July 2007 Archives
What is the name of your conference and what is it about?
The Midwest Haunters Convention is a weekend event planned for Haunted Attraction Producers, Actors, and Home Haunters. Our goal is to provide educational seminars and workshops with experienced presenters as well as a place to socialize with others in the industry during our many activities. It is held annually in Columbus, Ohio.
How did it start?
We started MHC after hearing that the Ohio Haunted Conference was not going to continue. OHC took place in 2001 and 2002 and attracted about 150-200 people. MHC was modeled after this concept but it quickly outgrew our initial expectations.
When did it start?
The first Midwest Haunters Convention occurred in July of 2004 with an outdoor event held at Cooper Stadium the home to Terror Park. That first year we had about 300 people and 30 vendors.
How many people usually show up?
MHC has grown about 50 percent each year and the show that just wrapped up had an estimated attendance of 1200 people and we featured 54 vendors.
Who attends these types of thing?
The primary audience for MHC is haunted attraction owners, producers, actors, as well as home haunters. Because of the emphasis we put on makeup and acting classes, we tend to attract a lot of the support personnel from haunts all over the country.
I was sick, sick unto death, with that long agony, and when they at length unbound me, and I was permitted to sit, I felt that my senses were leaving me.
--Edgar Allen Poe, The Pit and the Pendulum
Having grown up on TV shows like Davey and Goliath and Gumby, stop motion animation is an enjoyable form of storytelling for me. From the simplicity and witty fun of Gumby, to the richness of design found in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the stories are often magical and the characters always imaginative. Stop motion techniques can be used with clay, puppets, and realistic-looking articulated models like Willis O'Brien's emotive King Kong or Ray Harryhausen's creepy fighting skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts.
Stop motion has been skillfully and shoddily used with many traditional and avant-garde horror and science-fiction films since around 1908, and lends itself to the short subject rather well, especially when the setting is simple, and the actions straightforward. Marc Lougee's stop motion adaptation of Poe's, The Pit and the Pendulum, is a good example of this. Poe's story is a straightforward narrative of despair, desperation, and horror. The anonymity of the villains, the delirium of the victim, and the increasingly horrific situations he confronts is ripe for a short film that captures this singular time frame of struggle against increasingly dire odds.
While Poe's story is required reading for many college kids, this visualization of the torments suffered by the unnamed prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition would be a welcomed addition to the curriculum. While a bit of license is used for dramatic visual effect (the prisoner doesn't have a metal helmet locked around his head in the original story), the short seven-minute film adheres to and captures the essence of terror with vivid detail in its CG-enhanced miniature sets and stylized puppets.
Yup you heard right. From the same guy who brought you SAW. And it looks sweet. Check out the trailer below if you don't believe me. This is a straight up revenge horror film.Death Sentence is an action packed, psychological thriller starring Kevin Bacon and directed by James Wan (the creator of Saw). Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, until one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family.
Photographer Tim Palen serves up a visionary collection of images in his debut book collection GUTS, culled from his work in and around the marketing of six cutting-edge horror films. The 110-page book includes movie and event posters, production stills, outtakes, and location photos. The cover image -- a photograph of red, glistening meat -- telegraphs both the nature and sensibility of the work inside: sensual, sophisticated and veined with a drolly macabre sense of humor. The best part? It can be yours for free. Just tell 5 new people about our blog and then email us. That's all you have to do and we will send you a copy for free!
GUTS is published by Baby Tattoo Press. The Summer 2007 first printing is now on sale at the publisher’s website (http://www.babytattoo.com/shop), and at select specialty bookstores including Forbidden Planet in New York City and Golden Apple in Los Angeles. The summer run includes a very limited special edition, which presents GUTS like a package of supermarket beef, shrink-wrapped and nestled on a foam tray. Adding to the illusion, the cover of the limited edition will not include type.
- iamlegend
:: Editors Note:: This is the weekly series of interviews we do with people changing the face of the Haunted Attractions and Horror Industry. This week we interview Chip of Pigman's Liar Haunted Attractions. ::
Why did you first become interested in the Haunted House/Horror Business?
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been into it to some degree. I loved scaring people, monsters, masks, and all the cool special effects stuff. Like most haunters, I would build haunted houses in my basement, and set up elaborate yard displays. As far as the business end of it, 1999 was my first venture into the professional side of it.
What previous jobs have you had?
My entire working background since high school and college has been restaurant management related. I also briefly worked in customer/sales service at a carton manufacturing company in NC.
What job do you do right now? Is the Haunted House/Horror Job your full time gig?
I have been working for Potbelly Sandwich Works for the past four years. I am a general manager at the Arborland location in Ann Arbor, MI. I would LOVE for the haunting business to be full-time… Maybe some day!
How long have you been in the business?
8 years, professionally.
How did you start?
I went to the first North Carolina gathering of haunters, put together by Leonard Pickel of Haunted Attraction Magazine. It was located at Morris Costumes, where he was in the process of designing and building their haunted attraction/showroom. This gathering would eventually evolve into the now well-attended HauntCon. I met Eddie McLaurin from Woods of Terror there. Working one year with Woods of Terror, I helped with some of the promotional and marketing stuff, as well as several prop and scene constructions. I also helped with the set-up and teardown, and helped revamp several scenes. After that, I typed up a business plan and proposition with the Winston-Salem Jaycees, and opened my first show the next year. (I had accumulated several years of props and costumes by that point). They were great to work with, and that was the birth of the “Pigman’s Lair” theme.
What’s the scariest Haunted House you ever attended?
My own -Pigman’s Lair! The scariest that I remember was the Niles haunted house out on Bell Rd, in Niles, MI. This was well before they turned into the huge operation and screampark they are now. It was much scarier back then- but I was much younger as well. I don’t get scared a whole lot… Startled- Yes! I’ve been known to shriek here and there, but as far as scary- it’s real hard to creep me out. Some of the best I’ve attended, as far as actors and detailing go include: Netherworld in Atlanta, Dream Reapers in Chicago, Woods of Terror in NC, Erebus and Realm of Darkness in Pontiac, The Haunting in Adrian, The Haunt in Grand Rapids, and the Terrorfied Forest in Pinckney. I’ve heard great stuff about Terror on the Fox, Bates Motel, The Darkness, and I’ve always wanted to go to Deadly Intentions in Warren. That’s one haunt I’d love to check out, and it probably will creep me out, which is totally fine with me!
Do you still find time to attend Haunted Houses?
Yes- Whenever I can. I wish I could see more. All the conventions I attend have haunt tours, and that’s great- but I’d really love to take a whole year off, and hit about a hundred (and not pay!). Being so close to the haunt capital of Detroit, and being open only on Fridays and Saturdays, I should be able to.
Have you guys heard of the Spruce Goose? Well looks like the museum that hosts this plane is getting some new residents this Halloween. Check this poster out and more info to come.
- iamlegend
Hello All,
We have a new feature on the Haunted Report : Prop-of-the-Week. This will be our first feature on the Blog that relies entirely on you the reader. Each week (if we have submissions) we will feature a prop-of-the-week. This could be something you built yourself or something you purchased for your Home Haunt or Pro Haunt. If it's something you built yourself we would love to see HOW you built it and you might even have the chance to see your prop in MAKE magazine at some point. So start sending those descriptions and photos to us TODAY at news@hauntedreport.com.
Thanks,
iamlegend
This new space horror movie looks pretty sweet. It's being directed by Danny Boyle and here is the story. It begins in the year 2057, as our Sun begins to die and mankind faces the unthinkable: extinction. Earth¹s last hope lies with the Icarus II, a spacecraft manned with eight men and women led by Captain Kaneda. Their mission -- to deliver a nuclear device designed to reignite the Sun. Deep into their voyage, far out of radio contact with Earth, the lonely, restless crew hears a distress beacon from the Icarus I, the ship which disappeared without a trace on the same mission seven years earlier.
But when an attempt at rescue throws the Icarus II into jeopardy, the increasingly desperate crew soon find themselves literally gripped in the shadow of the Sun, fighting for their lives, their sanity, and the future of us all. Check the trailer below and the Web Site here.
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Looks like this will be really sweet this year. They are pulling out the stops. For the First Time Ever: Three Of The Most Frightening Characters In Horror Film History Join Forces With one of the Nation’s Most Intense Halloween Event
Universal’s U.S. theme parks and New Line Cinema have agreed to bring the legendary horror film series, “Friday the 13th,” “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights events in Orlando and Hollywood.
Universal’s legendary Halloween events have been horrifying guests for 17 years. Jason, Freddy Krueger and Leatherface have haunted horror fans and phobes alike for more than 25 years. This year – for the first time ever -- they come together to create the most extreme Halloween Horror Nights event in history.
Halloween Horror Nights is the country’s largest and most elaborate Halloween event. Universal’s “scream team” of designers create a month-long fright-fest where guests are confronted with their most terrifying nightmares. Specially designed haunted houses, thrilling shows, inescapable scare zones, and hundreds of street performers invade Universal’s theme parks on select nights throughout the months of October and November.
New Line’s films and characters will be integrated into all aspects of Halloween Horror Night’s creative content giving guests a chance to meet – or run from – Jason, Freddy and Leatherface in person.
Added David Imhoff, Senior Executive Vice President, Worldwide Licensing and Merchandising, New Line Cinema, “ The ‘A Nightare On Elm Street,’ ‘Friday The 13th,’ and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ series are arguably the most frightening and frighteningly popular in movie history. We’re excited to be able to allow fans to step in to the horrifying worlds of Freddy, Jason and Leatherface via Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.”
- iamlegend
Sunday, July 15, 2007 3:55 PM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
The live auction from 11 AM until 12:30 PM was a well-attended event. Take a look at a couple of photographs I shot:
Crazy Bob Turner, above, machine-guns the audience with auction chatter. Bob was once again the MHC auctioneer. Behind him you can see some of the available items.
Taken from the hotel’s second-floor balcony, you can see some of the crowd at the MHC live auction. Auctioneer Crazy Bob Turner is in an orange shirt in the center-left portion of the picture. At the far left, you’ll see some of the items up for auction.
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My 12:30 – 1:45 PM class about some of the dumb things that haunt actors do, and should not, was a nice success. My small classroom had about 25 attendees, nearly a full house. Several students hung around for another 45 minutes after class, plying me with questions and tales of their own experiences.
Teaching is one of my favorite haunt activities. Not only do I get to spread my knowledge and experience of haunting, but students give me new ideas, too. I thank my students for making me a better haunter.
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It’s now late in the afternoon and the convention is winding down. The last classes of the day will wrap up in just a few minutes. I’ve taken my last lap through the tradeshow floor and will soon be heading for home.
It has been my great pleasure to bring you a few tidbits about MHC. I hope the photos you’ve seen from me will encourage you to attend next year’s convention. I thank the folks from Haunted Report and the producers of the Midwest Haunters Convention for this wonder opportunity. Happy Haunting!
Very truly yours,
Rex B. Hamilton
Sunday, July 15, 2007 10:45 AM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
It’s another beautiful morning here in Columbus at the Midwest Haunters Convention. More blue sky, more bright sunshine. The temperature will approach 90 this afternoon and the humidity is on the rise.
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I neglected to tell you about the complimentary breakfast that was served to attendees on Saturday morning. From 7 to 9 AM, the International Association of Haunted Attractions sponsored a continental breakfast in the hotel lobby. Guests were treated to bagels, muffins, fresh fruit and Starbucks coffee.
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At last night’s costume ball, Spectacle Studios (the official photographer of Midwest Haunters Convention) took more than 600 high-quality photos of the attendees. You will be able to purchase a DVD of all the photos. I don’t know the price yet, but keep an eye on the MHC Web site for details.
Not only will you see the partygoers at the ball, you’ll also get a look at the contestants in the Miss Scary Ohio pageant and the Fantasy Body Art fashion show.
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As I write this, the silent auction is in progress. Here are a couple of shots:
A silent auction bidder writes down what he’s willing to pay for an animatronic called the “The Death Crawler” with remote control, placed into auction by Gag Studios.
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The live auction begins in just a few minutes at 11 AM. The haunted seminars will fire up at 12:30. I have a class to teach then, so I’ll check back with you later in the afternoon.
Thanks,
Rex
Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:45 PM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
The Saturday class schedule at Midwest Haunters Convention was divided into three groups: the first set of classes ran from 9:30 until 11 AM, the second from 1 PM until 2:30 and the third from 2:45 until 4:15 PM.
I think what the producers had in mind when they devised this schedule were:
1. Give attendees plenty of time (2 hours) to go out for lunch and or visit the tradeshow floor, and
2. Allow the instructors enough time (90 minutes) for thoroughly discussing a particular topic.
I learned that more than one of the morning classes went way over its nominal stop time. In fact one class did not conclude until 12:45 PM – that’s a 3 hour, 15 minute class! This was not a problem, since the next class was not scheduled to begin until 1 PM.
Bravo to the MHC instructors who accommodated their students’ wishes for lots of haunt information!
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I took photographs of some of today’s late afternoon classes:
Above is Roger “Ichabod” Miller of Cleveland, Ohio during his class on Original Character Development.
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MHC’s 2007 Monster Make-up War is now in the books. Crazy Bob Turner was the contest’s Master of Ceremonies, ably assisted by show producer Kellie Collins.
The runner-up was artist Katie Johnston and model Laura Kessler, both of Evilusions in Eastlake, Ohio. Here’s what they looked like at the end of the contest:
The Monster Make-up War’s winning team was comprised of artists Jamie Perkins of Chicago, IL and Jeff Glatzer of Cleveland, OH. The model was Jamie’s mother, Kerri Perkins (center). Take a look at the winners:
Have a safe evening and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
Thanks,
Rex
Saturday, July, 14, 2007 3:05 PM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
Fun fact about this year’s Midwest Haunters Convention: producer Barry Schieferstein tells me they have had more people pre-register in 2007 than all the attendees in 2006. Congratulations!
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I’m writing this post from the MHC “hospitality room” in the Doubletree hotel. It is a small meeting room that has been set aside for the show’s vendors, instructors and volunteers. Karen Murphy of Michigan deserves the credit for bringing the room from idea to reality. It’s a nice oasis of peace and quiet from madness going on right now in the vendor room and hotel lobby.
A special treat in this room is a “chocolate fountain,” sponsored by EFX-Tek. At luchtime, you should have seen all the ladies who were dipping strawberries, grapes, sponge cake and other goodies into warm, gooey chocolate.
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I’ve spent the day so far making quick stops in many of the classes and circling through the tradeshow area. Here are a few more photos I snapped today:
Rotting Flesh Radio maven “Johnathan” proudly holds his daughter Ally, while Ally investigates the smoothness of Chad “Sinister Visions” Savage’s shiny bald head. Today is Ally’s first birthday.
A good-looking static prop from Grave Robber Studios
Wayne Sealy, producer of Omaha’s Mystery Manor, creates a caricature on clear acetate using an ultra-thin black Sharpie. You might notice that he’s doing a cartoon of my looney-toon Butch the Butcher character.
The Monster Make-up War begins in less than two hours. I’ll send you some photos of the winners later this night.
Thanks,
Rex
Saturday, July 14, 2007 2:35pm
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
Today is a glorious day in Columbus. There is lots of blue sky, brilliant sunshine and a pleasant breeze outside. The weatherman promises a high of 86 degrees.
Inside the hotel it’s a bustling scene. When I left the tradeshow floor about 10 minutes ago, the aisles were clogged with haunters and gawkers. I popped in some of the early classes and took a few photos.
There is a nice piece called “Haunters share their best scares” on page B1 of today’s Columbus Dispatch. The piece was penned by reporter Brittany Kress and features two photographs (one color, one b&w) by Tom Dodge. The Web site is www.dispatch.com.
Actor and make-up artist Jeff Glatzer, publisher of Scared Stiff magazine, demonstrates applying gelatin during a Saturday morning workshop.
Brian Warner, above, talks about the care, feeding and programming of animatronics. Brian is a partner in Evilusions in Painesville, OH.
Long-time Cleveland haunt performers Elizabeth Biasella, left, Glen Gilmore and Katie Lane lead a class on Character Devlopment. You’re looking at about 40 years’ of combined haunt acting experience in these three wackos.
Rob “Bodybagging” Johnson mugs for the camera while standing in a prop designed and built by his firm. In an effort to show the haunting public that he is not just a good make-up artist, Rob has brought this item and several others to the show and placed them in the Sunday morning auction. I’ll check back with you in mid-afternoon.
Thanks,
Rex
Saturday, July 14th, 2007 9:00 AM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
Last evening, MHC attendees were treated to a behind-the-scenes party at ScareParts, one the convention’s chief sponsors, Owner Keith Korner and his gracious staff plied guests with hot food and cold drinks.
Here are a few photos I took of that event:
Standing at the entrance of ScareParts, above, this is the sight that greeted partygoers.
Lizzy Vitas, left, and husband Derek stand next to a pair of freshly-molded skeletons which will soon become lunging animatronics. Mr. and Mrs. Vitas are the producers of “Spooktacular Nights at the Rockin’ R Ranch” in Columbia Station, Ohio.
Wayne Barneschi, left, and other members of his Connecticut haunted attraction pose with a couple of finished ghouls.
A completed ScareParts animatronic, ready to be hooked up to an air compressor and turned loose on the unsuspecting.
Haunt performers and artists Shane Rapkin, left, and Katie Lane flank a nearly-finished ScareParts animatronic. Shane and Katie are the owners of RavensWolf, a haunted purveyor of fine artwork.
Talk to you again on Saturday afternoon.
Thanks,
Rex
Friday, July 13, 2007 3:10 PM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
Have a gander at a few MHC pictures. Take a look at a few photographs, taken by producer Kelly Collins taken so far at MHC:
Above, the ever-spooky Dr. David Lady gives visitors to his Horror Hotel the lowdown on his spooky home. In the background, you can see his living room. How many haunters can boast of bookshelves of world-class masks that stand right night to your easy chair?
Make-up artist Nick Wolf, left, applies the finishing touches to a make-up job at the Fox Television station on Friday morning. Nick Wolfe, along with Brian, comprise the Wolfe Brothers make-up team from Florida. The Wolfe Brothers are teaching classes on Friday and have a vendor booth on Saturday and Sunday.
A view of some of the outlandish costumes available for sale at the Gore Galore booth. Kevin Alvey, the owner of Gore Galore, has one of the larger booths in the vendor area.
I’ll check back with you this evening. Be sure to leave me some comments on other stuff you want to see photos from. And thanks for the Haunted Report for sponsoring this!
Thanks,
Rex
Friday, July 13, 2007 11:45 AM
Greetings, Fellow Haunters:
It is a sunny, pleasant morning here in Columbus. The temperature will reach the mid-70s this afternoon with low humidity.
When I arrived at the Doubletree at around 8 AM, the setup process in the vendor room was just beginning. The first one to jump into action was Rob Johnson from Bodybagging in Michigan.
Right now I’m being interviewed (along with Kelly Collins) by a pretty young reporter named Brittany from the Columbus Dispatch, the daily paper here in Columbus. Her piece should appear in the paper’s Saturday edition. It has been enjoyable watching haunters from other states march into the hotel lobby throughout the morning: Wayne Barnesch from Connecticut is here, so is Rich Hanf from New Jersey, some folks from Dreamreapers in Chicago, Ed Gannon from Boston, Anne Marie Gavinski from Wisconsin and plenty more. A couple of minutes ago I just met a couple from California who brought their wares for sale.
For me, today is a vacation day. (It’s actually the first day I’ve taken off from work since TransWorld back in February.) At various points this morning I’ve been a gofer for the producers, helped vendors erect the scaffolding on their booths, guided seminar attendees to their classrooms and answered registration questions. The best part is – it’s not work. I get a huge kick of hanging around haunters of all types.
Almost time for lunch. I’ll check in with you about mid-afternoon.
Thanks,
Rex
Greetings Fellow Haunters
My name is Rex Hamilton and I am a long-time haunted-house actor from Cleveland, Ohio. It will be my pleasure over the next few days to bring you some of my thoughts and observations from the floor of the Midwest Haunters Convention (MHC) in Columbus, Ohio.
The 2007 MHC is the fourth year for this regional haunt show. The best source of factual information about the show is their official site: www.midwesthauntersconvention.com. The site of the convention is the Doubletree Hotel in the suburb of Worthington, OH about 16 miles due north of downtown Columbus. The hotel is located at the US Route 23 exit of Interstate 270.
Electronic registration for the convention’s special events (costume ball, bus tour and educational seminars) has been shut down. If you want to attend these events, you’ll need to register in person.
But don’t let the fact that you haven’t registered for anything keep you from driving to Columbus on either Saturday or Sunday. Why? Because general admission to the convention and the vendor exhibit areas is free to all.
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I arrived here in Columbus around 9 PM on Thursday and went straight to the hotel’s bar. The only haunter I found there was a good friend, Mr. Wayne Sealy, the owner of Mystery Manor haunted house in Omaha, Nebraska. I acted at Mystery Manor in 1998 and 2003. Simply stated, it is one of my favorites.
As we sucked down a couple of cold beers, Wayne chatted me up with all the changes he’s making to the Manor’s layout for 2007. (Mystery Manor will celebrate its 25th season in 2008.) Wayne has always looked upon a haunted attraction first and foremost as a theatrical event. He insists on actors who are skilled at improvisational acting. In return he’s creating custom costumes for his performers and having his 10 make-up artists (five teams of two artists) cook up great make-up schemes.
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The Ohio haunted attraction bus tour finally arrived back at the hotel at midnight. Their long journey took participants to The Horror Hotel in Chatfield, Ghostly Manor in Sandusky and The Haunted Hydro in Fremont.
God I want to go to....Anyway On May 10, the Arts and Business Council of Greater Philadelphia presented Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site and LUKOIL with best Business/Arts Partnership Award for 2006. Check out the video preview of the Haunted House here.
Eastern State Penitentiary's Terror Behind the Walls has consistently been recognized as one of the top haunted attractions in the country by America Online, HauntWorld Magazine and the New York Times. Last year, LUKOIL decided the event was an unusual, yet logical vehicle for aggressively rolling out a new brand.
In an arrangement that benefited both partners, last year, in exchange for naming rights to the event, LUKOIL underwrote a publicity package valued at over a half million dollars. Included were TV commercials in both Philadelphia and New York City; placement on LUKOIL's huge video screen in Times Square; an extensive radio campaign; prominent signage at 400 LUKOIL gas stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and a PR campaign that resulted in features on CNN, NPR and the Travel Channel.
Terror Behind the Walls is the single largest source of income for the Historic Site. "This partnership will help put a new roof on a historically significant cellblock and will also partially fund the site's artist installations and family tour program," said Eastern State Program Director Sean Kelley. In 2007, Terror Behind the Walls presented by LUKOIL
This looks like it's going to be the BIGGEST Horrorfind Weekend ever. The guest list is fantastic and we've recently added even more people to the Horrorfind lineup.
If you have not looked in a while be sure to take a peek at the celebrities page http://www.horrorfindweekend.com/state/maryland/august/celebrities.html we are bringing on extra staff just to manage the lines for some of this years guests.
The convention hotel is sold out of rooms, and nearly every hotel within a few miles is booked or filling fast.
Vendors, who have not already gotten their tables please act fast, just a few tables left and the waiting list starts. If you want to reserve your table(s) click the link below now before it's too late http://www.horrorfindweekend.com/state/maryland/august/august_dealercontract.html
Online ticket sales have gone wild this year. We'll be cutting off the pre sale in a few weeks so if you want to pre-purchase tickets to get in fast, now's the time - just go here http://www.horrorfindweekend.com/state/maryland/august/tickets.html
Thanks and see you at Horrorfind Weekend,
Mike aka Horrormaster
The International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA) Board of Directors today announced the addition of three new board members: Patrick Konopelski, Dan Hall and Tim Turner.
Patrick Konopelski is the owner and operator of Shocktoberfest in Reading, PA, one of the most sophisticated and high tech multi element haunted attractions in the United States. In addition to Konopelski's nearly two decades of experience in the haunted attraction industry, he also owns Konopelski Catering, Jinglebell Fest and Apple Dumpling Festival.
Dan Hall is the owner and operator of The Boneyard Haunted Attraction in Ft. Worth TX. This massive non profit attraction is solely dedicated to assist the Special Olympics. This October will find a number of Olympians from this attraction in China as members of the United States Special Olympic team.
Tim Turner is a former film industry monster maker turned Halloween artist. He is the owner and operator of The Ghoulish Gallery in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, and also a special make-up effects and digital make up and character design instructor at Cinema Make-up School in Los Angeles, CA. Turner's experience in the haunted attraction business spans nearly 30 years and began with the now legendary Campus Life haunted houses of the late 70's. Over the years he's been an actor, designer, builder, owner and operator for several large "for profit" haunted attractions in the Orange County/Los Angeles area. Turner has also contributed his talents to larger commercial venues such as Universal Hollywood Horror Nights, Queen Mary's Shipwreck Halloween Terrorfest and the award-winning Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt.
The other board members are Bill Criscione, Vice President; Deanna Roberts-Morton, Secretary, Jim Smith, Treasurer; Kelly Allen, Brett Bertolino, Dan Faupel, Randy Young, Ken Donat, Eddie McLauren, Mike Krausert and Bobbie Weiner.
- IAMLEGEND
Director Michael Katleman's Primeval is a film filled with monsters. There's Gustave, the four-legged, very hungry kind, and Little Gustave, among the two-legged and also very hungry—for power—kind. But that doesn't make Primeval a good horror film. In fact, as both monsters vie for who's the baddest of the bad, the story's tension, and any hope of scary shocks, is lost as the film flip-flops between social commentary, which demands lingering, thoughtful scenes, and horror, which requires the exact opposite.
Based on the real-life crocodile that's been attacking people along the Rusizi River in Burundi, Africa, you'd think the story would pretty much write itself: the largest man-eating crocodile in history, born out of the genocidal civil-war raging in Burundi. With so many bodies floating around in the river, it's no wonder Gustave developed a taste for human flesh. Yet, Katleman's film misses the real horror of this human tragedy, and instead focuses on characters and situations that neatly fall into the usual square pegs, square holes.
One reluctant news reporter (Dominic Purcell), and one determined to become more than just a fluff, cute-story animal reporter (Brooke Langton), square-off and head to Burundi. Along with them for the ride, there's the hip, inner-city camera man (Orlando Jones). And, not to miss out on any of the clichés, they meet up with the herpetologist that wants to capture the man-eater alive—so you know what's going to happen to him, right?—and the savvy African hunter (Jurgen Prochnow), whose vendetta with the crocodile makes him itching to blow it up with a grenade or two. Complicating matters is the genocidal war raging in Burundi, and Little Gustave, the warlord that controls the part of the country our intrepid crocodile hunters must travel through. It's these two, seemingly complimentary themes of evil and monstrosity, from both Gustaves, that work badly together. When the hunt for Gustave becomes the struggle to run from Gustave and Little Gustave, the interweaving of both is handled with uninspired dialog and predictable events that fail to build or even sustain tension.
Columbus, Ohio June 19, 2007; Do you know the scariest woman in the
Midwest? If so, tell her to head to Columbus!
The Midwest Haunters Convention is looking for the scariest woman in
the Midwest. For the past several years, the annual event has hosted
some of the most frightening characters imaginable competing on
stage. The Pageant was rated by AOL Online as a Top 13 Freaky
Attraction in the US; Fall 2006. It will be held on Saturday, July
14th at the Doubletree Hotel I-270 in Worthington, Ohio.
Ms. Midwest Haunt will receive over $300 in cash and prizes
while the first runner up will scare up over $100 in cash and prizes.
Applications are available online at www.MidwestHauntersConvention.com. A panel of haunted attraction industry judges will select the most frightening, intimidating and scariest woman in the pageant.
The festivities begin at 8:30 p.m. with the Scareparts Masquerade
Party with "Crazy Bob" Turner as Master of Ceremonies. A Halloween
Fantasy Body Art Fashion Show will be hosted by the U.S. Body
Painting Festival will start the show. Hundreds of costumed
characters from around the country will attend the party.
The pageant is open to the first ten contestants to apply. There is a
$15 entry fee and contestants are encouraged to get a sponsor.
Typically haunted houses or costume shops are looking for a character
to represent them in the pageant. Previous pageant winners have been
from Ohio, Wisconsin and Georgia and are shown in this story.
Friends of HR
