Coast
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Posts posted by Coast
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Eh...that sounds like a disaster...
Did someone say... disaster?
Just a nature lover, pal... just a nature lover.
Orlando used to have media members come in and be scareactors for a night, so technically its not something never done before.
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This? Its a cool gag but not scary. It isn't directed at you in the least. The best it could be is a distraction scare. Actually... I think this is re-purposed from a Freddy house they had if I'm not mistaken. I know I have seen this as Freddy.
No, that's not what I was referring to. What I was talking about comes after this and was the very last scare of the house:
It's an actor controlled puppet and I imagine it was pretty terrifying if you caught it at the right time.
If you look at 0:26 of this video, this is what it looks like in action:
In this one you can see how the prop is actor controlled:
The company that makes these "puppets" is Gore Galore, really incredible stuff if you want to check them out.
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I've done it. Two years. I've add an e-prom one night in two years. It's a lot easier to scare without them than you think. It just requires a bit of skill (something they don't cast for anymore? really). I've terrified thousands without saying a word. They aren't needed.
The e-prom is more intended to prevent improv because of issues they've had.
Good for you. I don't mean this in a nasty way, either. Seriously, thank you for being an actor that brings intensity every night.
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This is absolutely true! I think the issue is that people see a haunt like Netherworld or The Darkness, and assume that that all haunts are like that. In actuality, however, 99% of the haunts out there rely on old techniques, have a much smaller budget, and don't have the innovation that Universal does. This is a critique that comes up every year, and I just don't see it, personally. Go check out an average haunt. Are they fun? Sure. But they don't operate on the same level as HHN.
And as for the event losing its intensity over the years, while some of that may very well be true, I think it's also possible that we're just getting more used to the event. This has been brought up by others before, but there are only so many ways you can scare someone. And with 7-8 houses a year, you burn through the catalog pretty quickly. You also start to get a feel for where potential scares could come from. Not to say that new techniques aren't being developed, just that there are some pretty common strategies for scaring in a house; and just like a horror film, if you're exposed to it enough, it becomes a bit mundane and predictable.
Netherworld looks like a really, really good haunt and I plan on getting there someday. They look like they have some really awesome sets and they use alot of massive animatronics.
You also bring up a great point about scare tactics.. there's only so many ways you can go about doing it. Universal loved the air cannons last year, so that brought a fresher startle to some rooms. What A&D does so brilliantly is the distractions, and it seems like they have combining them with the old school scares down to a science.
The biggest scare for me at last year's event was sound based. The speaker mounted above your head for the Pepper's Ghost effect was huge. I peed my pants.
I never said that those effects were innovative in the years that I gave examples of (those were the years I visited, so I used my personal experiences). You just further supported my point that Universal is the innovator behind those tactics.
Also, I am 100% all for e-prompts. It's used for a reason. By having the sound triggered with speakers, it allows the actor to save their voice from screaming over and over and over throughout the course of a night. The automation will also allow for the scare to always be consistent. Just picture yourself standing in your spot in the house without a trigger. not only are you exhausted, but your throat is incredibly sore or you have lost your voice. As an actor, you know that you are expected to deliver consistent scares four or five nights in a row and you can't do that if your voicebox is fried. I plan on running my own haunt someday, and I will make sure that I have as many automated theatrical scares as possible.
Also, the smaller haunts are able to do the more physical scares that you mentioned because the event is nowhere near the size of HHN. Different ballgame.
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Animatronics, for the most part, I don't care for unless they are just things that can't be done by humans. Even a puppet IMO is better than a robot. Puppets can interact better and don't break nearly as often. Low tech is almost always more reliable.
Hollywood used a La Llorona puppet scare last year and it looked terrifying. That also seems to be the hot new thing in the industry this year, along with clowns. Alot of vendors are trying to break into the oversized costume department. Another thing I noticed from seeing Transworld coverage is that it looks like masks are making a comeback. Prosthetics were the bee's knees for a few years, but now with silicone masks becoming slightly more affordable, it seems like they might be the majority at haunts again. There was one vendor (I don't know the name of the company) that had silicone prosthetics, and as they advance that technology, it'll probably become the new hot thing.
TJ was at the show on Wednesday teaching a seminar, but he obviously didn't stay for when the floor opened on Thursday if he was at the entertainers' forum. From seeing pictures and POVs, from what I can tell, it looks like Hollywood deals with alot of outside vendors for some of their static props. I'm also pretty sure that the cost of a prop featured at Transworld wouldn't blow Universal's budget.
Now, for those of you that are saying you want more "in your face", intense, innovative scares: I have to ask, what more do you want? I don't know how many of you follow the industry outside of Horror Nights, but Universal has been pushing the envelope in terms of scare tactics for a few years now. "In your face" scares cannot happen simply because of safety for the actors. The scares are always going to be quick and fast. There are haunts I've been to where the actors will stay in the room and interact more with guests, but those haunts use a grouper out front, so problems are much easier to handle. You can't have an actor hanging out in a room with guests packed in the "conga line". As for intense and innovative, Universal has both. They have the latest innovation of flying actors, scares that use your perspective (think distant cemetery), vortex tunnels (an old gag, but is still being improved every year), bungee actors, the most elaborate distractions (Gothic cathedral balcony, tilted walkway in Forsaken, "waterfall" in Saws n Steam), brilliant use of mirrors, and "theatrical scares", something you will rarely find outside of Horror Nights. A theatrical scare is when you will see an actor pop out with triggered lights and audio. Your local haunted attraction and theme park don't use this scare because of how expensive it can be and because they don't know how to use it. They also use your haunted house standard drop panels and boo doors, which I still find very startling. So in terms of innovation, Universal is still the leader. I agree that they should continue to always push the envelope, but to give the idea that they are behind is just silly.
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I personally don't understand all of the negativity IP houses get. Universal is actually the only Halloween event where not only do I not mind IPs, but encourage them. This is Universal, after all. The theme park is all about "riding the movies", so why should the houses at their Halloween event be any different? I agree with the idea of not having all 7 or 8 houses be IPs, but a mix is good. Last year was a bit IP heavy for me, had there been an original 8th house, it would have been perfect.
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This is what I look like trying to follow the "Trickster" code clues:
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Great moments are born from great opportunity and that's what you have here tonight, boys.That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with 'em. Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we SHUT THEM DOWN because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of ya. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearin' about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. SCREW 'EM! This is your time!! Now go out there and take it!
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When your crap looks like Jack the Clown.... Am I doing this right?
You don't know Jack crap.
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You know what I'd love to see make a return? A set scarezone using the Nightmaze gate idea. It was such a great concept that was executed poorly if you ask me. I think a prisoners-style scarezone with swinging and moving chain link fences could be really intense. It also allows for the return of a female chainsaw group, which made me pee a little a few times last year.
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Obama
Instrumental: Rack City by Tyga
Oh Mitt! This is bigger than the both of us! This one's for Big Bird!
Barack City bitch,
Barack-Barack City bitch,
Four, four, four more years in the White House, Mitt!
Always got some dicks on my birth certif,
This Mormon don't know who he's screwin' with!
Got the teabaggers teabaggin' on your head,
Flip floppin' all night, no safety net!
Occupy yo ass with the 99% percent,
'cause hot damn, I'm the first black president!
*You don't create jobs,
You're a fake bitch!
Mo' money, mo' money, yeah you gettin' rich!
Did I mention that I killed Osama bin Laden?
Barack City bitch, Barack-Barack City bitch!
Barack City bitch, Barack-Barack City bitch!
Four, four, four more years in the White House Mitt!
*Could never hear the end because of the noise the crowd made when he said "I'm the first black president", so I'm not sure what he said.
Romney (before they changed his rap)
Instrumental: Fuck Wit Dre Day by Dr. Dre
So I gotta rap? WHO LET THE DOGS OUT!? WOOF WOOF!
Now I'mma tell ya how it is,
Everybody listen up,
I believe we should let Detroit go bankrupt!
Call me heartless and cold, I ain't go no remorse,
You wanna fix the housing market, let the crash run its course?
Hello Ladies!
I'm not concerned with your health, 'cause my time is my money and my money's my wealth!
Ya I gave these *beep beep beep* immigrants my verbal contract,
Ain't no way in *beep beep beep* we gonna pass the Dream Act!
Ya'll know Anne. She's my wife.
NEVA HAD TO WORK A DAY IN HER LIIIFFFEE!
I'm the *beep beep beep beep beep*
*beep beep beep beep*
Wallet's heavy, I ain't braggin,
I drive a Chevy.. STATION WAGON!
I strap my dog to the roooofff... BIIIIITTTTTTCCCCCHHH! Word to your mommas!
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Someone's yard.
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Just throwing this out there: I wouldn't rule out another doll themed house or even something based on a twisted Toy Factory (Yes, I know, Hollywood did a toy themed scare zone). During the Unmasking tour, my tour guide told us that right now A&D is finding a recent trend that what scares people the most are things that aren't supposed to be alive. Hence the gargoyles and alot of the statue-based scares in some of the houses.
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Is....this serious?
He is serious, and don't call him Shirley.
Universal will only use IPs that they see as popular at the time. I don't watch this show, and while it might be a very good one, it is probably something Universal won't look into.
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About "Mama" being brought to life as a house, I believe there have been a few rumors about Murdy in talks with Guillermo del Toro. Not sure if that rumor is just an idea or if it already was shot down, but If we have to share anything with Hollywood again this year, PLEASE GOD let it be "Mama"! It has serious potential.. plus it is Guillermo del Toro.
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If you really want to do that photoshoot or just want to own them, I have links to a few of the exact masks the Trick or Treaters wore in 2008 and Traditionals wore this year. Being a home haunter, you sometimes come across these things..
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I just haven't been feeling all that great lately, you guys. This is what happens when you live in the Northeast where it's 50 degrees one day, 20 the next.
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Oh mama don't you cry, USA HOCKEY IS DO OR DIE!
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Hate to break it to you original house lovers, but IPs will be back next year and for many years to come. I think this past year proved that original content doesn't sell as well as the properties do. Just take a look at HHN 21 vs 22 in terms of crowds. They're not going to ignore the huge fat wad of cash in their pocket.
I'm absolutely for anything that uses traditional Halloween motifs or iconography. I'd still love to see Esqueleto Muerte make it into a house. Dia de los Muertos has some great visual appeal that you could base a great house around.
I'm a huge fan of the "classic/traditional" Halloween and would love to see this. I'd also like to see a Trick or Treat-themed house, which hasn't been done in a very long time.
Bill and Ted was great this year, and I think they're taking steps in the right direction to getting back to a 2006-level show. It's tradition. It won't be going anywhere.
But starships were meant to fly. Let's do this one more time.
Also, Corey, you forgot something in your video. It's not the "Top Four Essentials", its the Five. You forgot booze. There will be without a doubt massive amounts of booze at HHN 23.
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Yeah, Santa brought new toys.
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Will The Walking Dead return?I really, really hope so. I loved the beginning of the house last year. While the house as a whole was sort of lackluster, the facade and hospital were incredibly well done. Watching season three, I can't help but imagine how awesome a house set in the prison could be. Also, it's pretty obvious that having The Walking Dead involved in the event brought in the masses and I don't see anything wrong with Universal milking that cash cow again.. as long as the house is new.Will construction affect the park again?No. Transformers will be open and so will the new Springfield. Amity is kind of just... there. The only issue I can see is the possible heavy traffic in Springfield with the new flat ride taking away the path by the water. No more walking around the crowds.Should we have another Lagoon type show?Yes. I got to catch the Hitchcock show and I enjoyed it. They have the technology already there, might as well use it. Would it kill them to list show times on the map though?Really? More Simpsons?Yes! Bring on the expansion! Simpsons, Transformers, Potter 2.0.. I'm all for it.Not another Magic show?I didn't watch the full 20 Penny, but I did catch a glimpse waiting in the Express line for TWD and it wasn't my cup of tea. It kind of got mixed reviews but I would say it was more 60/40 enjoyed it, so I would welcome it back. They NEED another show to go alongside Bill and Ted to keep the crowds more spread out, so SOMETHING needs to be in AA or Beetlejuice.Hollywood needs to share the female dancers!Yes, yes, yes, and yes.I rest my case.Return of the scare zone sets? .. maybe not!Please yes. I did enjoy the hordes, but the streets felt like they were missing something.. and that something was sets. I'd like to see them keep the expanded boundaries for scareactors, but with adding in the usual sets. Basically just stretch the old scarezones out. There's no reason they can't have a large set scarezone like Acid Assault and have roaming hordes as well.Return of Sound Stage 23 for 23?I'm all for as many sound stages as possible. It's no secret that these houses get the more elaborate sets and that they tend to be the better houses. They have less restrictions in a soundstage.More Sound Stage houses?
See above answer. I wouldn't mind "Halloween Horror Nights 23: Soundstages, Soundstages, Soundstages!"
Wait, what?? What about the blue lights?? I LOVE THE BLUE LIGHTS.. tell me you're just messing around.
I think Walking Dead should return.. why not? I do NOT want any more Alice Cooper though.. for the love of god and everything holy, reitre that sucker already.
I agree.. for the love of baby Jesus do not bring back Alice Cooper. One run through that house was plenty for me.
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- And yes, actually a small hiatus for the parade would hurt UNI. Its one of the ONLY things bringing people to the park right now (myself included). Not to mention the parade floats cost them A LOT of money. They really should have the parade twice a day, the 2nd time being at night due to the floats having LED lighting.
- They made large moveable set pieces to pull out into the streets this year. It was underwhelming. Why waste time setting up sets in areas like NY & Hollywood when you can just turn on fog machines instead? Besides, with the HHN crowds nowadays, its almost better to have no set pieces in these two areas to help with traffic flow.
You're quite delusional if you really think they were just "trying something new". This entire event this year was very hastily thrown together & recycled out the ass. Like I said before, there is no need to have themed scarezones in NY & Hollywood. Having to pull out sets every night is pointless because in the long run, its more hassle & money to have to deal with every night.
As for having flying scareactors in houses, is not really that big of a deal nor is it impressive, especially not after seeing it done multiple times. You're way too easily impressed if you actually think UNI were the ones to come up with ways to implement flying scareactors into houses. It was around before A&D dreamed up the idea back in the 90s for past house concepts, so you're really not providing anything worthwhile with your statement. HHN is miles behind in the haunted attraction realm, yet it tries to pride itself on being the nation's #1 event.
To start: "Its one of the ONLY things bringing people to the park right now". Really? I don't think there is anyone that looks at Universal as a vacation destination just because of the four float parade. "Hey, honey, let's take the kids to Universal Studios, they have this NEW PARADE!"... said no one ever. Potter, Rockit, Hulk, Spidey, Men in Black might be bigger draws. Sure, it's a great thing for families to enjoy during the day, but it alone is not bringing people in the gates. I do agree that putting the parade on hiatus to allow for a few set pieces for a weekend seasonal event is unecessary. I think they were being a little lazy this year, opted for roaming vs set scarezones, and sat back and watched how it went. They tried it, and it was mixed reviews. They have the ability to roll sets out, and I hope to see the return of the scarezones next year.
4 new IP houses. Yeah, they totally recycled the design for The Walking Dead back when they had the idea in 1998. What about the event, other than the obvious legions was recycled? I'll give you the legions and maybe Cooper.. but that's all that I can think of.
As for flying actors, they are insanely impressive. Not only does Universal blow every other haunt event out of the water with their insane set design, but when you add in FLYING actors.. it doesn't get much better than that.
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Random Pictures
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I laughed really hard at this for a solid 3 minutes.