A while back I wrote a piece about the films of Courtney Fathom Sell. Courtney’s films have a great lo-fi aesthetic and you can always count on his taste for unusual stories and otherwordly characters. His latest project, a short film called The Hole (co-directed by Billy Feldman) looks at the alien landscape of a small section of New York City that’s partially flooded and, according to legend, was a mobster dumping ground for knocked-off goons. It’s a great short — with some awesome sound design — that plays like Gummo meets Fata Morgana. Now Courtney has moved on from alien urban landscapes to suburban ghost hauntings with his new project Asleep With the Lights On. The film is still in its early development stages and Sell is in the process of attempting to raise some funding through a Kickstarter account. Check out the synopsis below:

‘Asleep With the Lights On’ will examine, research, and document the various affects the phenomenon of paranormal activity has had on the professional and personal life of several Individuals. The project will explore the various degrees of phenomenon encountered, the tactics used in order for researchers to collect data on such activity, and the unique relationship that exists between several individuals of separate backgrounds and the world of the paranormal. Because the subject matter of the project is a topic of much controversy and debate, the film will present the opinions of both believers and skeptics in order to achieve an honest and broad understanding of the topic. ‘Asleep With the Lights On’ will propose the question: If paranormal activity does not actually exist, then what is in fact occurring?

Sounds pretty cool to me! I like the idea of focusing on the effect these ghosts have — real or not — on a family of folks who truly believe they’re being terrorized by a spirit. Could make for a great piece of spooky non-fiction filmmaking! Show your support by heading over to the Kickstarter account and donating!