Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Educate, not fabricate.

What is the P.I.T. Crew?

The P.I.T. Crew, which is short for Paranormal Investigation Team, is comprised of Paranormal Researchers, Skeptics, Journalists, Photographers, Videographers, and Audio Analysts. This organization gathers data from the field to study, understand, conclude and report on paranormal activity.

The P.I.T. Crew was founded by Paranormal Researchers Stephen Lancaster and Ryan Lick. Lancaster has over a decade of experience in the field. The current team includes, Stephen Lancaster, Brad Hayes, Jason Taylor, Kevin McCray, Carla Shaw and Justin Taylor. Co-Founder Ryan Lick has respectfully moved on to other projects.

What is monsterVisionTV?

monsterVisionTV is an independent program produced by the investigators and researchers of The P.I.T. Crew. Episodes are edited and produced for relevancy and entertainment value. First priority of The P.I.T. Crew is the client and the case. Only after the team has exhausted all investigation material will a monsterVisionTV episode be created. The show is produced from an entertainment perspective in hopes of holding the viewers interest to further the understanding of paranormal research. It is the belief of the team that in order to keep the program honest and informative and true to the science, the show must be produced by the individuals conducting the investigation and research. Never will The P.I.T. Crew allow an outside source to produce the show. monsterVisionTV will remain independent in production thus keeping the show strongly footed in non-fiction. Their goal is to educate, not fabricate.

monsterVisionTV is owned by Stephen Lancaster.

What is phantomworxsinc?

phantomworxsinc is the name Stephen Lancaster uses to produce the monsterVisionTV show under.

How long does it take to produce an episode?

It differs. There are many factors.... Much depends on how many investigators were present during an investigation, which in turn adds more cameras and videotapes to review and/or use for the show. The length of a particular investigation is to be considered as well. Some investigations are conducted for only a few hours, while others may run 8-12 hours. An 8 hour investigation, with 4 investigators, each having a camera, will give the team 32 hours of video to review for possible paranormal evidence. This does not include surveillance cameras and audio recorders left running.

Once the investigation is complete, Head Investigator Stephen Lancaster will review every ounce of footage and audio the team captured. This process normally takes about 2 weeks. After Lancaster has noted anything of relevance, the client is then notified and presented with said "evidence." Following that, Lancaster will begin producing the investigation as an official monsterVisionTV episode.

It should also be noted that every investigator has a full time job in addition to pursuing paranormal research.

To put things into perspective, the Haunted Mill episode took 45 days to review all of the footage and produce it into the show. While the episode, The Woods of Prestwood Lake only took 12 days to review and produce. The difference truly lies in how many investigators were present, how much footage was documented and how long the investigation took place.

Are all investigations produced into monsterVisionTV episodes?

No. Only the investigations in which relevant discoveries were made have the possibility of being produced into an episode. Client approval also plays a factor in the production and release of an episode.

Does The P.I.T. Crew charge to conduct an investigation?

Absolutely not. The P.I.T. Crew are there to help aid in answering questions, ease concerns and educate any given client to the best of their ability about their activity, in addition to gathering data for their own personal research.

How is monsterVisionTV funded?

monsterVisionTV, including the investigations is funded by The P.I.T. Crew. The team invests hundreds of dollars on any given investigation through expenses such as, travel, lodging, equipment, batteries, tapes, etc. For example, the average cost of videotape for ONE camera, based on an 8 hour investigation, is approx. $40. Multiply that by 4 cameras and the team spends nearly $160 alone on videotapes to document the investigation. The P.I.T. Crew uses the funds gathered from merchandise sales to help with these expenses.

Are any of the advertisements on the monsterVisionTV site paid for?

No. Any paranormal group, business or event advertised on the official site is there because the team supports their philosophies, products or organization.

What is the goal of The P.I.T. Crew with monsterVisionTV?

The ultimate goal of the team is to have monsterVisionTV syndicated. In 2009, the team was offered to have the program placed on a network nationally. They declined due to the contract excluding the team from the production aspect. As stated above, “monsterVisionTV will remain independent in production thus keeping the show strongly footed in non-fiction. Their goal is to educate, not fabricate.” The team is seeking the monetization of monsterVisionTV through a syndicated network with the understanding that they will remain the producers of the show so that nothing will be misrepresented. The heart of the desire to see monsterVisionTV go national is so the team can continue to pursue their research in the paranormal field full time and with the proper funding. The team also wants to make their program available to a broader audience in hopes of furthering the public understanding of paranormal research.

How does one become a member of The P.I.T. Crew?

There is no easy answer to that. The team suggests for any interested party to contact them by email with a general inquiry about joining the group. It is also recommended that you join the monsterVisionTV forums so the team can get to know you, learn of your views and philosophies and simply observe your overall conduct. If interested, the team will take you out into the field to further your training with the possibility of inclusion within the group. It should be noted that the team does not and will not ever use psychics or mediums within their research. The team does not approve or disapprove of such phenomena, but with the lack of solid scientific validation, those methods are useless in their research. The team seeks out like-minded individuals with a professional passion for paranormal research and weeds out the fad driven applicants rather quickly.

Is the “cowboy ghost” real?

Not one time has the team ever stated the captured image to be an authentic “ghost” or “apparition.” However, the activity seen in that particular video is in fact real. Is it a “ghost?” The team can’t say for sure, but something beyond normal is present there. This footage was captured on a surveillance camera left in the electrical room on the first floor of the building. Only 2 members of the team were in the building at the time this activity was captured. According to the time the activity was recorded and the time matched from a camera in an investigators hand, the team was on the third floor of the building when this strange phenomena was recorded. This information has been validated by other paranormal groups, skeptics and network video analysts.

The P.I.T. Crew has many theories and possible explanations for what is seen in the alleged video. Their theories range from frequency or television interference, magnetic interference, to even such paranormal occurrences as multi-dimensional crossovers. Other activity was documented in the building during the 8 night investigation. The team plans to revisit this facility in the future to further their research. The original video appeared on an NBC program hosted by Maury Povich called, “SHOCKING....SCARY...PARANORMAL VIDEOS!” in October 2009. The P.I.T. Crew donated the footage.

What equipment does The P.I.T. Crew use during investigations and research?

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Testers, Ion Testers, Laptops, Life Form Detecting Laser Guns, Digital Temperature Laser Guns, Analog & Stereo Audio Recorders, Video Cameras, Still Shot Cameras, Thermometers, Decibel Meters, Audible Magnetic Signal Convertors, Magnetic Pick-Ups, Flashlights, Headlamps, & more. Watch monsterVisionTV for more information on this equipment and how it is used in paranormal research.

How do I inquire about having the team investigate my home or business?

Email the team here with a brief description of your activity, location, and availability. A case manager will respond to you promptly for an initial consultation.

Where can I find press on The P.I.T. Crew and monsterVisionTV?

Most relevant articles or broadcasts are available here.

What internet outlet is available to speak with the team?

Although The P.I.T. Crew and monsterVisionTV have a presence on various popular social networks (youTube, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter), the only location the team checks daily is the official monsterVisionTV forums located here. All other sites are maintained by a designated administrator. If you have a question for the team, ask them in the forums, or send them a private message there. All other inquiries made at any other site pertaining to monsterVisionTV will be answered by the designated administrator or disregarded altogether.