.14 DEGREES: .Director:
Michael J. Baker. Produced, written, edited, and photographed
by Michael
J. Baker. It’s
a well produced professional direct to DVD from his video production
company NEW GRAVITY MEDIA that
runs 135 minutes and includes interviews with noted professionals
in
today’s
current world of paranormal investigation. Produced in 2007,
this ‘not
rated’ DVD
includes interviews with none other than famed Demonologist
John Zaffis, T.A.P.S.
tech specialist Steve Gonslaves and noted
T.A.P.S. paranormal
researcher / Demonologist Keith Johnson. This
is basically a breakdown of paranormal investigative techniques
and methodology
that
have been in practice and implemented, believe it or not, before
the time of Christ, leading up to and including today’s
procedures for investigating paranormal phenomenon. PLEASE
BE WARNED: The
trailer is mostly portraying a terrifying ghostly encounter
experience. That is -NOT- what this film
is about...
..The
film starts with Zaffis seated in his Connecticut Haunted Museum
surrounded by antique Ouija boards and other claimed
paranormal objects
of interest and notoriety. His opening statement is his opinion of the
misrepresentation Hollywood does and has for paranormal research in general.
Other paranormal investigators, and old 1950's "MYSTERY"
films ensue. Steve Gonslaves, here and there throughout the film, portrays
quite
a personal
disdain
for
the use of
any
psychic’s
role in anyone's paranormal investigation. It
seems he would trust a K-2 meter as the "word of God" and
absolute proof of activity as opposed to anything any psychic
would
have to offer using
their
own
innate skills used on a paranormal investigations. He just doesn't’t
buy it. I guess it is safer and "more
scientific"
if you sit behind a video monitor as opposed to {listening
to and using}
a {highly
skilled} sensitive. That's {HIS}
opinion... not {OURS}
here at VISIONSMAGAZINEONLINE.com.
Seems to me to be a little {short sited
for a professional paranormal investigator}
to not have a {very}
open mind and consider {all} evidence. Hmmmmmm...
..The
film covers the very first paranormal story ever written in recorded
history - the EPIC
OF GILGAMESH, to the Salem witch hunts and up through
the spiritual movement created in the 1800's in rather great historical
detail. The Fox
Sisters,
who resided
in Rochester, New York,
circa 1848, claiming that they themselves were communicating with an
unseen presence in their one room home, basically invented the one
knock for yes, two knocks for no technique that
is used up to and including today as a very basic communication
tool with the spirit world. This sequence follows
up to and through 1885, a time period in our nation’s history where
the paranormal “seeking of the truth” by “self
proclaimed psychics and mediums” at the time was
riddled with fraud. 
..The
next noted celebrity of interest was none other than Thomas
Edison.
Not only one of the world’s greatest mechanical engineers and
inventors but quite the psychic investigator himself. To quote Edison: “If
our personality survives then it is strictly logical or scientific
to assume that it retains memory, intellect, other faculties such as
knowledge, that we acquire on this earth.”
..“ Therefore,
if we can evolve an instrument so delicate as to be affected by our personality
as it survives in the next life, such an instrument,
when made available ought to record something.” Edison
himself made numerous attempts to create what he dubbed a “ghost
phone”. To his frustration, prototypes were
indeed built... but he could never get it to work. It’s designs
and the secrets of its operation died with him October 18, 1831. 
..Harry
Price’s lengthy career in paranormal investigation
is reported on in England as the involving groups of college students
investigating paranormal
phenomenon. Price was the first fully equipped paranormal investigator
with equipment ranging from view cameras to sound recording equipment
available at the time. His
methodology, techniques, equipment and persistence is basically the
textbook every paranormal investigative
team from
his career to present day is based on whether they know it or not.
He was basically the Godfather of paranormal investigators. I have
always herd of him, and this was my opportunity to get a brief glimpse
of who he really was and what he had started and refined - interesting..
..Director
Michael J. Baker puts himself in front of the camera
basically discussing the history and genesis of the Ouija board, video
taping
an actual Ouija board séance monitored by two stationary cameras,
one camera roving, an emf meter, multiple microphones, humidity sensors,
a Geiger counter and a digital thermometer. Watch the film
to see the results. Interesting..
..A few
other grass roots paranormal investigative teams chime in now and then
giving their reflections of their experiences of their own past paranormal
investigations
from across the eastern seaboard. A very basic, decently printed
full color 8 page booklet is included with the DVD, but
really gives you noting
of substance: I would have liked to learn more about the production's
ups & downs that I am sure occurred during the filming of this
DVD. The DVD packaging is perfect and professionally done.
..The
"EXTRAS"
on the DVD consist of a documentary on the JOHN
ZAFFIS MUSEUM of the
PARANORMAL (who
is an engaging speaker to say the least - Takes you on a "mini-tour"
of
his paranormal collections). Outside of some
very questionable bad lighting in some of the shots, I kinda liked
it... due to John Zaffis. PSYCHIC
IMPRESSIONS - don't 
know
what that was about... bad
sound too. WITCHES E.V.P is
basically a "home
move like" shot sequence where 2 women
are asking the standard issue questions to entice a possible spirit
and try
to capture an E.V.P. in an over-lit room with cracked walls. Not
something to even show your best friend - really. NEW
GRAVITY MEDIA is a black and white, very cheesy-looking
video looking Q & A amongst the filmmakers themselves.. basically
bar-like banter that says absolutely nothing.
..This
-DVD FILM- is basically
the opening pages of “a
paranormal investigator’s
handbook.” You
will learn the lengthy {history of recording and investigating paranormal
activity} explained in a very clear and understandable way.
Director Baker guides you from the beginning of the film in a very
classroom like methodology of the presentation
of materials, and at times the film loses it's momentum, seeming
to run on forever. A concept or technique in history is revealed,
explained
as of it's origins, then the pro's chime in and comment on it and
give you their
experiences.
THIS IS NOT A "SCARY" GHOST HUNTING VIDEO.
Again,
it chronologically depicts what {virtually every} paranormal investigator
and/or team is doing right now, and
how they learned to do it. You
just have to ask yourself “Why” you
might want to view this yourself (if
you hate reading - watch this movie - you'll learn paranormal investigation
-HISTORY-), only if you have
an interest in doing your own investigations of this unknown
phenomenon
which
we
all call
ghosts… And
I still can't remember why the movie is titled "14
DEGREES".... that's
not good. Recommended
- intended only for the TRUE -PARANORMAL HISTORY- Enthusiast.
DVD OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.14degreesmovie.com/
|
..OUR
ADVICE TO THE FILMMAKERS would be to burn
the original camera negative asap so no further contamination
to the viewing public will occur. If your eyesight and hearing
is impaired, you won't be adversely affected as the rest
of us. |
|
..GOOD
ATTEMPT, and maybe
- possibly entertaining to some, but not most. I got through
it without gouging my eyes out, yet have a sense of dizziness
due to the film's stupidity level. |
|
..RECOMMENDED.
Sat through it with no feelings of nausea and dare I say it, I
was entertained! |
|
..VERY RECOMMENDED. Finally
we have what can be called an actual film. Both entertaining
and accurate in detail. Recommended HIGHLY by Visionsmagazineonline.com |
|
..FILMMAKING PERFECTION.
Worthy of the archival process. Own it in your own film library.
No questions asked. |
| ALL
CONTENTS / IMAGES / VIDEO / TEXT © 2009 VISIONS MAGAZINE
ONLINE / TARA CIAMPA - EDITOR |
