VH1 films "Paranormal Project" at Norwich State Hospital
Amy Lawson
Norwich Bulletin
The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism has broken its silence about this week's filming of a VH1 reality show at the former Norwich State Hospital property in Preston.
As first reported by the Norwich Bulletin on Thursday, representatives from the commission, as well as production company 51 Minds Entertainment, declined comment citing a confidentiality agreement.
"We were told their project required a property that was secluded,"� said Heidi Hamilton, the director of the commission's film division. "They were looking for an environment -� a feel and look,"� Hamilton said.
As of Friday afternoon, 51 Minds Entertainment declined to reveal details of the production, but VH1 dropped a few hints in an e-mail late Thursday.
"The show is an investigative reality series with celebrities that is being filmed for VH1,"� said Naomi Bulochnikov, a publicist for the network. Previously, Bulochnikov said the network didn't have enough information on the project to comment.
According to her Web site, boxer Mia St. John said she "just finished shooting VH1's new reality show called "Celebrity Paranormal Project."�
The boxer also makes mention of the show airing in October on her blog at www.miastjohn.com.
The Norwich Bulletin requested a copy of the licensing agreement between the state and the production company Thursday afternoon from Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office through the Freedom of Information Act. Though a passage in the contract labeled "confidentiality" discusses the production company's restrictions on identifying the property, it does not prohibit any state employee from speaking with the press.
On a map of the State Hospital property given to the Norwich Bulletin as part of the licensing agreement, the show is referred to as "Paranormal Project."� Hamilton said she could not immediately identify the actors involved with the project.
According to VH1's Web site, a series called "Celebrity Paranormal Project" is slated to begin airing in October, but representatives from VH1 would not comfirm that this was the show taped on the property.
The map of the property indicates the production company used only a small portion of the campus for filming including the chapel on Route 12, and various other buildings referred to in the drawing as the "Investigators HQ AKA Safe House." Other items on the map include a control room, the campus security office, a driveway and a power box.
Phone calls to representatives for 51 Minds Entertainment were not immediately returned Thursday.
Reach Amy Lawson at 425-4235 or alawson@norwichbulletin.com
As first reported by the Norwich Bulletin on Thursday, representatives from the commission, as well as production company 51 Minds Entertainment, declined comment citing a confidentiality agreement.
"We were told their project required a property that was secluded,"� said Heidi Hamilton, the director of the commission's film division. "They were looking for an environment -� a feel and look,"� Hamilton said.
As of Friday afternoon, 51 Minds Entertainment declined to reveal details of the production, but VH1 dropped a few hints in an e-mail late Thursday.
"The show is an investigative reality series with celebrities that is being filmed for VH1,"� said Naomi Bulochnikov, a publicist for the network. Previously, Bulochnikov said the network didn't have enough information on the project to comment.
According to her Web site, boxer Mia St. John said she "just finished shooting VH1's new reality show called "Celebrity Paranormal Project."�
The boxer also makes mention of the show airing in October on her blog at www.miastjohn.com.
The Norwich Bulletin requested a copy of the licensing agreement between the state and the production company Thursday afternoon from Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office through the Freedom of Information Act. Though a passage in the contract labeled "confidentiality" discusses the production company's restrictions on identifying the property, it does not prohibit any state employee from speaking with the press.
On a map of the State Hospital property given to the Norwich Bulletin as part of the licensing agreement, the show is referred to as "Paranormal Project."� Hamilton said she could not immediately identify the actors involved with the project.
According to VH1's Web site, a series called "Celebrity Paranormal Project" is slated to begin airing in October, but representatives from VH1 would not comfirm that this was the show taped on the property.
The map of the property indicates the production company used only a small portion of the campus for filming including the chapel on Route 12, and various other buildings referred to in the drawing as the "Investigators HQ AKA Safe House." Other items on the map include a control room, the campus security office, a driveway and a power box.
Phone calls to representatives for 51 Minds Entertainment were not immediately returned Thursday.
Reach Amy Lawson at 425-4235 or alawson@norwichbulletin.com
This article was
written by Amy Lawson
and published by Norwich Bulletin
on Wednesday, June 21