Halloween for Concept Artists..

I've loved Halloween (H for the rest of this post) ever since I was a kid.  I decorated, and re-decorated our family home over and over..  Nothing was safe, loose yard became spider webs, bed sheets became ghosts, and record players pulled fishing lines.  I didn't know it at the time, but I was basically priming myself for being a designer at a very young age.  I would go through all the design processes I do now, but didn't understand that there was actually a career doing what I was doing.

Halloween, and Christmas are would-be prop builder and set designer dream days.  Okay, well maybe not for pro's, I'm sure they like a day off, but for us weekend warriors it is pretty cool.  H was a vent for the physical side of being a concept guy.  I always thought of decorating for H as building a set in my front yard.  We had sound, lighting, props, actors, and a green room (and by green, I mean.. a room filled with Pizza, Wine and Beer).  We put on a full scene to a voice over.  The story of the haunt looped, the lights flickered, fog rolled, actors acted, and we serviced 400 or so adults and children in a night.  I am very happy we are likely emblazened in the minds of kids the same way I can remember that one house we used to look forward going to every year as we grew up.

I suggest all concept guys pick up an outlet that requires physical construction.  It just feels great to work with lumber, foam, and gallons of paint instead of 6000 x 3000 pixels..  You can see it, smell it, and if your not carefully cut your finger off building it. Its how we can put into the real world our practices from the digital one.  ..Yeah, I'm waxing a little corny, but the revelation that you cant 'undo' a street light that is pretty much destroying your lighting scheme is a real eye opener for a 24/7 Maya/Photoshop guy, but once you get it figured out the joy is all the richer.

Do yourself a favor and check out at least one of these links.  There are some amazing talents out there.  They range from fully polished professional set builders, to simply raw and extremely talented individuals who have love for the day.  Here are just a few of my personal favorites.

http://www.hauntinggrounds.org/hhg.htm  - The Hallowed Haunting Grounds.  A group of studio talents who pulled off the grandfather of peerless yard haunts.  Simply amazing, and quite frankly the inspiration for much of our old haunt.  Sadly, they retired and I never saw it in person.

http://pumpkinrot.com/ - One word, Pumpkinrot..  PR is the master of H.  Much of his work has inspired how H looks in yards haunts across the nation.  His tell tale stylings, leering pumpkins, and crusty earthy creations were the first ever done.  There are many imitators, but his still the king of static display and H sculpture.

http://www.dc-cemetery.com/  - DC from what I understand is created by Brett, an Art Center guy.  His haunt tech rivals anything you would see in just about any dark ride.  He too has an amazing eye for texture and quality. 

http://housebloodthorn.blogspot.com/  Perhaps my favorite haunt, House Bloodthorn.  If you don't know the story, HB is actually the child of 'The Miss Rose Haunt' our very own Skull and Bone haunt.  Eventually the hobby worked its way into being a part time job over summer, and a full time job two weeks before the day.  Rather than watch Miss Rose decay, I decided to give her to a loving family with a ton of energy.  That is when I met Guy and his kids.  ..on just an email, Guy loaded up his family and they drove 16 hours from Oregon with a trailer.  It was a perfect match.  Guy has added and made the haunt his own.  He even won the Haunters Video Vanguard Award for Best Yard Haunt 2009!  An amazing feat.

...and if you do want to get started, better go for it now.  H is only 35 days away!