More or Less How I Ended Up In A Cow Pasture in West Virginia.

Randall Brammer
Aug 9, 2017 · 5 min read

If you haven’t heard, I’m making a documentary. My partner-in-crime (Joel Cordial) and I have coined the term “vlog-umentary”. It’s about a lot of things, but the major topics of interest are:

  • As much information as we can find on a supposed poltergeist affecting my family in a small town of Kentucky back in the late 60s. (It was sent to me by a distant cousin I found on Rootsweb when I was doing genealogical research.)
  • Any and all information on the Brammers, and this town’s, history. (Most of my kin of Brammers came from this small town before moving to Ohio.)
  • My observations of what this small town is doing to not only preserve itself in this post-industrial era, but also what it can do to grow sustainably through art, community building and socially conscious business practices.

There’s more to this vlog-umentary/journey, but those are the biggies. We’re looking to make a seven episode series to put on YouTube. Click here for more info.

We’re also learning what this is as we go. Like The Giant says on the tv show Twin Peaks,

When I first arrived in Kentucky and met my filmmaker/collaborator (I found through his YouTube channel) we hit the ground running. It was one interview after the next. We accrued already over 160 gigs of footage and plan on getting more. Through this we have found out so much and keep serendipitously meeting all the right people. We even learned that Joel and I are distantly related.

Everything was working out like magic till a life event needed to be dealt with. The flow I had became flickery. But after a few days of healing (I’m still healing but it’s much more manageable), phase two is now being embarked upon.

Right now I’m making a music video with music that will also be in the final project, setting up more meetings and interviews, and taking the time to enjoy the views and people that have crossed my path. I’m getting a job and have my yellow van to call home. Although, I keep being put up in very comfortable beds by beautiful people.


When I got into acting and theater, it was a very broad goal. At the time when we’re told to figure out what we’re suppose to do with the rest of our lives, I decided “working actor” (if that failed I could always teach!).

When I found myself wanting to create my own work, I thought I would have to get to some sort of level of success as an actor to make it valid. I was wrong. You’ll never be “ready”.

I came to this Appalachian area thinking I was going to make a horror movie. At least start one to show investors. Which will still happen, but this vlog-umentary needs to be made first. It’s a matter of timing, really.

I am finding myself joining many others in what can be described as forging their own “careers” and art lives. What makes this a fascinating time to be alive, in my eyes, is that in embarking on something like this it enacts spiritual changes in you. You have to change. The mode you’re in now will not produce the results you want or you would already have what you need.

A change is going to come; in me and many others. Not just in those making the change, but those around them that love them. You get on Facebook and find an amazing video of someone making an incredible change in their life, trusting that change no matter how scary it is, and then push themselves to be better than they were. Then you get back on Facebook to find said video to put in this article and find this in the comments section:

There are moments where I am so happy that I start to feel guilty with how this is all playing out. Between the project and the support I’m receiving. It’s a self-love I’m working on.


Getting to the cow pasture

Like I said, I’m in West Virginia. I’m staying with new friends introduced to me by a new friend.

I left my Grandma Cuckoo to enjoy the porchswing as I went to the cow pasture to start this article, get some sun and the blood flowing a little bit.

Met some more friends along the way

I found my way to a fallen tree to sit on.

(Look at Darby’s freaking little paw on my boot..)

I was kept company by Darby and Whittle. Finally making my way back to the front porch after I found a couple ticks on me. They’re bad this year.

Any form of success I have had comes from this mindset:

A flower doesn’t compete with other flowers; it simply works on blossoming.


There’s so much beauty it could make you cry
There’s so much beauty it could make you cry
There’s so much beauty it could make you cry

Modest Mouse - So Much Beauty In Dirt


Stay tuned!

Instagram : @ olive_hill_poltergeist

https://www.facebook.com/theOliveHillPoltergeist/

https://www.youcaring.com/randallbrammerandjoelcordial-885515

Randall Brammer

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would that I, like thistledown, could be quiescent in the place wind chose for me -unknown

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