I am the producer of the established legend and feature film “Bell
Witch Haunting”, based on the true ghost phenomena which took place in
Tennessee from 1817 to 1821. Our DVD was recently released and footage
was featured on CMT (Country Music Television) in their special “Most
Shocking... Ghosts!”, October 2004. “Bell Witch Haunting” also had a
feature in Fangoria Magazine (November 2004), as well as, other
articles in different publications. We are submitting a story that we
believe will fascinate your fans . If you have any questions or would
like some pictures, feel free to contact me at
WillingHeartsInc@aol.com or phone (615)264-8999. You can find more
information about our film and paranormal experiences on the website
www.bellwitchhaunting.com. .
I am also enclosing a press release.

Thank you,
Linda Thornton
Producer
“Bell Witch Haunting” movie
Willing Hearts Productions
9 Music Square South # 117, Nashville TN 37203

Press Release:
“Bell Witch Haunting” Film
www.bellwitchhaunting.com
Contact: Linda Thornton
(615) 264-8999

In Spite Of Mysterious Delays, “Bell Witch Haunting” Is Released

Forget Stephen King’s books, forget the Poltergeist movies,
and as far as that goes, forget any ghost story you have ever read or
seen on TV or in films. Truth is stranger than fiction. There is
a “true” ghost in Tennessee that will put any fictional apparition to
shame. It’s called the Bell Witch.
The recent release of the feature film “Bell Witch Haunting”
was a great relief to director Ric White and producer Linda Thornton
after almost a year-and-a-half of post-production and wondering if the
legendary spirit was ever going to let them finish the film. “I was
warned by several people not to make a film on the Bell Witch”, said
White. “Several production companies have tried over the years and
something always happens and the projects are never completed.”
That “something” almost ended Willing Hearts Productions’ project when
the office where White was editing mysteriously caught on fire in June
of 2003. A fax machine that had been on for over two years in the
editing suite, suddenly decided to catch on fire one day and burned
part of the building. This followed an unexplained fire during the
shooting of the film that took the life of the Bell Witch museum
curator, who was found with her hand on the front door trying to get
out of her burning house. A few months after White’s office burned,
another unexplained fire broke out at the Red River Baptist Church
(which was depicted in the movie) and part of the historic building
was destroyed. Three unexplained fires surrounding the Bell Witch
haunting happened within months of filming the movie. White continued
to edit at home (after recovering from the fire and losing edited
footage), where he began to experience further strange
activities. “For several months there was a feeling of being watched,
strange foul odors, a turned off cell phone that rang and constant
problems with the editing equipment”, White said. “We had to re-edit
most of the film several times and had the computer fixed three times
in three months; it still would crash, flicker and lock up constantly.”
Many people believe that the Bell Witch, one of America’s most
famous entities, still resides in a cave in Adams, Tennessee on what
used to be the Bell property. All sorts of strange paranormal activity
is said to happen in and around the cave including people hearing
voices and children playing, being touched by unseen forces, orbs
manifesting and photos and videos either not working properly or
picking up strange images. The Bell Witch haunting and cave phenomena
have been featured in countless magazine and newspaper articles,
books, and on radio and several television shows, most recently a
special on Country Music Television called “Most Shocking... Ghost!”
that aired in October 2004, which included footage from “Bell Witch
Haunting” film.
Following the story of one of the world’s most famous and well
documented ghost stories ever, "Bell Witch Haunting" movie is a
powerful supernatural historic thriller based on terrifying actual
events that took place in Tennessee from 1817 to 1821, in which a
spirit tormented John Bell and his family, leaving him in a terrifying
fight against the vengeful ghost to save his children and his own
life. The haunting is the only known case where a spirit actually took
credit for killing someone. After visiting the Bells’ home, future
President Andrew Jackson said, "I vow I would rather fight the entire
British army single-handed than face the Bell Witch again!"
The haunting started as unexplained noises around the Bell
house beginning as scratching and knocking sounds and soon progressed
to the sounds of dogs fighting, chains being dragged around
and "beating" sounds on the outside walls of their house. It wasn't
long until the children began complaining of more terrifying things--
having their bed covers pulled off, being touched and pinched by a
seemingly invisible force. Soon, they heard what sounded like faint,
whispering voices--too weak to understand--but sounded like a feeble
old woman crying or singing hymns. The encounters escalated, and the
Bells' thirteen-year-old daughter, Betsy, began experiencing brutal
physical encounters with the entity. It relentlessly pulled her hair,
beat and slapped her, often leaving visible prints on her face and
body for days at a time.
Quickly, the entity's voice strengthened; it carried on
intelligent conversations, and answered questions from visitors.
Although the Spirit tormented many people, including the Bells’
slaves, she seemed to adore Lucy Bell, John’s wife. Over a four year
period, hundreds of people spoke with the Spirit and witnessed its
wonderful and horrifying demonstrations; and ever so many detectives,
wise men, witch doctors and conjurors came to exercise their skills on
the Spirit and tried to rid the Bells of their tormentor; all were
brought to grief by the Spirit and left confessing the phenomena was
beyond comprehension. Yet, those who witnessed the demonstrations knew
that it had a wonderful power of intelligence, possessing great
knowledge of men and things; a spirit that could apparently read
minds, tell men’s secrets, repeat sermons word for word and sing every
song in the hymn book. It often assumed a pious character, enjoying
religious discussions and quoting scripture with absolute accuracy.
The Spirit often expressed its dislike for "Ol’ Jack Bell"
and vowed to kill him. As John Bell's health grew worse, the Spirit
would torture him more severely by relentlessly beating him while he
was experiencing seizures. On the morning of December 20, 1820, John
Bell took his last breath; and when the family found a small vial of
unidentified liquid, the Spirit suddenly spoke up exclaiming, "I gave
Ol' Jack a big dose of that last night, and that fixed him!" John
Bell’s funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Robertson County,
hundreds of people attended, including the gloating Spirit, who
cheerfully offered mourners a concert of brawny drinking songs.
“‘Bell Witch Haunting’ movie is a haunted house adventure
that mixes history, a frightful ghost story and a great suspense plot.
This true story of terror from an unseen evil is chilling and
unforgettable”, said Linda, the film’s producer. “What kind of being
was this that was gentle to his wife, but tormented John Bell to his
death? Why was it so full of contradictions; kind to some, vengeful to
others; angelic at times, demonic at others?” Linda asked. “No one
knows, but there seems to be a lot of evidence that something is still
around today.”
After several set backs and almost losing the film to the
fire, “Bell Witch Haunting” premiered this past summer (2004) and has
been shown in theaters in Tennessee and Kentucky. In May of 2004
Willing Hearts Productions signed with Shoreline Entertainment to
distribute the film. In September of 2004 sales of the DVD, which
includes deleted scenes and behind - the- scenes footage, began on the
website www.bellwitchhaunting.com. The film also opened the 2004 Mid-
South paranormal convention and some of the footage was used in the
October CMT Special. “The response to the film has been phenomenal”,
Linda said. “It has been incredibly positive in terms of both turn out
for the screenings and reaction to the film. It has been extremely
well received.” The movie has received nothing but high praise from
Bell Witch enthusiasts. Pat Fitzhugh, Bell Witch author and historian,
wrote in his review “Whether you are a Bell Witch expert, novice or
armchair historian, I think you will enjoy and learn from “Bell Witch
Haunting” film. I highly recommend that you go see it and get the DVD
as well - you will probably want to watch it again and again.”
“Was it the Bell Witch or just an amazing set of coincidences,
we’ll never know. All I know is it has been a difficult year”, said
White. “But with the excitement and enthusiasm we have had over the
film, it has been well worth it.” To find out more about the Bell
Witch story or order the DVD, you can go on the website
www.bellwitchhaunting.com; you can also order the movie by calling
(615)264-8999.