TheTell-TaleHeart.com Blog

Six years ago, I started really studying Poe and his work in preparation for the film. Through my research and saturation of all things Poe, I realized that he was not just a great writer, he invented and influenced literature (and eventually film) more than any other.

Like myself years ago, few realize what he really contributed. Poe did so much more than just writing great stories and poems he invented literary genres and set the baseline for so many famous books/stories of which others have redeemed for fame and fortune.

What Poe Gave Us (invented or mastered the following):

• The horror short (The Pit and the Pendulum, The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart, and many more)
• The zombie (The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of User, The Black Cat, etc.)
• The treasure hunt (The Gold Bug)…note that Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Treasure island has many similarities to The Gold Bug but was written decades later.
• The police mystery (The Purloined Letter, Murders of the Rue Morgue)…again note that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes came decades later. It is also important to realize that Sherlock Holmes’ persona is nearly identical to the lead detectives in Poe’s stories (the narrator and Dupin of Paris).
• The psychological thriller (The Tell-Tale Heart, The Oval Picture, etc.)
• And exemplary poems…and probably some of the 1st horror poems (Raven, Lenore, etc.)

Edgar Allan Poe you are my mentor…You have created such inspiration and for that I thank you.

The movie has evolved a lot since the release of trailer a few years back… Now that this movie is nearing completion, it is time to start sharing the new darker and more refined look of the movie. I hope you enjoy.

The video is also available for download to your cell phone at http://www.zedge.net/videos/228314/the-tell-tale-heart-video/

-Michael

Here is a tasty little morsel for you all…

While my favorite horror movies frighten the audience through eerie suspense and anxiety build-up rather than getting the screams through gore, this movie does address the dismemberment of the Old Man. Most of the dismemberment is alluded to except the swing of the Axe…I couldn’t resist.

Teachers, is this too much gore in your classrooms, if included in the Teachers Bundle version? I am considering an optional toned down version on the DVD…Do you foresee a toned down version valuable or necessary?

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.

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

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Click here to reserve a copy.