kimlovesfl

Call times vary depending on where you are cast. I was in Horrorwood cast B last year, my call time was 7:15, and I never opened nor closed. Call times for MOST streets are later than houses, because typically, streets aren't populated with scareactors until closer to dark, with some exceptions. I not only had time to see houses before my call time, I often walked through one or two on my way out, depending on how tired I was. Do not count on this being the case for you. If you are, it's really nice, and if it isn't, you get more hours and make more money because of it.

OMG, scariest experience at HHN EVER! I will never forgot that "thing" that rubbed against your legs, and this was in the house Insanity. I know you all won't listen, but I really think just about ALL of these roles are code names, to throw us off. Well, maybe not Hollywood, those seem to clear to be codes, but they could be too.

IDK, that picture reminds me of the Blair Witch, and maybe only because I watched that movie again last week. The parade building is NOT easy to get to, and is usually only open when Mardi Gras floats are being taken out/brought in. Maybe the picture came from a maintenance person or something, who knows, or it could be fan art. I haven't been back that way in over 2 months, so I have no idea how open it is, and even if I did know, I wouldn't say and certainly wouldn't take any photos. Uni has been unusually tight-lipped this year, haven't they?

Isn't that audition for B&T? As far as icons go, for houses/scarezones, they cast from the regular audition group, because I know a couple of people who were in Shadows of the Past last year. For the actual actors, like in ads and commercials, they usually come from Universal's large roster of actors. Most of us know who played The Caretaker and the Usher, and they have both worked for Universal for many years in various acting roles.

Carey, OH is NOT fictional, it is in fact a real town located in Wyandot County in OH. See the following official website: Carey, OH

Tman, street rehearsals are pretty much the same as house rehearsals, and if you're lucky, you'll get to tour one or two houses. We went through Wolfman last year, with the cast in street clothes, and they still scared us! You forgot the costuming bit-you will get fitted for your costume that night, and any dental appliances needed will be cast that night as well. All the costumes are in your break area, and if alterations need to be made, they "should" be done by the second night of rehearsals. Second night of rehearsals is a full dress rehearsal with make-up and masks, and the powers-that-be roam around checking on you and you try to scare them. They also do a line-up with one cast (for Horrorwood last year, it was cast A), to see if they approve of how everyone looks, and any final adjustments to costuming, etc, will be decided at that time.

Yeah, the kids. I still maintain that if there isn't an age limit, there should at least be a ban on strollers. They are a hazard in such a crowded environment, with people running around, and it would discourage people from bringing small children. You know, no matter what the age of the child, you have to purchase a ticket, so wouldn't be just as cheap, if not cheaper, to hire a babysitter for the night? I did find that the really young kids, like toddlers, didn't seem to get as scared as the ones between about 5-9 or so.

Jordan, don't let not being cast yesterday discourage you; I wasn't cast my first audition last year either, and if it wasn't for C_D's encouragement, I never would have gone back, but I did, was cast, had a fabulous time, met many new friends, and have continued working for Universal in the special events department. Please try again next week. I think you'd be a great scareactor, and sometimes they just don't have all the roles fleshed out or whatever. When I got there last night about 5:45, I walked the line, and someone was handing out #1075. That is far more than showed up last year, because at my first auditon, I was 494, and one of the first in line at open auditions, and at my second audition, when I got cast, I think I was the 4th or 5th person in line, and I was #948. Nothing beats that feeling of knowing you got that job you really wanted. Just ask Jake; he was there with me, and there was much hugging, yelling, and cheering when we all realized we would be working HHN. I believe last year they cast about 900 people, and I expect they'll need at least that many this year, so keep on trying!

For those of you that aren't on my FB, channel 13 news actually broadcast about the HHN auditions, and showed some video clips of HHNs of the past, mostly 2007. It was a nice way to start the morning while getting ready for work.

And if I recall, that doorknob was actually the one on the exit door to the deli, where Sam Meetz greeted you and made funny, sick jokes. Oooh, has me excited all over again!

Mae, as the time gets closer, you'll have a better idea of where we have all been cast. Until final details on HHN are released to the public, that information should be kept pretty much under wraps (well, you can say if you're in a house or street, I would not go beyond that). Keep in mind that those auditioning today will know they are cast, but won't know as what until around or at orientation, starting the end of July. And sometimes you STILL aren't sure what you're doing until your rehearsal. For instance, my cast sheet last year was plain as could be "Witch, Drag Me To Hell, cast B, Mel's", but Jordan's said "Meetz worker" and Wolf's said "sculder". Yeah, what the hell is that supposed to be? I'll wave to y'all when I walk in for my shift today. I'll be there around 6.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Carey, OH, the hometown of Patrick from Universal, you know, the guy at auditions and one of the creative minds behind HHN? Lyn, I grew up about 20 or so miles from the Ohio border, and my brother-in-law is from Youngstown (home of Jewels), and it is kind of the mouth of hell. However, the TRUE mouth of hell is Monaca, PA, my hometown. What a shithole.

Does anyone remember the extensive speculation we had on a doorknob in Cleaver last year, as to whether the door was usable or not? It made me remember just how obsessed some of us are with construction, etc.

To me, DE was essentially a black and white house, and it is one of my all time favorites, and IMHO, the scariest house ever! I've been thinking about that con artist thing, and someone also mentioned a return of the Skoolhouse. Do you think con artists could be trick or treaters? After all, the rhyme "trick or treat" is essentially a con to get candy. Just a thought. I also wouldn't be the least bit surprised if all those names for the Hollywood scarezone, Mary Shaw, Queen of Hearts, etc, are entirely code names and completely unrelated to the roles. I know that the code names have me totally thrown for a loop, and I'm working the event. Makes it kind of even more exciting.

Good luck to all auditioning, and remember, please watch what you post about your role. If you want fellow scareactors to know where you are, best to PM them here or on Facebook. Have fun, relax, bring water and snacks, and I look forward to scaring with some of you in October.

Are gauges those big ear plug-type things you put in your earlobes? HHN is one of the few places at Universal where pretty much anything goes. They may make you take off any jewelry for safety's sake, but anything out of the ordinary, including lots of tattoos and piercings, is perfectly acceptable. BTW, best of luck to all going to open auditions tomorrow; I sure hope to be working with some of you this year.

Universal doesn't do drug testing, at least not for scareactors. Plan on spending a couple of hours at least from start of the audition process to finish. They give you numbers, bring you inside in numerical order, a few at a time, check your bags, take your picture, make you wait in another line to get your audition sheet and give in your SS#, then you go to the classrooms and fill that sheet out, wait for your picture and hand all that stuff in when the picture is ready, wait for your set of numbers to be called in to audition, do the audition, wait to see if you are cast, then go through the process of filling out an online application and being fingerprinted. It is not a fast process by any means, but the earlier you get there, the less time it takes because they aren't as backed up. When they actually bring you inside depends on weather-if it's pouring, people get in earlier, but do bring an umbrella or hooded windbreaker or poncho.

I didn't hear you, so sorry. LOL! Restrooms, yeah, we like that line.

Hey, thanks. I just got around to reading that. I just don't have as much time as I'd like for speculation and following all this stuff. Appreciate it.

Where are you all getting info on mermaid men or whatever, and stuff in the Hollywood street? I'm not finding anything like that on the site, and most of it says "coming soon." Is this mere speculation?

If I missed this, sorry, but as far as a second story in the Jaws queue goes, F13 had a section with Jason on a platform above throwing barrels or something. Perhaps we'll see this again, or something similar.

There are showers in the wardrobe building, and many break rooms have them as well. I had 2 or 3 cast members last year who lived in Tampa; one of them drove back and forth every night, and another stayed with a fellow cast member. Ask around, you'll almost always find someone with an extra room or sofa to use for a month. I know of at least 2 people besides me who got calls already, so they are coming along!

A few words: 1. Kyle, how the hell did I miss you there? I was #36. 2. Now I know who Mr Bungle is, because you were in my group. 3. I got my call today, and that's all I'm saying. People, don't post this shit, it can get you fired. It's ok to say you were cast, and that's it, no roles, and I wouldn't even disclose a location at this stage in the game. Getting that call, while I was finishing up lunch at the Bistro today, totally made my day. I was really worried about not being cast, or waiting forever to hear because I'm internal, but no, about 2 PM, I was called. And for those of you that have heard role names, I would say 100% that these are code names, and no one really knows what the hell we're playing yet. For everyone auditioning in the next few weeks, best of luck to you all, and can't wait to scare with some of you.

I remember the get-together we did at Marley's 2 years ago, and it was the first time I met many of you former Vaulters (yes, I said it, I feel there's no need to hide from the original site that brought us all together). I have become very good friends with some people from that time, and it was so much fun. Of course, I plan to be working as a scareactor again this year, but if for some reason that doesn't happen, you can bet I'll be there for whatever we plan opening weekend. Dr Jimmy, we need to do a night at HHN like we did last year. That was one of the best HHN visits I've ever had. I plan to take a couple of days off to enjoy the event.

Derek, to answer your question, the Mardi Gras parade runs only once a night.