“Think of Mr. Stay Puft.  He can’t hurt us, right??”

by: RFR Casket Crew Hatter99

Hello again fellow Deadites!  This weekend I decided to get my fix by queuing up a screen ode to a legendary Haunt.  It’s time to plummet into Hatter99′s SCREAMING Room.

Hat ON.

Rocky Point Haunted House.  I never had the pleasure of seeing this former Haunter’s Mecca in the flesh, as it shut its doors shortly after the 2006 Halloween season, before I entered the industry, but from what I’ve heard and read it was one hell of a house.  While I am a bit bummed that I didn’t get to experience this legendary attraction that veteran haunters discuss with a deeply-mysterious reverence, all is not lost.  Before it was dismantled, a group of filmmakers shot a nifty little flick there called House of Fears.  It’s not a documentary…No, they took it a step up on the Meter-O-Fun.  It’s a full-length, scripted horror film shot within the attraction about some teens who decide to have some fun inside the fictionalized “House of Fears” on an off-night.  

Little do they know that the owner of the haunt (played by real-life Rocky Point owner and Haunt Industry Queen Cydney Neil) has just imported an ancient relic as a prop, which brings your darkest fears (personified by the horrors within the attraction) to life.  You can probably guess where the plot goes from there, but if you’re expecting cheesy acting and dollar store scenery you’re dead wrong.  The acting and dialogue are surprisingly good, and the sets shot within the Rocky Point attraction itself are of course top-notch.  It’s also nice to watch a film that gives equal screen time to showcasing the haunt with its behind-the-scenes workings that will appeal to those interested in the industry alongside a nice helping of blood and scares.  For those who were able to experience the attraction before it closed, the film will serve as a fond remembrance.  For those of us who didn’t venture through its doors, the film provides an abridged but valuable glimpse into this spectral legend.  If you’re interested in haunted attractions and keen on some fun, I highly recommend it.  Plus, if you still subscribe to Netflix streaming after the recent pricing debacle, you can sit back, relax, rot away, and watch it instantly right now.  

Hat OFF.

Down the Rabbit Hole with Hatter99

by: RFR Casket Crew Hatter 99

On Friday as I was driving home from work in Ohio, I happened to glance out my window and beheld a beautiful sight…a vast field of little cornstalks, swaying lightly in the breeze as they reached upward toward the clear blue sky, anchored in the far distance by a creepy white farmhouse surely crawling with zombies…Oh, how I wanted to climb out of my car, frolic through the field, and join them in their carnivorous feast.  But no, I thought.  I must wait.  In two months the harvest will be MUCH sweeter.

I’m Hatter99 (aka Josh), a newly-inducted member of the Haunt industry as of Fall 2010 when I embarked on the glorious world of scareacting.  The thrill of the scare latched onto my heart like a bloodsucking leach and drew me into the exciting Haunt community, anchored by killer conventions, a plethora of media resources, and a close-knit community of haunters who truly love what they do.  Now I’m honored to be sharing my thoughts on the RFR blog.  For me, the facets of the Haunt industry (and all things macabre and mysterious) are an escape into a world of dark wonder where nothing is as it seems.  Reality is a nice place to be sometimes, but occasionally it’s nice to shake things up a bit…read a creepy book, research a mysterious cryptid, watch a mind-bending movie or TV show, or put on some makeup and a neat hat and scare the bodily fluids out of people.  (That last one only really works well around Halloweentime; the mall cops don’t really appreciate it the rest of the year when I jump out of the rack at Victoria’s Secret at timid guys who are discreetly shopping for nighties…for their wives, they claim.)

So, when I want to step through the looking-glass and explore my own wonderland I choose one of the aforementioned activities, among other things, and that’s what I plan as the major basis for my posts, exploring the ways that I fill that deeply-rooted need for dark amusement.  In exploring those interests I’ll also be reflecting on my experiences as a newbie in the Haunt industry, offering my thoughts and soliciting input from others so that I can learn how to better build that alternate reality for myself and for those whom I am scaring.  The more convincing the experience, the more satisfying the adventure for both the haunters and the hauntees.  Ready?

Hat ON.

As we’re all gearing up for the Haunt season, I’d like to mention to all those Haunt operators out there how important it is to me as an actor to have some type of theme/backstory for the Haunt that all of the actors are aware of, whether it’s a story for a particular room if your Haunt switches themes from one room to the next or a universal theme that works through the entire Haunt.  

Of course it’s important to make the audience aware of that theme as well, but it’s just as important to get the actors on the same page.  If we’re inserted into a spooky environment, given a costume, and told to “Be scary,” the Haunt experience is going to fall apart.  Some actors might be telling guests to “Get out,” while others might be telling them to “Stay for dinner.”  You might have one actor speaking in an American accent and another with a British accent, with a hillbilly thrown in for good measure.  
Unless it’s your own twisted little version of the “It’s a Small World” ride (which is totally creepy, by the way), then the theme of the Haunt becomes broken, and the atmosphere’s scare factor diminishes, leaving the onus on the actor to make up that difference.  Sure we’ll get some scares, but it could have been much more intense had we all been briefed on what our story was.  And if the atmosphere becomes too broken, the scares are next to impossible for us to extract from the guests.  And I know that my energy comes from seeing someone jump, or hearing the screams.  If I can’t get that reaction due to a broken atmosphere, then after an hour my energy is drained, and I feel like I’ve failed.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate.  We actors are creative.  We can fill in the gaps, and we certainly don’t want to be handed our lines, but the key is to have a brief understanding as to why we’re in the environment that we’re in.  Maybe a bunch of spooks have come to collect Granny in exchange for a deal that she made fifty years ago.  Or maybe your house was a bed and breakfast where the proprietor had a bit too much demented fun with the guests.  What’s your setting?  Are you in the South?  London?  The backwoods?  Are you in this century?  It can be a short and sweet little idea, and you might be surprised how much energy your actors can extract from that little spark.  Having that small understanding between the designers of the Haunt and its actors can work beautifully in creating a coherent, ominous atmosphere that is amplified by the actors who can now work together toward a common goal.  It makes a world of difference for me as an actor, and it could make a world of difference for your Haunt.

What do you think?  Have any Haunt operators out there found success in NOT providing a theme to the actors?  Do any actors out there enjoy NOT having a theme?  Chime in.

Hat OFF.

Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files: Fool Moon #1 (Horror Comic Review)

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Harry Dresden’s life is a mess. His top client (and close friend) Lt. Karrin Murphy, no longer trusts him, Chicago’s underworld and the cops alike think he’s mobster Johnny Marcone’s supernatural enforcer. And the enigmatic White Council continues to view him with suspicion. If all that weren’t enough, a pack of werewolves have unleashed a wave of terror on the Windy City. But as is always the case when it comes to the creatures of the Nevernever, there’s far more going on than meets the eye. Before it’s all over, Harry will find himself caught between friends, enemies, and arcane forces bent on his destruction. Is it any wonder he can’t find a date?

This first issue of the Dresden Files is well drawn and both writer and artist do an excellent job bringing the characters to life.

I’ve been a fan of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files book for about two years. Jim has a way of telling a gritty crime noir with just the right amount of supernatural happening for it to be entertaining and engaging. The comic’s first issue was right on par with the books.

Whether reading or listening to Jim Butcher’s books, it was always apparent that Lt. Murphy was a small seemingly delicate woman while Harry Dresden was extremely tall. While the chemistry was crystal clear in the books, it is visually stunning to see it drawn in a comic, and once again it is apparently clearly illustrated that these two have something between them.

While vampires have had their fifteen minutes of fame in past years and zombies are all the rage this year, I personally like a goood old fashion werewolf story. After reading the first issue of Fool Moon, I want more.

The Red, White, and Boo!

by: RFR casket Crew Unknown Scare Actor

The 4th of July is upon us deadites. And as we are getting ready for our nation’s birthday, the Mortician is spinning show #240, and the Zombies are having a cookout without the grill. Most Pro haunts have started this season’s work. But we all need to enjoy the weekend, the fireworks, and the company of good friends and family.

And let’s not forget our founding fathers, the men who founded the country that gave us our haunt industry. And always honor the fallen men and women who gave their lives to protect our freedoms. I , the Unknown Scare-Actor, take off my mask to all of these American Heroes, and say thank you for giving me and all us us in the haunt industry, the choice to do what we love.

God Bless America! and Rot on Deadites!!

Tales of Myth and Legend: The Enchanted Rock – Mystery Rock

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise:

It’s difficult to associate Texas with anything ancient even though much of its cowboy western heritage is still intact. While this heritage is still intact, it only dates back about one hundred and fifty years. While this is a rather short and recent history, there are vestiges of ancient cultures and places that have yet to be swallowed up.

Enchanted Rock is truly an ancient site. It’s a pink granite dome that is more than a billion years old, which makes it one of the oldest exposed rocks in the world. The rock covers six hundred and forty acres in southwestern Llano county, about twenty miles north of Fredericksburg and towers more than four hundred feet above the surrounding area.

Its name, Enchanted Rock, is attributed to the Indians’ supposed belief that it’s haunted. The Tonkawa saw ghostly campfires flickering near the summit and heard the mountain groan. Both the Tonkawa and the Comanche regarded the rock with fear and reverence and were even rumored to have offered sacrifices at its base. The Apache said it was inhabited by mountain spirits. Because of these beliefs, many Indians would not set foot on the “talking rock” which they believed housed the restless souls of the dead.

According to one legend, the rock became haunted when a band of brave warriors, the last of their tribe, defended themselves on its high ground against the attacks of another tribe. The warriors were finally overpowered, but ever since then, their wandering wailing spirits roam the magnificent granite undulations of the giant rock.

Until Next Time Deadites….Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…

Rotting Flesh Radio: Dusting the Morgue, Announcements, Casket Crew and Recent Updates

Welcome Deadites back to Rotting Flesh Radio once again. Well it is mid-summer, a holiday weekend so we figured we would add some dust to the morgue and give you a mid-summer report on RFR. So grab a Ice-Scream Cone and read on:

Rotting Flesh Radio “The Original Haunt Industry, Halloween Weekly Show Since 2005″ has wrapped up all filming on the new Haunt Industry T.V. Show coming to stations soon. The “untitled” as of yet project has been filming for the last 10 months and has currently wrapped. It will now go into post for mixing and editing. Details will be announced closer to the pilot airdate.

RFR is also launching a 24/7 Streaming channel RFR2.com. This new sister station to Rotting Flesh Radio will be available 24/7 with haunt industry music, past interviews, and more. “RFR2″ will be launching August 1.

And finally RFR would like to welcome new members to our team in the last 60 days. Brian Warner (Gadget – Evilusions), Tristin Pierce (Arx Mortis), Jim Millspaugh (The Dent ShoolHouse), and Jon Shroyer (Dreadworks FX) who have joined the RFR Team and will be bringing new segments, insights, coverage and posts for RFR. So we welcome them as part of the Rotting Flesh Radio Casket Crew. In addition we also have a celebrity coming to the show with a new segment. Think Horror, Think Haunt Industry, Think of a Horror Icon…..well I will announce it on RFR Show #245 in a few weeks.

So until next time Deadite, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING and SUPPORTING RFR for OVER 5 YEARS! And Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…

The Crimes of Spring Lake Park

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Texarkana is an interesting town. Us Texans love to brag about our size since we are the biggest southern state. But Texarkana is actually a city we have to share with our Arkansas neighbors.  That in itself is worth bragging about. One could say that Texarkana is so big it can’t be contained in just one state so we  invaded Arkansas just so it would all fit. Plus we do bring that Texas flare to Arkansas to help spruce it up just a bit. Once could say that, but being from the south, we don’t like to brag…not too much.

Now Texarkana like any Texas town is big on sports whether it’s football or hockey, and it’s a true place for the outdoor lover; especially hunting and fishing. And then there are the parks.

One of the spookier parks is Spring Lake Park where locals tell a legend that begins with a real-life  tale of murder.

The story goes that a young couple had stolen off for a romantic interlude on a secluded lover’s lane in the park. Unfortunately, they were murdered in the middle of their tryst – shot to death. It’s said that before being killed herself, the young lady was tied to a tree and made to watch her boyfriend’s demise.

Legend has it that if you lean against just the right tree, you will feel constricted as if a rope is tying you to the spot.

Perhaps the scariest part of this legend is that it’s based on one of Texas’ most famous unsolved serial killings. They were called the Texarkana Moonlight Murders because the killer struck at night. The killer himself was dubbed the Phantom, a hooded, menacing figure who went on a rampage in 1946, targeting young couples in secluded areas and attacking them with a gun and a knife. The Phantom left a string of bloodied bodies in his wake. Despite a massive manhunt by Texas Rangers and an investigation that spread over 300 suspects, the killer was never caught.

In 1976, a film called The Town That Dreaded Sundown was made about the crimes of the Phantom.

Actor Training, Consulting, and Growth for your Haunt with Rabid Badger Haunt Consulting

RFR Casket Crew’s Rabid Badger is a voice staple to RFR. In addition to being one of the legendary RFR Casket Crew, Badger also runs a successful Haunt Consulting business called RABID BADGER HAUNT CONSULTING.

“Drew Badger and Rabid Badger Haunt Consulting are committed to making your haunted attraction reach its full potential. Whether it’s training actors at some of the nation’s top haunts, laying down voice tracks for your radio and TV commercials, or helping design your new haunt from scratch, let us work with you to ensure you and your actors scare the pants off your customers.”

Now in addition to the consulting he also runs a variety of Actor Training Seminars like those you had seen the the Midwest Haunters Convention in his BOO CAMP seminars. These classes were packed and jamed with Actors and Owners wanted to grow in their technique, style and most of all make their haunt better in character development.

Badger has also worked on a variety of Commercial Spots and offers voice over work with Spooky Voices. So if you are looking to grow your team, crew, actors and haunt, just consult with Rabid Badger Haunt Consulting.

To find out more visit: www.RabidBadger.biz – Tell him you listen to him on Rotting Flesh Radio and you never know what he may drum up in conversation.

CHECK OUT BADGER AT THE 2011 MIDWEST HAUNTERS CONVENTION:

Skulls of the Shogun Debuts at E3

Since many of the Haunt Industry Vendors are finally back from MHC and getting those orders out, most haunters are building their events and actors are fine tuning their characters, what can a haunter do in their minimal down time?

Well many haunters still want to be emersed into the horror and haunt industry even then, so how about an All-New Horror Game from the guys at HAUNTED TEMPLE STUDIOS. They were at the recent E3 Gaming Event and showcased their brand new title the “Skulls of the Shogun”

This new title was played at their booth kiosk by one of the RFR Casket Crew at E3. It was created by Haunted Temple Studios and this game is basically a re-envisioned style of game, I personally love…turn style RPG game! The game itself is very nice vector artwork. It has nice heavy linework, solid illustrations and animated characters that you can only imagine being an avatar on a forum somewhere. A gamer can only love this style of illustration in a game.

The game itself is comprised of selecting your team of Archers, Calvary and Infantry to use when on the battlefield. It is up to you to decide which team will be the best attack team for you based on range of attack, defense and what not. There is also some type of General who is dormant until he is awaken from his slumber and then can be used in battle.

The game is very involved and lives up to the classic RPG style games of the day, yet bringing it forward to 2011 and 2012. Players will notice the movement of your team, characters and controls are unique, yet once grasped, are very fluid and give them a wide range of capabilities from large movements to smaller ones as well.

This game was surrounded by gamers who were raving about the game and it seemed that it was met with much priase and applause. It has breathed life into an era of gaming that is very set in it’s fan base, yet leave room for the new blood to want to play and discover RPG gaming.

The game does not have a release date yet, but I can assure you it is right around the corner. IF you would like to read a very in-depth review you can find that at: www.Gamerant.com

When Should a Scare-Actor Start Scaring??

by: RFR Casket Crew’s Unknown Scare Actor

How old should a person be when they start scaring? This is a very subjective question.   A lot depends of the child and the parent.

My personal opinion is that a parent should allow this to develop, if the child shows an affinity for haunting.  I probably started scaring people around the age of 7.  The funny thing was, I couldn’t watch a horror movie without having nightmares. However, I had no problem with dressing like a monster, using make up  or masks to sneak up on people, especially my mother, and giving them a fright.

Of course, all of this may very well be contingent on the parents disposition.  Parents that are haunters are probably more inclined to teach and help their children, to the point of having them involved in some way, such as a home haunt.  I don’t feel that haunting should be forced on the child at all, but they can be encouraged.  At what age this should happen, I couldn’t say, it will vary from child to child, but I can tell you this….. I have a 15 year old junior Scare-Actor in training.

Until next time Deadites…Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…