychic validity when the case has not been solved.....

I could relate to both of them in the feelings they got but since I am skeptical of myself regarding my own abilities it was hard for me to watch......

I felt the side of the investigator was a little bit downplayed by the psychic, and medium parts but I am assuming that perhaps later in additional episodes your part as the investigator will be in the spotlight more when there is more for you to find.....Medium and psychic abilities are a little tough to follow because it seems so dramatic....Many time it is dramatic because feelings are so involved and enhanced in that moment of ability....

Although I agree with the poster above saying that it is so hard to catch things on devices and the temperature spike was a pretty good catch to help validate the growing energy around the feelings the med/psychic had......However I felt the spike in temp needed a little more explanation for the layman, honestly before some of the more televised ghost hunts I had no idea what to make of any of the technical tools that hunters use.....My worry being that those who are new to the whole thing wont get the correlation between psychic feelings and the temperature spike.....

All in all it was done well, reminding me much of unsolved mysteries in the ambiance....But like I said its rough for me because I am so skeptical of myself, its hard to get flashes and things like that and be a skeptic LOL.....Either people will love the show or hate it depending on how much they can believe in what the medium/psychic can do......

All in all good stuff for a beginning episode, I think as it goes along it will flow and editors will get a feel for what flows well.....And as the three of you work together everything will start to click and become like a well oiled team who reads each other very well.....

Fay

mephistopheles · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:52 am Post subject:

i've already stated that the show was awsome!.but one thing i gotta say:working in that lightning with electrical equipment would have scared me####less! Laughing

erik
_________________
i know not with what weapons World War III will be fought,
but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones
-Albert Einstein-

rocknrandy · Mist Joined: May 07, 2005 Posts: 114

I really enjoyed the show, and thought you, Carla and John did a fantastic job. The family of the victim was treated with respect, and everything was handled tastefully, unlike some shows which do tend to exploit the family and the tragedy.
We will be glued to the tv every week for HE. The potential for y'all to help solve these cold cases is so huge; could bring closure to friends and family - so that is the best thing about it. It's not just a show, it can actually do some good!

Any chance y'all will work on the Tara Grinstead case for an episode?

Looking forward to seeing everyone this afternoon! :O)
Aimee

bebop · Mist Joined: Oct 31, 2004 Posts: 147

After watching the pilot episodes I found this one to be much more hmm put together. I think you guys have made great strides in making this a wonderful show. Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to the rest of this season!! Hopefully there will be many more seasons to come! Patrick you rock dude!

MONKish · Mist Joined: Feb 08, 2006 Posts: 375 Location: The TARDIS

mephistopheles · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject:

it is well known that positive ions travel along the ground during a storm,which eventually meet up with negative ions.this in turn produces lightning,which splits a section of "superheated gases",to move at a distance of 9 meters(29feet).but the irony is this;if the positive ions were traveling along the ground during the storm,why didnt it register on all 3 resistors?strange,i say Shocked

_________________
i know not with what weapons World War III will be fought,
but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones
-Albert Einstein-

dchastain · Mist Joined: Jul 25, 2004 Posts: 216

I liked it fine. I think 30 minutes is probably right for the show unless you're going to include a near-end portion with law enforcement follow ups on the leads you've developed (which I would like). Then, do a nice tie-up at the end. Maybe in future shows, a follow up can be included (such as to which you alluded) for unrelated previous cases.

ghostgeek · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:13 pm Post subject:

mephistopheles · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:07 am Post subject:

geomagnetic storms have a high output of positive charged ions.and most people dont know that each time a lightning bolt strikes,it repairs the ozone layer Wink

_________________
i know not with what weapons World War III will be fought,
but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones
-Albert Einstein-

missamy1605 · Mist Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 104 Location: Muncie, IN

I liked the exposure much. I wanted to see more you. But I am right a ventilator. I thought that they showed too much of the other people. Well of Oh. I could say that I did not like the exposure right for you not being in it so much. You were the only reason that I observed it. But I always obtained this cold each time I saw you. And it is good that the exposure helps to discover cases where the pirns of wire could not. Great exposure!
_________________
a sea of black, my feelings are, lost in a dessert, but feels like drowning, the ghosts of my thoughts scream like banshees inside my head, no rays of moon light to help me on my way, so i sit here in silence, pretending i'm not here. i see before me a night so dark, no hand to hold, no arm to grip, just alone here, gide me

gizgremlin · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:05 am Post subject:

Although I liked the show, and think it was done tastefully, I would have liked to have seen patrick explain the equipment that was being set up and what he was looking for, (Maybe a Tech segment on a future show) this would help the people who are not familiar with ghost hunting or the paranormal understand that there is no such thing as a magical "Ghost Detector" or "Ghost containment traps" like in ghostbusters movies. and that the equipment used is mainly used to locate and verify anomolious(sp?) changes in the base readings of the locations enviroment that are generally accepted in theory to accompany paranormal activity. Maybe explain why temprature drops or spikes are impotant in paranormal research, or why EMF meters are used, or that every Orb, vortex, or ecto mist captured in photographs is not always caused by paranormal activity and could just be dust, bugs, ciggarette smoke, camera straps, hair, lens flare, etc...Keep up the good work. and I will continue to watch.

Unicorn · New Entity Joined: May 12, 2006 Posts: 7

I watched the show and although I enjoyed it, I was surprised that there was no conclusion, which was MY assumption, not the fault of the show. I wanted to see an hour long episode where the police follow up on the clues and find the criminal.

I truly hope the producers follow through with updating the public if these crimes are solved, either due to the show or leds from the public.

ponyboy · Ectoplasm Joined: Apr 29, 2006 Posts: 681

il giorno buono è soddisfato in una posizione di ciò a qualcuno il mio volume di conto su ama le mie scarpe sotto la pioggia Cool

that'll keep you guys confused for a while Razz

wingedguy · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject:

something like your good day is dependent on how much someone likes your shoes in the rain.

LOL -wtH?

obviously, my italian tutor taught me useless parts of the language -like, "where is the bathroom." and "are there mushrooms in this faggioli!"

dang -I feel taken!
_________________
"just because you can't SEE them, doesn't mean they're not there!"

Bow_hunter777 · Orb Joined: Jan 28, 2006 Posts: 99

mephistopheles · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:14 am Post subject: