Friday, August 27, 2010

Let the Planning Begin Muah Ha Ha


Almost 2 months till the 2nd best holiday of the year, Halloween. And now that I have a home of my own, you bet your bones I am going to ghoulify it and turn my garage into a haunted house. There is only one problem; can I keep on a budget.


Now I do know how to scare those pesky kids that always complain that I am not giving out the BIG candy bars. I just don't know if I can control my fascaious appetite of those wonderfully scary animitronics that are plentiful in the internet world. For now, I will just stick to the important pieces.
First and foremost, I need to design a layout and do an actual walk through to make sure there is adequate room. Since I am using my garage, and it is only a 1 car, I have to also consider moving things around or putting things such as the bikes, etc outside for that week.( my husband is going to pull the kids on the tractor and fill the cart with hay) I could also just see if my neighbor would hold them inside his garage as well. Use my puppy-eyed charm for that purpose LOL!
Secondly, and almost as important, is a theme. You can't very well have alien props in a medieval scene now can you. I was thinking more along the lines of a chop shop. I have gadzooks of tools, so why not let them be carelessly thrown into the mix. My work bench is also just the right height and width, oddly, to create it into a surgical table.Who knows later on I could have an actor play as a doctor while cutting up another actor or patient and them come after those pesky kids.
Lighting and plumbing of the fog machine will also have to be considered. I will be using duck cloths for my walls and ceiling. It is much more thicker than muslin and with my coupons from JoAnns, it will be the same price. Why ceiling also, you ask? Because it adds to the fun house feel, a sense of distortion which creates uneasiness. If they feel they are in a box room they can already sense where the actors will be to jump out at them or where the scare tactic will lie. But if you make your walls at a 45 degree angle and drape the ceiling a little, it will throw their perception off enough so that they might not see someone lurking in the shadows.
I wont have but a few lights since the garage is small enough. I was thinking about just using the main garage door light but added a flickering light bulb to it. I know I dread going down a hall that the lick is flickering, hoping that I get to the end before it goes completely out. So that is the image that I want to create. No strobe lights for health reasons.
Plumbing for the fog machine is going to be the easy part; or atleast sounds easy enough. I will just get enough PVC piping to cover the floor plan. Cut holes into the top of the pvc piping for ventilation. When that night comes, place dry ice in each pipe ( just slide it down if that is easier), cap the ends and link it to the fog machine. Dry ice gives the fog more weight and creates that graveyard mist effect. I don't want anyone choking on fog so keeping it low lined will not only help that but also distort their sense of flooring as well.
So still alot to chew and loads of work so far but I am going to enjoy every bit of this. I will keep posting more as I continue and throw some snap shots in the mix as well. Wish me luck and hopefully luck will only be needed to those who dare enter my chop shop. Muah ha ha!!