Let's work together to support economic, cultural, social, and community development through the art of filmmaking at Historic Camp Chesterfield in Madison County, Indiana!

The film's production will create jobs, income, and infrastructure development, which will immediately boost the local economy. In the near term, the project will create economic opportunities by tapping into local human capital with diverse skills, trades, and cultural resources in an underperforming region in Indiana. This involves various roles such as set builders, caterers, costumers, makeup artists, and special effects technicians. In the long term, a successful film can attract tourist dollars to the region where it was filmed.

GHOST FROM THE RIVER will support the growing community of independent filmmakers in Indiana. For many years, independent and arthouse filmmakers have struggled to establish a presence in Indiana, with limited success. As a full-length narrative film with a broad target audience, GHOST FROM THE RIVER will be a major force in breaking the logjam and sparking a renaissance of independent filmmaking in the Hoosier State.

The film project will also provide opportunities for learning and filmcraft experience for the film students of nearby Anderson University, a private Christian college. By creating these unique cooperative educational experiences, the film will build social bridges, support mutual understanding, and enhance the local sense of community.

The film's story was inspired by and aims to shed light on a neglected part of Madison County's history. The significance of Spiritualism and Historic Camp Chesterfield in the history of Madison County is often overlooked and under-appreciated.

When filmmakers James and Ingrid Moriarty first visited Historic Camp Chesterfield, they were impressed by its sense of place. They met and befriended Camp board member Dr. Rachael Smith. She educated them about the Spiritualist Community that began in 1843 with "scientific investigation societies." These societies promoted speakers in mesmerism, phrenology, trance speaking, healing, clairvoyance, and spirit contact.

Indiana Spiritualists and the Indiana Association of Spiritualists were formed at Historic Camp Chesterfield in 1887 as part of a social project that embraced regional intelligentsia, suffragists, and abolitionist movements. For over 135 years, Historic Camp Chesterfield has been a spiritual center and an influential presence in the history of Madison County. 

The film's story, characters, and casting will also reflect the Camp's feminist history and practice. Throughout its existence, Historic Camp Chesterfield has been a place where women have played a central role. The mediums at the core of Spiritualist practice have traditionally been women, and women have always been key players in the Camp's leadership and development. Reflecting this history, most of the main characters in the story of GHOST FROM THE RIVER are self-actualized women exploring their spiritual and social autonomy.

Camp Chesterfield's visitation has declined over the years, and its infrastructure requires updating. The Camp also has experienced its share of misunderstanding and religious chauvinism from outsiders, which has made their community cautious and more insular.

Our film project will grow, reconnect, and revitalize interest in Historic Camp Chesterfield by creating a family-friendly film that uses the Camp not just as a location but truly as a character in the story, broadening the public's knowledge about the Spiritualist Community and its practices.

DONATE TO HELP MAKE THE FEATURE FILM

Ghost from the River - A Spiritualist-Inspired Feature-Length Narrative Film is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Ghost from the River - A Spiritualist-Inspired Feature-Length Narrative Film must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.