"Something Unknown . . . "

Even while her award-winning documentary Something Unknown is Doing We Don't Know What is premiering in her native Holland today, director Renee Scheltema took time to respond to my request for the following email interview. I found Renee's movie through the Rhine Research Center's blogsite just this morning!

Something Unknown features Prof. Charles Tart, Dr. Dean Radin, Prof. Gary Schwartz, Dr. Roger Nelson, Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, Dr. Hall Puthoff, Dr. Larry Dossey, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Dr. Jack Houck, and Dr. David Dosa. Also, Dr. Eric Pearl, author Arielle Ford, Therapeutic Touch healer Rebecca Good, psychic detective Nancy Meyer and intuitive Catherine Yunt.

The official website for Something Unknown is www.somethingunknown.com.

The interview:

Renee, what inspired you to make your documentary "Something Unknown is Doing We Don't Know What"? Did the inspiration come on suddenly or has this been a film that you have wanted to create for a long time?

I wanted to make a "spiritual" journey for a while, but when I spoke to Professor Tart who told me that there is scientific evidence for "the Big Five", I realized that this could be the backbone of my film.

The inspiration did not come suddenly. The first psychic experience I had was with my father, while I was studying. I guess in scientific terms you could call it "crisis telepathy." It happened during the day, while I was studying at the University of California, Berkeley. I would call my parents every three months. I had just phoned my parents a few days before. While I was with my nose in the books, there was this strong force that told me that I had to get up and phone them again. I remember walking down the street thinking: 'This is weird. Why am I walking to the phone booth? There's no reason for this. It's the wrong time of the day.'

Then when I phoned, my brother picked up the phone, which is very unusual because he had left home and would never even pick up the phone. Then he told me my father had had a stroke and was fighting for his life at the intensive care. So that seared into my mind because I just picked up something there that was real. Maybe these psychic experiences are part of our survival instinct . . .

How did you research and choose the people to be included in your film? Was anyone that you wanted to feature unavailable to participate?

I researched like everyone does. Reading, talking, googling on the internet, etc. It was really not easy to get access to these top-scientists. They are very busy, and need to protect themselves. It took me a long time to be able to interview them.

Did you have any preconceived notions about the psychic world that were confirmed or quashed as you delved ever-deeper into the subject?

No not really. Since I had a few psychic experiences myself, I was open to see what kind of evidence scientists had found during the past decades.

Have you created a personal set of guidelines that you adhere to when creating a film?

Yes, but that's too difficult to write about. But if you refer to the fact that I did not interview skeptics, then my answer can be simple: I did speak to a few, but decided not to include them as they all just refuse to have an in-depth look at the evidence for one emotional reason or the other.

The technology of film-making is ever-evolving, do you have any technological tips and techniques to share?

Not really. Just keeping informed of developments.

Essential can't-live-without equipment?

No.

How did the process of creating "Something Unknown is Doing We Don't Know What" compare to creating your previous films?

I used to make films with a crew as a Director - sometimes producer as well. But sometimes I have filmed controversial subjects, and could not get a producer on board, and so decided to do everything myself: production, sound, camera, line-producing, interview, editing for a year and a half. It's a crazy one woman's journey, and not easy to do. Still busy recuperating, and hoping to get my investments back.

What is your most recent 'Miracle Zone' experience, profound or subtle?

I have regular telepathic experiences with my kids.

What books are on your 'psychic' bookshelf for recommended reading?

I shot 100 hours. Spent a year editing this down to 6 hours, with more scientists, and other psychics as well. Then hired a good editor to help me get it down to 2 hours, ran out of money, and spent another 3 months editing the film as it is. I am seriously considering making the 6 hour version and other anecdotes into a book. Called: Something Unknown:)

An anagram of your name reveals your perfect passion for creating documentaries RENEE SCHELTEMA = REAL THEME SCENE. Have you chosen the subject of your next documentary or have you already begun production?

I did not know that the distribution side of things would be so complicated and time consuming. The film is having its theatrical premiere today in my birth country, Holland. And I won that award last year April. So you can see that it takes a while before people discover the film.

Renee, what words of wisdom can you share to encourage current and aspiring film-makers?

You need a loooong breath in order to make Something interesting:)