Ghost Hunter Tells All in Exclusive Interview
One of our readers here at GhostTheory who goes by the nickname “bellaboo” sent us a really interesting interview done by Alison Smith for the James Randi website.
In her interview, Alison talk to a “X”, who is a paranormal investigator on a popular paranormal TV show (referred as well by “X”). The interviewee proceeds to tell how most of what happens behind the scenes goes against what almost all paranormal investigators stand for. Faking evidence, disclosing vital information and such. Who could this “X” be and what TV show could this be? Check out the interview.
Thanks bellaboo!
Ghost Hunter Tells All in Exclusive Interview
Written by Alison Smith
Friday, 27 February 2009 12:00mr x Recently, I was granted an interview with “X,” a paranormal investigator from a television show. X could only speak if given total anonymity, as the contract X signed for the show states that giving an interview of this nature would result in litigation.
Because most of the individuals who read Swift are skeptics, it’s understandable to additionally be skeptical of the existence of X. I can only promise that X does exist, and was able, during this interview, to give a unique point-of-view of television paranormal investigation.
X: I am talent on a paranormal television program as a paranormal investigator. I utilize technology to try and document paranormal activity at the locations we investigate.
Alison: How does production get in your way?
X: I am granted extremely limited access to the locations that we investigate because we are always on a tight production schedule. I am typically only granted a couple hours at each location, and in my opinion, that is barely enough time to set up, let alone to investigate. I’m never allowed to choose the locations that I want to investigate. This is always predetermined by production.
Alison: Can you tell me what a shooting schedule is like? What kind of information it contains?
X: I’m presented with information for the cast and crew… A shooting schedule of what locations we were going to visit, at what time. The production notes contain a synopsis of the episode and what the objectives are at each location.
Alison: Like what?
X: We will go to such and such location and X will attempt to record an EVP session. X will go to the next location and take photographs.
Alison: Did you have information on why the location was supposedly haunted from the production book?
X: I was given details about the locations ahead of time, but never a reason why the location might be haunted.
Alison: Tell me about editing.
X: I feel that my true role and many of my most notable contributions to the show are always cut out of the final product. There are several techniques that I described in detail that I believe would give more credibility to the program – if people could see in-depth what I’m hoping to accomplish, and how things work. Nearly every instance of that; every bit of footage that has been gathered of me showing what I truly do is edited out.
Alison: So the show was going for drama?
X: I would have to say that the drama factor seems to outweigh the technical or science of investigation in the eyes of production. Yes.
Alison: Have you ever felt you were edited to say something you didn’t?
X: I think I’m edited out when nothing is occurring. I don’t think I’ve ever been edited out of context. I believe that when I was contributing anything noteworthy to the production (in their eyes), I was simply edited out and given less screen time because it wasn’t dramatic enough.
Alison: Have you ever voiced skepticism of something and had it not make it into the show?
X: Always. I’ve explained why orbs are considered, even amongst my peers, to be some of the weakest evidence of paranormal activity. I’ve gone into detail as to what would cause someone to get an ‘orb anomaly’ in a photograph. I’ve explained that electromagnetic fluctuations can be caused by other sources, including man-made sources. I feel that I really could bring a great deal of skepticism to the show, and I feel that if they would show that angle; if they would show a more skeptical side to our investigations, that it would lend more integrity to the show. But it seems that’s never part of the agenda of the program.
Alison: Has the show ever intentionally lied about your investigations?
X: Yes, but if I describe in detail, it would give away who I am. I’m contractually ‘gagged’ and I’m taking a huge risk just talking to you. This is why my identity is concealed.
Alison: Have you ever been encouraged to present something as paranormal when it wasn’t?
X: Once a production manager alluded that it might be good for me to make something happen on a quiet night. I flatly refused.
Alison: Has the production team treated your investigations as though they might have been of real hauntings, or of real value?
X: No. My role is to validate the claims. Not to question or conduct a true investigation.
Alison: Tell me about your contract. Are you allowed to talk badly about the production team? Are you allowed to give this interview?
X: No. And no.
Alison: What is the phrasing that keeps you from doing so? What are you prohibited from doing?
X: It generally says that I am expressly prohibited from talking in a manner that may be deemed damaging to the show’s integrity or to the network. And that if I do so, I face possible litigation. The way I read it, I’m not allowed to even offer up constructive criticism of anything I don’t like about the show.
Alison: How would you summarize your role?
X: I don’t feel I’m accurately portrayed as to who I am as an investigator. I’d welcome the chance to do that on screen one day, but I don’t see it happening with this program.
Full source: Randi.org
Written by Javier Ortega - javier@ghosttheory.com
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evidently alison, a skeptical paranormal investigator, was recently on a TV show that featured a psychic(john oliver) and christopher moon with his “telephone to the dead”. i forget the name of the show — it was on TRU-TV network. there has been a lot of speculation and confusion in the land of skepticism about why alison hasn’t said anything about her appearance on this show (she did NOT come across as skeptical in the show.)
i’m thinking that this interview goes a long way in clearing up some of the confusion about her silence. as a whole this isn’t very surprising to most of us who had some idea that this sort of thing was going on with these sensationalized paranormal shows that are billed as “reality”.
The compass on this is ‘X’s talk about orbs. Ghost Hunters isn’t big on orbs (they always dismiss orbs). I can’t recall Ghost Adventures getting excited about orbs except one show where something happened. Which show likes their orbs?
Excellent article! As bellaboo previously stated in another article, this pretty much validates what we all figured TV shows were doing anyhows. Go figure
What people dont realise its for entertainment if they didnt want to go by a producers rules they shouldnt have done it,,,i think they became a diva and wanted to be a star,
this is the big problem out there in what is an investigation and what is for TV,,they are totaly 2 diffrent events
i like the the post on it
if they were from scifi
After all, SciFi is short for Science FICTION. I’m sure though that many people are ignorant of that fact and some others are too mentally deficient to understand the difference.
i think he hit the nail on the head there
Yeah, just like people should realize that ‘Reality’ TV shows are reality. No they aren’t! But that’s what they are being billed as. Most paranormal shows are being billed as a realistic show (of course with entertainment as the spin as we have read).
People are not being ‘ignorant’ to what is being billed as real, despite a channel’s name. Just because UFO Hunters are on the History Channel does not make UFO Hunters a historical show, likewise, Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel does not imply what you can do on vacation. Maybe you are too mentally deficient to understand the difference. Next time, think your argument through before you attempt to insult people.
Did anyone else get the impression that maybe this person was a little upset over his or her lack of presence on whatever show is being discussed? “X” certainly did take issue when he or she was not allowed to explain things on the show. Not saying that this is just a case of sour grapes; I’m pretty sure that a lot of the shows on now do a lot to increase the drama of the show at the expense of the investigation. But the first comments mainly seemed to be complaints due to lack of airtime.
Whenever someone blows the whistle on something motives always have to be called into question. I work at a restaurant; if I got angry, it’d be very easy for me to give the Board of Health an anonymous tip and we’d be investigated.
As far as which show is being discussed, I’d agree with Gary that “Ghost Hunters” seesm to be out of the running. TAPS is very dismissive of orbs as evidence and they have also debunked several cases of machinery and electronics causing elevated EMF readings. So, which show could it be? I don’t know, but what makes me sad is that I can think of so many that fit the bill.
No insult intended i was just quoting from one of the post on the randi site.
people are coming in to this feild because of tv shows and they think its the way,they buy complete seasons of shows and thats it they are professional.i have come across many teams on the web that 1 ago wouldnt know a ghost was that quote everything from tv shows but when you ask them a tough question they can never answer, now what happens when a client who is looking for real help,they would reveiw their own footage and quote tv shows.
There are no pro,s in this feild not even the ones on TV.
people should stop trying to be like their idol and be themselves maybe we wouldnt see problems in the feild.
i could write a book on this problem in Ireland but thats another story
Sorry, I was in a mood! No insult to you either
Yeah, unfortunately, anyone involved in TV shows is doing it for fame and fortune, and that pretty much covers all of TV except maybe the Home Shopping Network.
We will never see true grit when it comes to paranormal or UFO material because the TV shows -must- sensationalize the shows or no one will watch a team go through a house and come up short. I do give credit to Ghost Hunters who have had early episodes where they have had nothing to show, but I think the producers stomped that out after season 2. Every episode has ’something’ now, and we’ve already seen what they are capable of to get ’something’.
I guess the nice thing about all the paranormal shows on is that it has perked peoples interests back towards the paranormal. Investigating is going back towards a grassroots campaign, where everyday people (though not qualified) are grabbing their equipment to go find the paranormal. Theoretically, it should actually produce more questionable evidence for us to skeptically sift through.
Guys, I think “X” is Allison. She’s upset about the way the show she signed on for was edited and thinks it harms her credibility. She probably thought, as I’m sure others have, that she’d have more controll over the finished product and it could reflect her skeptic’s p.o.v. This might be the only way,given the contract, that she can protest. Just a thought…
Bellaboo, did you ever remember the name of the show?
FIRST OF ALL WHOS ALISON…AND I”LL TELL YOU IF THERE’S A MR.X OR NOT….IF ITS WHO IM THINKIN OF I’LL KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS…AND THIS IS FROM A BROOKLYN”S POINT OF VIEW…LOOK OUT FOR MY PARANORMAL GROUP *”GHOSTFELLA’S”*…IT LOOKS LIKE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO WACK SOMEONE…. I”LL FIND OUT WHO THE “RAT” IS….
sorry — the show was “door to the dead”.
i didn’t see it, but the ghost divas evidently did, and their take on it is hilarious, as usual.
http://ghostdivas.blogspot.com/2009/02/door-to-dumb.html
bellaboo,
never heard of the show, ill search youtube.
thanks
so I’m dying of anticipation…who is, was x? Was it Donna Laquiox of ghosthunters? Isn’t it amazing that the new show Ghosthunters Acadeny has Steve hosting. Steve is afraid of his own shadow. He runs out like a little girlie man. Has anyone else noticed…or is it just me?