Pearl Bryan story coming to film

Filmmaker Ron Whitt will be at the Putnam County Library Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. to talk about his upcoming film trilogy which focuses on former Greencastle resident and murder victim Pearl Bryan.

The public is invited to meet and greet Whitt and see a trailer of the first of his three movies called Hell's Gate, which tells the story of Pearl Bryan, the daughter of a wealthy Greencastle farmer who was murdered near Newport, Ky. in 1896.

Whitt decided to create the film trilogy after meeting a friend who introduced him to Bobby Mackey, the owner of one of the most haunted and sinister locations in America.

Bryan was murdered near a slaughterhouse containing a deep well where satanic rituals purportedly took place. Her missing head may have been dropped into the well. Bobby Mackey's Music World is built on the site where the slaughter house stood.

"I was supposed to be doing a film for New York City, but it got delayed and when I heard about this story and met Bobby it just seemed a perfect opportunity," said Whitt.

"I want to tell the factual story about Pearl and that's what the films are about. I hate that people call her the headless ghost. She was a living person and was five months pregnant, so not only did she die but her baby was also murdered," he added.

Hell's Gate is due to be released at Halloween 2009.

The second movie, Hell's Gate Unleashed deals with the trial and surrounding activities of the two men convicted of Bryan's murder. It will be in theaters Halloween 2010.

The last movie in the trilogy, Hell's Gate Revelation will be out Halloween 2011.

According to Whitt, proceeds from the films will go toward the restoration of Pearl's grave in Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle. The headstone from her grave was removed some time ago due to vandalism.

The event is free to the public and will be in the Kiwanis Room at the Putnam County Library.