Production Notes: Vlogs, The Missing, And The Fear

14 September

Production Notes: Vlogs, The Missing, And The Fear

Written by Lauren Saccone

I’m not sure at what point things stopped being strange and started being downright scary. For as long as I’ve worked at VM Productions, there’s been an air of mystery to the place — partly from the source material (adapting and reimagining the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky for the screen) — and partly from the downright bizarre scenarios surrounding these artistic endeavors.

Don’t get me wrong, the weirdness continues unabated: strange emails and phone calls, unexplained glitches on the website, and a sense of unease permeating the team promoting Dostoyevsky Reimagined: The Making Of Notes From The New World. We’ve been working day and night to share this story with you: the strange tale of how the award-winning film Notes From The New World almost didn’t make it to the big screen due to sinister and bizarre circumstances going on behind the scenes. This unique and unconventional look at independent film will delight anyone who loves the magic and mystique of the movies.

At the heart of the mystery — onscreen and off — is the disappearance of screenwriter Robert Hurley. After months of research I don’t feel any closer to finding out what happened to him. Did he get sucked into a mystery of his own making? Or did he really fall victim to a sinister cult (and possibly the Russian mob)?

These questions have haunted me for months — and just when I feel like I’m getting closer to the answer, another roadblock appears. It seemed like I had a partner in my research, a colleague to help me handle the load and answer some questions. Our new vlogger Ngoma seemed smart, capable, and enthusiastic to help me with the Hurley mystery.

Then she vanished. Completely. That’s a hard thing to do in this day and age of social media, but she disappeared without a trace. Before her disappearing act, she presented us with one vlog that outlined her plans to help in the investigation. Everything seemed fine; there was no hint that she would be added to the ever-growing list of vanished former VM Productions staffers. In fact, she seemed downright optimistic and hopeful about both the film and our prospects regarding Hurley. Which makes her vanishing act even more alarming.

I’m trying not to get discouraged — or scared. Ngoma told me about a vision she’d had of Robert Hurley, a strange appearance that urged her on in her investigation. Maybe she went on her own path, hunting for the truth on her own terms. I hope so; with no word on what really happened, the possibilities seem endless.

So once again I’m back on my own, hunting for information on what happened to Robert Hurley. Sometimes it feels like I’m more working for a detective agency instead of a production company, but the two are so closely entwined that it doesn’t really matter anymore. I have to find out what happened. Maybe if I discover the root of the Robert Hurley mystery, I’ll have an answer for the ever-growing pile of questions surrounding his disappearance.

There’s more (there’s always more), including some truly strange updates regarding those emails I received earlier — but that’s for another entry. Production continues despite the confusion, and we push on against the swirl of subterfuge, sabotage, and the ghosts of our missing compatriots.

If you have any information on what happened to Robert Hurley — a sighting, a tip, even a rumor — please pass it along. I’m committed to finding an answer to this mystery, and an end to this story, whatever it may be.

To listen to the message left on Robert Hurley’s answering device – please click here

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MORE ABOUT HURLEY:

Ngoma’s contribution (videos):

Our Screenwriter is Missing!

Our Screenwriter is Missing! – Vlog 1 by Ngoma

Lauren’s blogs:

Production Notes: What Happened To Robert Hurley?

Production Notes: Incentives, Sign-Ups, And More Mysteries

Production Notes: Saying Goodbye, Staying On Track, & Ominous Signs

Production Notes: Incentives, Updates and the Missing Screenwriter