Development

In July 2021, YouTuber and film critic Chris Stuckmann signed on to write and direct a supernatural horror mystery film titled Shelby Oaks for Paper Street Pictures.^[2] The film is based on an online marketing campaign depicting a series of found footage videos about a fictional paranormal investigative team named The Paranormal Paranoids.^[3] The film was produced by Stuckmann, Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns and Ashleigh Snead.^[4]

Initially, the production was set to begin in late 2021,^[4] but was delayed due to insufficient funds and a potential strike between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).^[5]

Funding for the film was achieved via a Kickstarter campaign that began on March 1, 2022. On March 21, Shelby Oaks became the most-funded horror film project on Kickstarter after raising $650,000.^[6] The campaign crossed the $1 million mark from 11,200 backers by March 25.^[7] During the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022, Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, Charlie Talbert, Emily Bennett and Sarah Durn were revealed as the cast.^[1] Stuckmann and his wife Samantha Elizabeth co-wrote the story, while Andrew Scott Baird served as cinematographer.^[8][9]

Filming

Principal photography commenced on May 9, 2022,^[10] and concluded on June 5.^[11][1] Filming took place at various locations in Ohio,^[6] including Greenwood Farm, Ohio State Reformatory, Chippewa Lake Park and Cleveland Public Library.^[9][12]

Post-production

By August 2023, post-production was suspended due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.^[13] The film's producer Koontz stated that the film is "in the final stages of post-production, including the all-important automated dialogue replacement, when actors re-record their lines. We need the actors in, but we are not a priority project because we are not in production, but we're trying to finish this film in the next month".^[13] In January 2024, Stuckmann announced that post-production has been finished and that he and the studio are searching for film festivals to screen the film.^[14] Early March 2024, Koontz announced that the film was finished, including Stuckmann approving the final title treatment and credits.