SFX Focus: FX On the Go - Part II
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Last, but not least, don’t completely disregard having any actors wearing facial appliances or
more studio quality costuming. I strongly suggest that you keep it to one actor per each make up
artist for highest quality, film looks. For example: If we have 6 FX techs and we’re going to need
50 actors made up, then only 6 of those actors need to be getting studio quality FX done on them.
Even more importantly, these same actors need to be visible at all times to patrons in the cue line
(the line of folks waiting to go into the Haunt). The “why?” is simple. You show your best work in
better light and to the cue line to already start disturbing them and freaking them
out…because…yeah, I’ll say it again…once in the Haunt, the actors made up are only seen for a
split second at a time and have the specific job to send you speedily onward to the next scare.
Enjoy!
(artists credited for works in pics – Kasey Dees, Mandy George, AG Howard, Duane P. Craig)
Duane P Craig is a veteran SFX artist working in and around Memphis, TN. You can check out
previous articles of his in the SFX Focus Series by visiting our Archive Section.
more studio quality costuming. I strongly suggest that you keep it to one actor per each make up
artist for highest quality, film looks. For example: If we have 6 FX techs and we’re going to need
50 actors made up, then only 6 of those actors need to be getting studio quality FX done on them.
Even more importantly, these same actors need to be visible at all times to patrons in the cue line
(the line of folks waiting to go into the Haunt). The “why?” is simple. You show your best work in
better light and to the cue line to already start disturbing them and freaking them
out…because…yeah, I’ll say it again…once in the Haunt, the actors made up are only seen for a
split second at a time and have the specific job to send you speedily onward to the next scare.
Enjoy!
(artists credited for works in pics – Kasey Dees, Mandy George, AG Howard, Duane P. Craig)
Duane P Craig is a veteran SFX artist working in and around Memphis, TN. You can check out
previous articles of his in the SFX Focus Series by visiting our Archive Section.
Continuing with a 2nd article of special effects on the go, today we're going to focus on
Haunted Attractions work. And just in case you missed the 1st article, you can check it out here.
If you’ve ever even just once worked doing make up for a haunted house or haunted trail, then
you know that your actors show up at best about two hours before the doors open. Two hours.
That’s a tight window to get what is usually anywhere from 30 to 100 people made up and ready to
scare folks. Well, there’s thankfully ways to learn how to cheat the process and/or speed it up.
First thing’s first, though, do not overwhelm yourself thinking that you need a studio/film quality
make up for every single character (sometimes, not any of the characters have to be film like).
Every Haunt is (or they should be) using darkness to their full advantage. They rely and revel in
misdirection of the few light sources for patrons to look to while the creepy actors pop out and
scare from a completely other, darkened area. It is a psychological effect before it is a visual
effect, and even, still, most patrons see the creepy fx on an actor for just a split second…if they
look at them at all, that is. I can’t tell you how many times patrons have simply only heard me
scream at them and took off running, never once looking back. So, yeah…point is…in this case it's
perfectly fine to cheat some looks, and here’s the best ideas I’ve found seem to always work.
Haunted Attractions work. And just in case you missed the 1st article, you can check it out here.
If you’ve ever even just once worked doing make up for a haunted house or haunted trail, then
you know that your actors show up at best about two hours before the doors open. Two hours.
That’s a tight window to get what is usually anywhere from 30 to 100 people made up and ready to
scare folks. Well, there’s thankfully ways to learn how to cheat the process and/or speed it up.
First thing’s first, though, do not overwhelm yourself thinking that you need a studio/film quality
make up for every single character (sometimes, not any of the characters have to be film like).
Every Haunt is (or they should be) using darkness to their full advantage. They rely and revel in
misdirection of the few light sources for patrons to look to while the creepy actors pop out and
scare from a completely other, darkened area. It is a psychological effect before it is a visual
effect, and even, still, most patrons see the creepy fx on an actor for just a split second…if they
look at them at all, that is. I can’t tell you how many times patrons have simply only heard me
scream at them and took off running, never once looking back. So, yeah…point is…in this case it's
perfectly fine to cheat some looks, and here’s the best ideas I’ve found seem to always work.
I say this time and time again to folks, and I will
share it with you all again. People are naturally put
off and disturbed by others who have grimy or gross-
looking eyes, teeth/mouths and fingers/hands. It’s an
instinctive fear we all have, so use this to your
advantage. If your actors can wear those creepy
contact lenses…let them. Then make sure to use a
dark red or purple to further emaciate their eye
sockets. If your actors let you use tooth enamels to
darken and discolor their teeth…do it. Then be sure
to smear fake blood around their mouth with a stipple
sponge. Do the same dark coloring and blood
stippling on their hands and fingers, too. Gloves and
Monster Teeth (like I’ve discussed how to make) also
work great.
We tend to instinctively judge others based on
their clothes/attire, too. The more torn and
disheveled they look, the better. Use more fake blood
and brushes or just your hands to spatter/splatter
share it with you all again. People are naturally put
off and disturbed by others who have grimy or gross-
looking eyes, teeth/mouths and fingers/hands. It’s an
instinctive fear we all have, so use this to your
advantage. If your actors can wear those creepy
contact lenses…let them. Then make sure to use a
dark red or purple to further emaciate their eye
sockets. If your actors let you use tooth enamels to
darken and discolor their teeth…do it. Then be sure
to smear fake blood around their mouth with a stipple
sponge. Do the same dark coloring and blood
stippling on their hands and fingers, too. Gloves and
Monster Teeth (like I’ve discussed how to make) also
work great.
We tend to instinctively judge others based on
their clothes/attire, too. The more torn and
disheveled they look, the better. Use more fake blood
and brushes or just your hands to spatter/splatter
them to look even worse. Most importantly, though, save yourself some major make up time by
keeping all actors in long sleeves and pants. Stick to Earth tones (dark colors) to help your actors
hide in the darkness, as well.
keeping all actors in long sleeves and pants. Stick to Earth tones (dark colors) to help your actors
hide in the darkness, as well.
| (Black Tooth Enamel) |
Don’t be afraid to let your actors wear masks.
Some Haunt people think that is a cheap way out, but
I refer those fools to what I said previously about it
being dark and each actor only scaring patrons for
split seconds at a time. If a really creepy mask helps
an actor or all of them get ready quickly, then use it.
Myself, I am a big fan of making sock masks to use.
They are cheap to make, they stick to your actor very
well and move with their facial features and they last
forever unless you cut them up with scissors or toss
them in a fire. (SIDE NOTE: Next month, I’m going
to go over making your own, creepy sock mask).
Some actors specifically want to have their faces
painted. I understand and deal with this a lot. It’s
fine. Again, though, use what you know of the
darkness that your Haunt is mostly full of. The paints
you choose need to be very complimentary of each
other and greatly contrast. I mean, use lights and
darks to your advantage. Create dead spaces that
look unnerving for your actor’s face when they pop
out of the shadows or even if they just creep around
in the shadows barely visible. I’ve seen people have
the creepiest painted design in broad daylight with all
dark colors that fails miserably in a pitch dark room or
trail in the woods at night, and yet some simply
contrasted colors like using black and white to make
a skeletal face will work every time. By all means, do
something creative and shaped creepy and as
asymmetrical as you want…just make the colors
contrast for the dark of night. P.S. Refer back to my
article on using airbrush painting. Airbrush quick
change bottles and crazy, wild designs stencils will
save you a lot of time and still be great quality.
Wigs, you’d be surprised how much films like
The Ring and The Grudge (the J-Horror films) have
infected the minds of folks. If you have nothing but a
long gown and a long haired wig to dress up your
actor(s)…do it. Shrouding an actor’s face with a wig
Some Haunt people think that is a cheap way out, but
I refer those fools to what I said previously about it
being dark and each actor only scaring patrons for
split seconds at a time. If a really creepy mask helps
an actor or all of them get ready quickly, then use it.
Myself, I am a big fan of making sock masks to use.
They are cheap to make, they stick to your actor very
well and move with their facial features and they last
forever unless you cut them up with scissors or toss
them in a fire. (SIDE NOTE: Next month, I’m going
to go over making your own, creepy sock mask).
Some actors specifically want to have their faces
painted. I understand and deal with this a lot. It’s
fine. Again, though, use what you know of the
darkness that your Haunt is mostly full of. The paints
you choose need to be very complimentary of each
other and greatly contrast. I mean, use lights and
darks to your advantage. Create dead spaces that
look unnerving for your actor’s face when they pop
out of the shadows or even if they just creep around
in the shadows barely visible. I’ve seen people have
the creepiest painted design in broad daylight with all
dark colors that fails miserably in a pitch dark room or
trail in the woods at night, and yet some simply
contrasted colors like using black and white to make
a skeletal face will work every time. By all means, do
something creative and shaped creepy and as
asymmetrical as you want…just make the colors
contrast for the dark of night. P.S. Refer back to my
article on using airbrush painting. Airbrush quick
change bottles and crazy, wild designs stencils will
save you a lot of time and still be great quality.
Wigs, you’d be surprised how much films like
The Ring and The Grudge (the J-Horror films) have
infected the minds of folks. If you have nothing but a
long gown and a long haired wig to dress up your
actor(s)…do it. Shrouding an actor’s face with a wig
as they just stumble around or pop out at patrons will absolutely get under their skin and/or send
them running.
them running.