The following notes are taken from the diary kept by Paul McCarthy (the artist) throughout the making of the film. "A few bits have been added as my sanity came back"...

Day 1
My car arrived at a house that can only be described as magnificent, a large mansion that looked like something out of the darkest horror movie. It was perfect. I was to find out a little to perfect, but a good job was done on finding such a place for the film. After lunch and a chat with the crew we started filming the first scenes, this was of the artist finding the mirror. We steamed through these and had a short break as we waited for the other actor (Jonathan) to arrive. This gave me a chance to talk to Craig about what we will be doing for the next few days, also I asked again if he could make the part of the friend bigger, Craig agreed. This was a thing I would live to regret. I also met up with Dom and Manny the two runners. I had a long chat with them. They are both as nice as they are interesting. Jonathan arrived and we set to work, a few easy scenes of him knocking on the door. We did these with ease, so another break till we lost the light. This is when I managed to have a chat with Nick the sound man. It felt strange that I wasn’t bonding with my fellow actor, but Jonathan didn’t seem to want to know, so I let him get on with his own thing. We sat in the kitchen smelling the great food that Dom was preparing, he is a great cook. He told us he had cooked for himself for years and that this was how he learned his skills, but I think he may have got his experience at Her Majesty's pleasure. But it is no matter he is a great guy and the food was outstanding.

Nightfall
It got dark quickly and it was time to go up to the attic. This was a journey I would be taking a lot, as most of my scenes were up there. I know it’s not going to get any easier venturing through the long corridors. The house has found in me a whole new emotion. FEAR. It was as if the house was watching every move I made. I have taken to singing out loud, or even running to find one of the crew. Fortunately for me, Jonathan was going through mass paranoia. We were doing a scene where he had to stay in the corridor. He had to enter onto the set. It became apparent he was spooked when he crashed into the room fists about to fly shouting, "I’m gonna fucking hit someone in a minute". I think I was first choice for the punch. It’s now six in the morning. It seemed like we were working in our sleep, time for bed called Craig, so here we are, writing notes about the day.

The next day
I was the first to wake and of course made the room a loud hive of activity, turning on the radio to find a welsh station blaring out. Craig did some kind of Yakidar welsh dance. What a strange man he is. Shower time or so I thought. I have never been in a house so cold, it was warmer outside, so a hot shower would do the trick. There was no hot water so that wasn't going to happen. We started work in the greenhouse a nice scene where the friend goes mad at the artist and finally stands up for himself. We did all the bits between us, the reverses and then it was the long tracking shot round the large pound that dominated the greenhouse. This was the part where Jonathan was to walk round ranting. There is being in the moment and being in your own moment. I think the true feelings of the actor and not the character were on show in this instance. It seemed like we could not find any common ground, this is the first time I have ever worked with someone like Jonathan. He has taken on the role of assistant director and is telling everyone what to do. I think it’s going to be hard to work with him. We shot until about 4.30am. Sleep deprivation is having its effect. We were in the kitchen doing a scene where the artist and friend are getting drunk. Coke and water substitute Jack Daniels, still it worked as I certainly felt drunk whilst doing the scene, to strong sense memory I feel. The house is still playing tricks on us, cold chills, banging and the wind whistling through the chimneys. A storm is brewing it was getting more and more insane. This peaked for me when I looked over the courtyard and saw what I thought was a woman looking at me. She was surrounded by a glow of light. She just stood there looking out the window. I called the others to have a look, but true to form of any supernatural experience. I looked back and she was gone.

Day 3
We woke quite late in the day. Dom sorry mate but I got to say it, YOU SNORE. There it's done, it's off my chest, I wish it was off his. Dom has the loudest snore I've ever heard. Like an earthquake. Will we ever get any kip? I wanted to investigate the strange woman so I went over to where I had seen the woman looking at me to find a deserted room with loads of junk in it. Now I am freaking out. It's time to get into the attic. In the day it's spooky but I can deal with it. We started on the friend's first encounter in the studio. This was a long scene and was going to be a lot of hard work. "ROITY, TOITY, TOITY". Yeah that'll make things better. It is now time to mention Chris Britton the DOP he is fantastic at his job, him and Craig make a great team. Although he found it hard to light Jonathan properly, or so Jonathan thought as he asked, "are you sure I'm lit right in this shot?" Nick was complaining that he could hear voices, children's voices playing. On the playback there was no sound accept what was meant to be on the tape, everyone is having a hard time. STRANGE THINGS ARE AFOOT I FEAR. IT was all too much for Nick, so he left the very next day. Manny and Dom quickly took up the job of sound aided by Jonathan who operated the boom even when we were shooting with no sound. Is it the house and the effect it is having on us? Still the house is doing things it shouldn't. Knocking and scraping noises. Jonathan is having a bad time of it all, he is really scared of ghosts. I had come to terms with the fact we were being played with. If the ghost wanted to hurt us we would be hurt by now. I am getting braver, although the thought of walk to the attic still gives me a chill. Manny took all the spooky stuff in his stride. The strange things had no effect on him at all. Or was he good at hiding it? I'll never know.

Day 6
Jonathan left this morning, he was almost running out the door. I'm glad as he really is getting on my nerves, he's totally selfish attitude is too much to take. This opinion was echoed by some of the crew. I hope he becomes more tolerable in future. I can't help thinking what's going to happen to us. Our numbers are dwindling. The only one taking it in his stride was Manny. He wouldn't get spooked if a ghost shook him by the hand. We filmed early into the morning. Dom did us proud with a great supper. We retired to our beds. Dom kept us up all night with his snoring, so we tried to pick him and his bed up and put him in another room. We failed. Another sleepless night.

Day 7
Days and nights are now just a blur. I haven't seen outside the house for seven days. I am starting to loose my mind. I keep thinking I am being watched. I find it hard to get up to the attic after nightfall. I can't believe I can be scared of being in a house. If I hadn't been here I would have laughed at someone for acting like this. It's too much.

Day 8
Nothing happened today that I feel worth writing about. I must sort out the studio.
The lights went out for what seemed hours, but in the real world about ten minuets.
So what the house wants us here, they are cool with us. I know I have seen them.
The lights went off at about 4.30am. We stayed up in the attic in hope to meet our hosts. They didn't show, so with no power, we went to bed. The walk through the long corridors was very chilling. This is the first time we had to walk them with no light. I thought I was okay with the situation, but the house still scares the shit out of me.

Day 9
Dom and Manny Left today. Will we live to end this film? Dom saw something last night. Nothing to be afraid of, but you can't blame him for wanting to leave. It's so cold the hair on the back of my neck is standing on end. It was too much I saw the woman again. This time she walked or rather she glided past me on the stairs. This was not freighting, but a strange feeling of uncertainty. Is it sleep deprivation? Am I seeing things? I don’t know. What I do know is I am very lucky, to have seen her. I will never forget tonight.

Day 10
We are going to leave the house. I don’t know if I can deal with people anymore. Still I'll have to try. The house is having a cleansing, not to do harm to the ghosts, but rather to ask if we have offended them and if we can carry on filming here. I hope we haven't upset them.

Were back
Well we got the all clear, although I have been told not to play any tricks or talk to the ghosts anymore. Mike the guy who owns the house, (sorry I haven't mentioned him earlier). Well he has always had plenty to tell us about the ghosts and he should know, the house has been in his family since the 17th century. It's good to be here in what now feels an easy atmosphere. It has been a while and spring is here. The house is still cold, but now only in certain places. We have a lot of scenes where the artist has visions and freaks out. Let the joy begin.

4th May
A new character, The Model has come to the house. Ross is a fantastic actor with bags of energy and the talent to go with it. Jonathan has the first scene with her so I leave them to it and read the script. I am now talking to him more and I don't know why. It's strange but I still felt as if they are watching me. I'm getting spooked again, but now it's daytime. I suppose ghosts don’t have timetables. We shot the scene with Ross she posed for me nude and I painted her portrait. She handled the challenge with the utmost professionalism. Hats off to a great actor. I was asked to stay off the set because Jonathan didn’t want me around while he was doing a crying scene. Craig told me Jonathan was finding it difficult to cry and he was getting uptight. Fine by me. I'm off for a sleep. Jonathan heard one of the crew talking about him, I don’t exactly know what happened, or what was said, but the change in him is amazing. He is trying really hard to bond with us all, me included. I am very easy going person so I am going to accept the new Jonathan in hope we can be friends. I head he even cried to Craig, that nobody likes him, all I can say is, "he made his bed". Still hopefully now we can cut the bullshit and put it all behind us.

I'm not putting dates on my diary anymore it seems pointless when the days and nights are one. I am excited about meeting Michael Langridge an actor I have the utmost respect for. He will be playing the agent. He arrived and after some fantastic food, we got to work. We had a lot of fun on the set today and did some great work together. Michael has been having a few problems with the house, but he has had a lot of dealings with the supernatural, so he takes it in his stride. At least I think he is. I haven't said this before but my mobile phone has never worked so I have no contact with the outside world.

Next Day?
I have a day off as Michael is doing scenes in the cellar today. I tried to call my girlfriend but I can’t get a signal. I don’t know if I want to talk to anyone, but to have the option taken away is not good for me. I feel like a prisoner. The house is loving it. Why won’t they either scare the shit out of us and get us running for cover, or just leave us alone.

Another Day?
The scenes are getting more and more disturbing. I am starting to doubt if I can carry on filming such scenes. I don't have a weak stomach, but I feel constantly sick.

Another Day?
It is strange, I feel more like the reclusive character I am portraying. I feel like I am the artist and that Paul McCarthy is slipping away from me each day. I now have to shave my head bald as to reach another stage in the artist's madness. This bald man that looks at me in the mirror is a complete stranger. Who am I? I have to do a scene where I kill the friend, go mad and smash the studio. And cry to the heavens. God forgive me...

Tonight we film the nude scene. I am lying on a sheet of canvas covered in paint having sex with the sheet that is my art.

The Last Day
Later I will cut my wrists with a pane of glass and watch myself bleed to death. The artist's final release.

This account of what happened has been taken from my notes. I hope you enjoy the film as much as I enjoyed making it. The fact that Jonathan I didn't get on only helped the film. He portrayed the part of the friend well. It's great for an actor to be in the moment, but make sure the moment doesn't take over. I wish you happy viewing.

Paul McCarthy
The artist