The Jogger Ghost (also known as The Phantom Jogger)[1] was the spirit of a man who had jogged in Central Park in life.
History[]
Primary Canon History[]
After dying, the ghost of a man continued to jog on the route around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis Reservoir in Central Park. The ghost was even seen checking his pulse at times. Unfortunately, he often appeared in broad daylight, frightening those going for a nice stroll. He also had a habit of pushing people out of his way to clear his path. In late 1989, Peter Venkman and Ray Stantz eventually trapped him by simply laying a Trap in his path and having Peter wait nearby on a bench in disguise to strike the activation foot pedal upon on Ray's signal. The ghost ran right over the open Trap and was captured, leaving the park a little safer for the citizens of New York City. Peter bid the ghost goodbye.
Secondary Canon[]
Insight Editions[]
The Jogger's origins were undiscovered but based on the habit of checking its pulse, it was believed he died a sudden death like a heart attack.[2] The Jogger manifested several times each day on Central Park's running paths. Runners and horses were scared by his sudden appearances but the ghost started out as mostly benign. However, as he appeared more and more, the ghost became more aggressive and even began shoving runners out of his way.[3] The Ghostbusters were able to easily calculate the time of its next manifestation thanks to its predictable routes. Peter sat on a park bench near the reservoir with a Trap and captured it.
Behind the Scenes[]
Initially, the Jogger Ghost was photographed to look very white and extremely bright. But it was decided he would be toned down and more contrast would be added. The jogger became a study in how to use contrast mattes and how to extract contrast from the negative when it wasn't there. The crew had to figure out by themselves how to balance the background plate and the action in the scene just right.[4][5] Jim Fye also portrayed the Ghost Jogger in Central Park. He was covered in white makeup and photographed against a bluescreen for subsequent compositing into a live action plate.[6]
Trivia[]
- Jim Fye filmed his Jogger Ghost scene in front of blue screen in January 1989.[7]
- On page one of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #2, the male jogger accosted by Gareth Dibello is visually based on the Jogger Ghost.
Classification[]
Secondary Canon Classification[]
Insight Editions[]
The Jogger Ghost is an anchored Class III Corporeal.[8] The type of entity it is is a confused spirit.[9]
Tertiary Canon Classification[]
Egon's Journal[]
On page 11, the ghost is a Class 3 Corporeal.
Appearances[]
Primary Canon[]
Secondary Canon[]
- Insight Editions
- Tobin's Spirit Guide
- Section I: Ghosts of New York
- Page 23
- Section I: Ghosts of New York
- Tobin's Spirit Guide
References[]
- ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "Each time it manifested, the Phantom Jogger could actually be seen checking its pulse as though it still had a beating heart."
- ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "It's most likely that the Jogger wasn't aware that it had actually passed on, which isn't uncommon in the case of an instantaneous death---a sudden heart attack could have killed the Jogger before he had the chance to register his own passing (for more on this type of entity, see the entry on confused spirits on page 34)."
- ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "The Jogger manifested several times each day, and although its sudden appearance would spook other runners and occasionally the horses on the bridle paths, it was mostly benign. However, the more it appeared, the more aggressive it became, until it resorted to shoving others out of its path."
- ↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 21. Cinefex, USA. Line reads: "Among the entities they encounter in a rapid-fire montage is a ghostly jogger checking his pulse as he runs around a track in Central Park. In reality, the jogger was another incarnation of actor Jim Fye, who was covered in white makeup and then photographed against a bluescreen and matted into the live-action plates ."
- ↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 20-21. Cinefex, USA. Tom Rosseter says: "Developing the look of the ghost jogger was difficult, take him down a little and add more contrast. The ghost jogger became an interesting study in how to use contrast mattes and how to extract contrast from the negative when it is not really there. We fooled around with it quite a bit until we got a look that balanced just right with the background plate and the action in the scene."
- ↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 17 footnote. Cinefex, USA. Line reads: "Playing the ghost, Jim Fye was covered with white makeup and photographed against a bluescreen for subsequent compositing into a live-action plate."
- ↑ Wallace, Daniel (2015). Ghostbusters The Ultimate Visual History, p. 166. Insight Editions, San Rafael CA USA, ISBN 9781608875108. Jim Fye says: "The jogger was the first thing I shot, in January of 1989."
- ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "CLASS III. CORPOREAL, BUT SEMI-TRANSPARENT. ANCHORED TO CENTRAL PARK."
- ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "It's most likely that the Jogger wasn't aware that it had actually passed on, which isn't uncommon in the case of an instantaneous death---a sudden heart attack could have killed the Jogger before he had the chance to register his own passing (for more on this type of entity, see the entry on confused spirits on page 34)."
Gallery[]
Primary Canon[]
Secondary Canon[]
Behind the Scenes[]
