(Photos courtesy of John Kenneth Muir)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
An original new web series “Abnormal Fixation” will be out on YouTube starting January 2025, and John Kenneth Muir has plenty to be excited about. The series has already won Best Screenplay (Oniros Film Awards, August 2024), Best Sound Design (Oniros Film Awards, August 2024), Best Actress (Critics’ Choice International Film Festival, 2024), and Best Supporting Actor (Critics’ Choice International Film Festival). Muir created the show after he had the idea that people were probably sick of politics, and just needed a laugh. I was lucky to watch the first episode and I was hooked!
About the series:
“Abnormal Fixation” is the story of true believer Elvis Bragg. He has entered a contest sponsored by a debunking non-profit called SKEPTI-COP and must prove the existence of the paranormal in one calendar year. If he can do so, Elvis will win 250,000 dollars. If he loses, Elvis must pay SKEPTI-COP that sum…and could go bankrupt in the process. Documentary filmmaker Alyssa Jarvis follows Elvis Bragg during his attempts to prove the existence of the Woodpyre Mill Phantom, one of rural North Carolina’s most terrifying legends. He is assisted by his entourage, which includes the covert operator known only as The Professor, his tech-support, Bleeder, and Dr. Carol Carroll, a couples therapist and licensed exorcist.
But what makes this tale of the paranormal so unusual is that Elvis is also trying to win back his estranged wife, Season, who has moved in with the CEO of SKEPTI-COP, Mark Missouri.
John Kenneth Muir is an author, director, and actor known for the audio drama “Enter The House Between”, as well as being the author of Horror Films of the 1970s, Horror Films of the 1980s, The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television, and The X-Files FAQ. John’s blog, Reflections on Film and Television, was named one of the 100 best film sites on the net in 2010, and his most recent book is Horror Films of 2000 – 2009 which Library Journal called ‘a labor of love’ and ‘highly recommended.’ He is the writer and director of “Abnormal Fixation.” I had the opportunity to chat with Muir to learn what went into making this new series, and what he has in the works.
Colleen Bement: “Abnormal Fixation” is going to be a hit. I just know it. It’s entertaining, and it made me laugh and stressed me out all at the same time. Walk me through the moment the idea for this series came to you.
John Kenneth Muir: Thank you so much for those kind words! I am so glad the show made you laugh (and stressed you out too, that’s part of the charm).
When I created the show, I had this idea that people are sick of politics, and just need to laugh. I thought about Lucille Ball, Christopher Guest, and Buster Keaton and I thought…this is the time to go back to physical and verbal humor that is apolitical. I still wanted to do something on the periphery of horror, on the edge of genre…and tell a funny story at the same time. But I also wanted to make you feel something for the characters involved in the action. They have funny things happen to them, but you care about them, I hope. I think that’s where your stress comes from! And I based some of the love story aspect on my own life, on my own mistakes, and my own growth as a person. Basically, the impetus to do “Abnormal Fixation” was to make people laugh!
CB: Congratulations on all of the awards and nominations that you have earned. The production quality is fabulous. Tell me about the talented team behind the project.
JKM: I am so thankful for all the awards we have won, and I am so grateful you saw the production quality in it since this is a low-budget, independent web series. I know everyone has worked so hard on this project. It is a true labor of love. The cast and crew went through some exhausting days making six half-hour long episodes, which will begin airing in January. We have as our stars the wonderful team of Alicia Martin and Chris Martin, who are part of the cast of our audio drama, “Enter the House Between.” They have both won acting awards for “Abnormal Fixation” and believe me…they earned it. Tony Mercer is our award-winning sound editor, but he also oversaw lights and cinematography on this shoot. So, he is absolutely amazing, and his work has lifted the whole enterprise!
CB: How did you come up with your character’s name, Elvis Bragg? Do you think Mr. Bragg believes that Elvis is still alive?
JKM: Most people don’t know this about me, but I am a huge Elvis Presley fan. I love his music, and I love his movies. I wrote a book, The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia, in 2007 just so I could write about Elvis’s movies! So, the character here had to be named Elvis. And ‘Bragg’ just seemed perfect for a last name, because Elvis has this absolute (unfounded) belief in himself and his abilities…even if he shouldn’t. He’ll ‘brag’ about the craziest things, any day.
I am 100% sure that Elvis Bragg believes Elvis Presley is still alive, yes, and he is just waiting to re-emerge and give the greatest concert of his career. Elvis Bragg would be in the front row for that concert!
CB: I am a total skeptic of the paranormal, but over a couple of years, I’ve had a couple of things happen that have made me more open-minded. I WANT TO BELIEVE! Are there paranormal stories that you give credence to? Have you ever had anything happen in your life that makes you believe?
JKM: Like you, I WANT to believe. Big time. I wish so much that I would have a paranormal experience, and my skepticism would be conquered. But it hasn’t happened yet. That said, there are some moments in the Abnormal Fixation footage where there are these weird specks of light dancing around us, and I’d swear it was ghosts. But it’s probably just dust…
CB: You have a life filled with creativity! You’ve written some very popular books, and created the “Enter the House Between” podcast which is so good, by the way. Just how fulfilling is it to create all this amazing content? I can imagine what hard work it is.
JKM: Creating “Abnormal Fixation,” and “Enter the House Between,” working alongside talented artists, is a true highlight of my career, and I swear it keeps me young. It is an amazing experience to see and hear these productions come together. I’ll get a call from Tony Mercer and he’ll tell me he’s just sound-edited another episode of “Abnormal Fixation,” and I’ll watch it, and get lost in it. I know I wrote it. I know I acted in it. I know I directed it. But seeing it all put together, with all the performances, and all the music and effects…it’s just the most amazing and fulfilling experience. It’s hard work, but like I said, it keeps me young. I think it keeps us all young, I think.
CB: I wish you all the success on “Abnormal Fixation.” By chance, do you have other projects on the back burner?
JKM: Thank you so much!!! In addition to “Abnormal Fixation,” we are in post-production on Season Two of “Enter the House Between,” which is bigger, bolder, and better than the first year, and I also want to direct all your readers to the new supernatural thriller novel that I co-wrote with Alicia Martin, called “The Subway Game.” It is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle versions. It’s the first in a series of novels about a psychologist, Eloise Webb, encountering clients who contend not just with mental health issues, but supernatural events. And, of course, on top of all that, we are already gearing up for Season Two of “Abnormal Fixation!”
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