TheTell-TaleHeart.com Blog

A fan mentioned that they use the fireplace image from the website as a backdrop/screen saver. I’ll be sure to post a few medium and high resolution images as the production is being built for the fans.

Any special requests?

A casting call for voice actors went out today. While Ron Hammond will join us again as Edgar, the parts of the policemen have been expanded and are open to all. The script/storyboard is in final review, allowing us to record in a few weeks.

Ron and I are working on how to bring the most out of Edgar’s voice. I am very excited about a couple of approaches. With Ron’s vocal range and voice talent, we are definitely going to come out with something very dynamic and powerful.  When completed, Ill share a couple of clips on the blog…

Working on the old man…one of my favorite charactors from a design standpoint (all kicked off from a great concept design by Shane Nitzsche).

Using Mudbox, Photoshop, and Maya to create him.  From this WIP, I will be adding eyes, mouth, gums, teeth, and hair. He is also going to get some replacement ears.

Finished the 1st version of the electronic Storyboard. As an electronic stroyboard, after drawing out all the frames, they were imported into Photoshop, choped into individual layers, painted, exported to Premiere, edited on the timeline, added recorded audio and sound FXs…and we have the eStoryboard V1.0. It has been distributed to a specialists for review and feedback.

• 3 English/Literature middle school teachers
• 2 film directors
• 4 horror film fanatics / Poe fans
• 1 Horror music composer
• Our voice actor for Edgar
• Our concept designer

From thier feedback, I will decide what needs updating and make changes to the eStoryboard. This process while time consuming will really help solidify the story, the heart of the production.

Enjoy the CG trailer of The Tell-Tale Heart.

Special thanks to the voice actors who contributed to the production:

Ron Hammond (Edgar)
Terry Clark (Trailer Narrator)
Rick Brown and Steve Perry (Policemen)

Teacher’s Bundle:
The education community found the trailer very helpful for usage in their classrooms, apparently also with acclaim from the students. With this in mind, I am dedicating a package specifically for the education system, targeting the needs of middle school literature/English teachers. This package will not only provide the students with film to enjoy but also resource for teachers further their absorption and interest of The Tell-Tale Heart and Edgar Allan Poe.:

• DVD with the unabridged and abridged versions of the story, to adjust the violence if desired by the teacher.
• Multiple online teacher lesson plans around the story/production to select.
• Forums for teacher and student discussions.
• Entertaining online quizzes about the story/production.
• Interesting insight about and history of The Tell-Tale Heart and Poe.
• Visual stills for class discussion.
• The making of the production.
• Teach feedback forms and input for the next production.

The 2009 CG Production of The Tell-Tale Heart is the full-length computer generated (a.k.a. computer animated) version of Edgar Allan Poe’s short, “The Tell-Tale Heart”. The production is staffed and at full force with a target release of early October 09.

The Movie:
This production will be in the same style and dark motif as created in my trailer a few years past. However in this full version you will experience the full story with all the characters and excitement. While I enjoy a new screenplay like many others, Poe’s story, as he wrote it, is brilliant and should be altered minimally. So, this interpretation is very true to the incredible unabridged version of the story. Naturally, where visual creations are needed I am multiplying the stylization and effects to saturate your senses with the darkness and psychosis you would desire out of such a story.

for the Teachers:
The education community found the trailer very helpful for usage in their classrooms, apparently also with acclaim from the students. As a result, we are keeping the classroom in mind while we are creating the story. With teacher reviews of the production through its process and teacher surveys, I aim to bring a heavily entertaining and true depiction of the short story which can be used in the classroom.

To further assist our teachers in providing an excellent education for our children, we will be offering a Special Teachers Bundle of the DVD and online resources.

Film Festivals:
The production will be shown in most of the same film festivals as the trailer did, plus more. Nothing like seeing Edgar committing his horrible deeds 20 feet tall.

I am truly looking forward to providing you with a dark and an impactful production of one of the world’s best Gothic horror story written.

Best Regards,
Michael Swertfager

Click here To receive notification when The Tell-Tale Heart animation is available.

Click here to reserve a copy.

Welcome to TheTell-TaleHeart.com blog!

I am your host, Michael Swertfager…a Poe fan and computer graphics artist.  This blog has been created to provide a location to:

• Discuss and provide feedback from the trailer made a while back.
• Follow the current creation of the full story.
• Allow teachers to provide feedback for this production…as they and their classrooms are the target audience.
• And let’s not forget general discussion about The Tell-Tale Heart and Edgar Allan Poe

I hope the blog serves you well…enjoy.
-Michael