Callie Hernandez: Before we got on I was brushing up on Ong’s Hat. Do you know about this conspiracy theory? It started in New Jersey, and it’s one of the first instances of online conspiracy theory revolving around academia, I think. But basically, four people just made up these narratives and then posted things on bulletin boards and printed magazines starting in the ’70s, but really gearing up in the 80s, CD-ROMs and everything. But the made-up narrative is that one person gets stuck in a parallel universe. That’s kind of what just happened with Courtney [laughs].
Chris Cassingham: What’s the conspiracy? Ong, like O-N-G?
CH: Yeah.
ALSO SEE: Interview with Courtney Stephens and Callie Hernandez about the film, “Invention” Locarno Film Festival 2024