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Category: Haunter Interviews

Epic Home Haunts: The Documentary About the Lives of Home Haunters

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:39:08 — 98.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple

The Epic Home Haunts Documentary

The Epic Home Haunts Documentary is a movie that shares the lives of four Home Haunter families and how they get ready for Halloween each year. Setting up realistic Haunted Attraction events in their yards, garages, & properties..all for free for their communities. 

 

We get the Haunters on this podcast and talk about:

  • How to start a Home Haunted Attraction at your house
  • The real meaning of being a Home Haunter
  • Behind-the-Scenes of the movie and stories never told before!

The Haunters we interviewed on this podcast.

These are the Home Haunts that were in the documentary Epic Home Haunts. Listen to the Haunters tell their stories of preparing for Halloween each year. Here’s a brief description of where to find them and more about them.

Josh Quillin

Producer, writer, editor, and director of Epic Home Haunts. Co-founder of Saga Studios, LLC. Watch Epic Home Haunts here.

“…the dedication that Haunters have for the ART is mind-blowing to me.”

Epic Home Haunts

Rotten Apple 907 (Diane & Preston Meyer, Melissa Thompson)

Home Haunt started in 1990 and is a complete walk-through Haunted House located at 907 N California St-Burbank, California. They change up the theme of the attraction each year.

 

Beware the Dark Realm (Christian Sivley)

Home Haunt that is nestled behind a two-story castle facade. Located at 28621 Sugar Pine Way-Santa Clarita, California. 

 

Legend of Boot Hill (not interviewed)

Over-sized yard haunt started in 1996. A western style theme based around an old mine town. Located at 16 Goldenrod-Irvine, California.
 

Restless Souls Manor (Greg Packard)

A Haunted Mansion style theme that evolves the story each year. Time Travel was the theme for 2018. Located at 38143 52nd St E-Palmdale, California.

 

Listen to our audio interview with the cast and producer of Epic Homes Haunts here.

Music in this episode by Sam Haynes.

Murder CO & Black Market Escape Rooms with Jon Cooke and Ted Dougherty

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:06 — 68.8MB)

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Black Market Escape Rooms presents “Murder Co”: a R-rated escape experience

BLACK MARKET ESCAPE ROOMS, a new immersive-based attraction company, announces the opening of MURDER CO, a permanent escape experience aimed at turning the attraction industry on its head.

Location: 1220 W 9th St. | Upland, CA 91786 | 909-920-9902

Moonlighting from their day gigs, a handful of theme park professionals have thrown the proverbial gloves off by thrusting guests into an adventure far too severe for the family-friendly confines of an amusement park.

The experience was created by theme park designer, Jon Cooke, who was looking to push the parameters set by the day-to-day requirements in his industry. In response to founding his new side project, Black Market Escape Rooms, Cooke says, “I saw so much potential story and show elements in
escape rooms. I wanted to do something more so I went out and surrounded myself with some of the best experts in the theme park industry and we created this unforgettable encounter.”

MurderCO: Black Market Escape Room

Regarding Murder Co’s intensity is attraction writer and director Ted Dougherty, who confesses, “We had to go to some extremely dark places that definitely left a few emotional marks.” Although the attraction may not fall into the category of an “extreme haunt,” it does contain content best reserved for those not easily offended or disgusted.

Expect serious thrills as Cooke is no stranger to terrifying people based on his innovative haunted attraction designs for Knott’s Scary Farm. When conceiving Murder Co, he admits, “It’s what I have always wanted to see and do in an immersive attraction.” A living nightmare is one step away for those bold enough to cross into Murder Co.

JON COOKE has designed, art directed and produced some of the most successful haunted attractions for the world famous Knott’s Scary Farm, including “Special Ops: Infected,” “Paranormal, Inc,” “Shadowlands,” “Trick Or Treat: Lights Out” and “Dark Ride.” As vocalist for the deathcore metal band, Winds of Plague, Cooke has released numerous albums and toured extensively throughout the globe. Taking the two worlds of themed entertainment and live performance, Cooke has melded his experience into creating visionary ways to horrify the masses. www.plagueproductions.com

TED DOUGHERTY is a writer, producer and director having worked with Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, Cedar Fair and Hollow Studios, including directing and co-writing Fear VR, the first 4-D virtual reality horror experience at a major theme park. www.lunarvisions.com

Listen to our podcast with Jon Cooke & Ted Dougherty here.

Special Guests

Andy Russ and Susan Russ: Dark Forest Creations/ Burn Brae Mansion

National Haunter’s Convention: HalloweenShow.com

national haunters convention 2018

Haunter’s Toolbox: Our other website for starting and growing your own Haunted Attraction
how to start a haunted house business

Vampfangs: Theatrical lenses, Fangs & Teeth, Makeup, and more with Benjamin Selecky

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:20 — 38.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple

In this podcast episode of HaunTopic, we get Benjamin Selecky on from Vampfangs to discuss:

  • How to Properly Wear Theatrical Lenses and Why You Need to Choose the Right Ones
  • Why wearing faux teeth can make your scare character come to life
  • The new vision he and his business partner, Alexis Abare, have for Vampfangs after their acquisition of the company.
  • Celebrate 25 years of Vampfangs! (discounts are on their website)
  • All of the products for Scare Actors and Haunters his company has to offer

re actor makeup

Vampfangs Celebrates 25 Years and Announces New Ownership

Vampfangs is excited to announce that after nearly a quarter century, the Salem-born online retailer has changed ownership. Though formally announced in this podcast, the company officially changed hands in July of 2017.

“We are thrilled about our recent acquisition,” commented Alexis Abare and Benjamin Selecky, CEOs of Vampfangs. “It is an honor to be at the helm of such a well respected and established brand. We are excited about engaging with Vampfangs followers and are eager to receive their feedback and input. We are looking forward to bringing the same commitment to quality and personal service to Vampfangs that are at the core of our other businesses.”

Vampire fangs-fake teeth-teeth veneers-monster teeth

“This sale marks one of the biggest milestones in my life. After 25 years, it feels like I sent a child off to college,” said Scott Smiledge, founder and former owner of Vampfangs. “I know that Vampfangs is in the best possible hands I could have ever hoped to find. Alexis and Ben are
great friends with incredible drive, fire, and vision.”

“We are passionate about delivering value to our clients and customers. Our purchase of Vampfangs has created monstrous synergy between all of our brands.” says Abare. “We are committed to creating a phenomenal experience for new and returning guests and are deeply grateful to our longstanding, loyal customers who have made Vampfangs a trusted, global brand.”

Plans for 2018 include expanding their selection of GOTHIKA® Theatrical Contact Lenses to include custom creations as well as toric lenses for patients with astigmatism. In addition to widening the corrective strength options on many popular styles, Vampfangs will also spearhead efforts to educate consumers on contact lens safety.

“Safety of our customers is paramount. We are in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and are proud to be one of the largest sources for FDA Cleared FX contacts in the United States.” commented Selecky.

Theatrical contact lenses

About Vampfangs

Founded in Salem, Massachusetts in 1993, Vampfangs is a leading online retailer of custom fit vampire fangs, GOTHIKA® contact lenses, fragrances, and apparel. They pride themselves on exceptional customer support and offering unique, personal products. Vampfangs is proud to serve the Halloween, cosplay, vampire, gothic, occult, haunted attraction, and makeup/special effects markets.

Vampfangs is a wholly owned subsidiary of Iron Raven, Inc. and has two sister companies; Haunted Farms of America ( farmhaunts.com ), a service provider and support community for farms that produce Haunted Attractions and Agritainment; and Dark Alchemy ( shopdarkalchemy.com ), a newly launched Occult Lifestyle & Apparel Brand.

For more information on Vampfangs, visit Vampfangs.com

Enter their contest at https://www.facebook.com/vampfangs/

Enter our contest at https://www.facebook.com/haunTopic/

Support our Kickstarter project at http://scareitbadges.com/kickstarter

HaunTopic Radio 2017: New things, happenings, and projects for HaunTopic

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:41 — 15.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Expect great things for HaunTopic Radio in 2017! Behind-the-scare interviews with professionals in the Haunted Attraction Industry, helpful advice to grow your Haunt from other Haunters, and a brand new website focused on those who want to start & grow their haunted attraction business.

 

2017

Man!! What a crazy Haunt Season! How was your October??

I had planned to release more podcast episodes in September and October but the Dead Factory grabbed a hold of me and didn’t let go. What started as a few small additions to our Haunt grew into over another 1,000 square feet of spiders and cemetery. We built more wall panels, added an effective spider area, and turned our small cemetery scene into a small indoor corn maze. Now the Dead Factory is over 7,000 square feet!

What originally started out as an idea quickly grew into a huge addition to our 20 minute walk-through. But we will have more episodes on that coming soon. As well as stories and highlights from our co-host Darryl Plunkie’s adventures up there in Canada. Stay tuned for those podcast episodes coming soon.

 

What’s NEW for HaunTopic Radio in 2017?

 

Audio Episodes focused on starting and growing your Haunt:  Whether you’re a Pro Level Attraction searching for new ideas to take your Haunt to the next level or a Home Haunt that would love to be a bigger Haunted Attraction one day; you’ll find some nuggets of wisdom inside our podcasts.

 

A NEW website focused on Starting and Growing a Haunted Attraction:  I started HauntersToolbox.com last year and realized building this vision in my head was going to take a lot longer than I thought. This vision will be complete in 2017! This website will include a free membership for you if you want access to our Haunt Video Library and include a free Haunter Dashboard. This website will also have a paid membership feature that will grant you instant access to all of our Haunt Video Training Seminars, Live Training Seminars, and discounts on Haunt supplies and events. (Coming Soon)

Our current haunt training videos at $25 will not be for sale after the HauntersToolbox.com is live. They will be packaged into the new paid membership options. (Current customers will still have access.)

 

An update to our email newsletter:  Well…it’s a bit more than just a newsletter. Once you sign up for our free newsletter, you get some of our favorite articles and podcasts from HaunTopic that we have hand selected for you. You also get all of the new podcast episodes we release. We will also be adding newer articles, more helpful resources, and revamping most of our material. We are trying to add the most value to you- the Haunter that wants to instant results and guidance along the way. Email me at any time by replying to any of these emails. I will respond. You can subscribe for free here.

 

We are looking forward to helping you be the best Haunter that you can be. And we thank you for sticking with us through the years and being a loyal listener to over 100 podcast episodes of HaunTopic Radio! You rock!!

 

3 Christmas Tracks from Midnight Syndicate in this podcast!

midnight syndicate christmas a ghostly gathering

Leonard Pickel: Chicago Frights, HAuNTcon, and Improving Your Haunted Attraction

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:09 — 42.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Leonard Pickel, considered by many as the ‘Godfather of the Haunt Industry’, fills this one hour interview with behind-the-scenes information about his Haunted Attraction Conventions and a few ways to make your Haunted House successful just by tweaking a few things that many Haunters are doing wrong.

 

chicago frights haunt convention
 

Chicago Frights

Chicago Frights is a great opportunity for haunters to pick up last second training, ideas and products before the Halloween season kicks in. Chicago Frights includes networking opportunities such as a huge costume party Saturday night, top-notch educational seminars, hands-on workshops and training sessions focusing on the operational needs of haunters, like set dressing, lighting, makeup and actor training. Plus, a dealer and vendor room to buy or sell those fright products before October.

Chicago Frights takes place July 29th to July 31st at the Georgios Quality Inn and Suites Convention Center in Orland Park, Illinois.

 

HAuNTcon 2017

HAuNTcon 2017

HAuNTcon 2017 will be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel and Conference Center in Nashville Tennessee January 28- 30. The 2 day pre-show haunt tour will kick off Wednesday the 25th (Haunts to be announced).

The three Spotlight tours for HAuNTcon 20127 include Haunted Hell Nashville on Thursday night January 26th,  Nashville Nightmare Saturday January 28th and Slaughterhouse January 29th.

Education and trade show Friday January 27 through Sunday January  29th, with the all day advanced education on Monday January 30th. As always, all seminars  are included in the price of the conference and there are over 50 hours of  creative, business, demo and workshop sessions to choose from over the 3 days of haunter education. (Workshops require a materials fee and there is an up charge for the Monday all day advanced sessions.
 

haunted attraction design

Haunted Attraction Design Tips from Leonard Pickel:

  • Design your rooms with your actors in mind. What is the scare?
  • Design from the Inside Out. What is the function of the room?
  • Shorten the patron’s sight line to keep them guessing.
  • When using a back story, stay with the time period and design around that story.
  • Attend Haunt Shows to network and share design ideas.

 

Click here to listen to this audio episode with Leonard.