Here's a summary of all the dirt I've collected (using everyone else's hard work and a few brainfarts of my own). I'm sorry if it's long, but I thought it would be good to break it down in a semi-organized format and recap for anyone joining late (like me).
Here goes:
Bree's Real Identity:
"S"--called so by Robby Hunter on her myspace blog. He was surprised that this project had
become so big. The reference has since been deleted. Robby Hunter works for a company
called Long Shot Productions out of MI and according to another poster, when contacted, he
declined comment due to a non-disclosure agreement that he claimed to have signed in
February (which sounds pretty early to have an acquaintance sign, but...). There are
several online references to "Long Shot Productions" and "Longshot Productions" but I can't
find any directly linked to Michigan.
Kylie -- was mentioned by a poster. Not sure where this reference came from.
Jen -- According to Silentgay this is a girl named Jen from his highschool (see below).
There is an actress/unknown named Jennifer Foy who did go to a McAuley Highschool. Sounds like the right age group. Her only film is Midsummer Night's Rave. No photos on IMDB. And Midsummer Night's Rave isn't exactly a "wide release." So someone like this would be the perfect "type" to play an unknown. Silentgay from YouTube claims that Bree is a Jen. Could be a connection, but I think I'm pulling straws.
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People who claim relationship w/Bree:
Ed Prush -- says she's his cousin and people are close to outing her. This guy sounds
believable to me because he's a regular serious poster on a variety of tech networks.
Silentgay -- YouTube poster who claims this is Jen from his Pittsburgh highschool, in
follow-up he states that he's been contacted by some un-seen authorities and told not to
post... Public reaction is that he's a fraud. Looks like a poser to me.
Woman posts that she knew Bree from NZ at Takaka, Golden Bay. Someone else on the forum (here) says they went to a McAuley Highschool in NZ. There is such a place, but none of the girls in her age group (2001--2004) look promising. I think we can assume that this is just Bree's ficitional past and that the actress has no NZ ties.
64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:jTTzugvUzWkJ:static.namesdatabase.com/schools/NZAK/McAuleyHighSchool.html+mcauley+new+zealand+high+school+2003&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1
Robby Hunter -- poster on bree's myspace account. His comments have since been deleted or altered. Words at a film production company, called Long Shot Productions, but can't find
details on company.
annabanana -- claims to be working on the project. She posts on Stereogum in response to
LG15 debate that she's been paid to work on the project and that it has some religious
portent and that she and the rest of the crew found it creepy and gross, but she can't talk
about it because her "rent's too high." Said we would find out in two weeks (she posted at
the end of August) Interesting and enough odd little details. Doesn't read like a fake.
But what the hell does she mean?
"T" -- Forum feels he's a fake. Claimed to know something, but then had to pull-out due to
non-disclosure...
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Plotlines, Connections:
--arg, film about crowley and/or ritual abuse, religiously funded project (doubtful, though
Scientology does have a large NZ base that actually allows them to operate as a non-profit,
go figure), upcoming horror flick or horror/mystery video installments, two teenyboppers
picnicking their way to fame...
--Who is Cassie? Split personality? Slighted girl? Previous virgin sacrifice? Where is
the original soundfile and how was it accessed?
?
--Brian Flemming's name just won't get dropped. Danielle and The Beast connection. Neither
plot really seems to fit. Some feel this could be his new project that reconfigures the
plot to fit online format. Doesn't work though, Flemming's antireligious and the Beast was
about a girl finding out that Christ didn't exist. Bree isn't really fitting the Christian mold.
--Thelema game--game's specs don't fit at all. But yes, it does mention Crowley.
--Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Latest vlog has her mentioning new name, but then meanders
towards Teacher/Student whatnots and being an outcast. Book does not sound like a good fit. While Bree claims to be an outcast, the book doesn't have wierd parental religous
connections. I think it's a tease.
--William Gibson's Pattern Recognition talks about just this type of phenomena--video viral marketing. No real connection other than the creators most likely read his book.
--Oct 12? Not sure where this date came from (is this in connection to annabanana's post?).
Who found this connection? Might be movie release and/or is Aleister Crowley's b-day.
--Kenneth Gottfried filed a patent on her name. He's in CA and has some film connections
through a children's story telling group (his wife is part of it). The group doesn't have
anything to do with this project, but I imagine connection-wise there are plenty of leads.
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Location:
Filmed in SW US. Which doesn't narrow things down. As a horticulturist, all I can say is
that it appears as if those plants are regional and unless we get some really rare plant,
that's only native to a specific state and a particular area within the state, then I think
the plant id clue (though a good thought) is not worth pursuing. I think looking for landmarks (which y'all have currently been doing) makes more sense. But again, is it significant where it's filmed? A production company can shoot anywhere. Then again, it's fairly low-tech, so it's possible they wanted to stay close to studio location to lessen the cost.
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Sidenotes:
--On my searches I encountered James Gunn who works for Troma Studios and is working on something very big and hush-hush. I don't think this goes anywhere, but he had some interesting connections.