Author Archive
A Night on Magnolia Avenue
by admin on Oct.28, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
I’m currently a film studies student and my latest class explored filmmaking by actually making a film to explore the technical aspects from the inside. It’s been a nightmare with COVID and don’t have access to the fancy lab equipment, so I ended up postponing this class for later. But, I continued my own self-study using the book from class as well as various online learning tools.
I asked the Eerie Elegance Scream Team to help me shoot a short at their fancy-spooky Victorian mansion. This worked out since Britta wanted a promo video for Halloween. In one week, Britta wrote the shooting script, we filmed it over 14 hours one Saturday, and then I edited it over the week. Just like that we had a silly spooky short, learn a lot, and had fun making it.
This was meant to be an educational experience and there was definitely a learning curve. I understand the need for a full crew as we all wore too many hats. I have a newfound respect for the industry and have seen first hand what it could be like “on set” with script problems, lack of equipment, working with passionate actors, and managing well-meaning producers. For my next amateur project, I will need to remember my biggest takeaways from this project:
- Polish the script before shooting and write in all possible actions, sounds, effects.
- Storyboard all action and plan your shots.
- Block & rehearse well ahead of shooting to let actors work out their process.
- Shoot over several days & don’t exhaust the talent.
- Sound is key – use a boom mic & hire person dedicated just to sound.
- Learn video editing software well and feel comfortable with the basics.
- Slow down and get it right – you cannot fix it in post!
Eerie Elegance Reimagined
by admin on Oct.26, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
I met my dear friend Britta Peterson while posting about Halloween books on my main site in 2010. I loved her book Enhanced Eerie Elegance and noted in the publication data that she was living in Santa Clara, CA where I had just bought a house. We met and have been friends ever since. We have even collaborated on projects as the Scream Team, alongside her husband Glen, a fearless engineer and mad scientist behind their technical wizardry of their home haunts. He tolerates my tomfoolery and happens to be a great guy with a sort of acceptable taste in horror movies.
Her brand, Eerie Elegance, has been going through an evolution, and as a graphic designer I jumped the chance at taking a stab at her new logo. Even though she’s was wary to give up control, rightfully so since she’s been cultivating her brand for over two decades, she agreed to let me work my wicked magic. We came up with a great new look that I think will benefit her whimsical, spooky take on Halloween.
Britta bought a dream house – a Victorian mansion – last Halloween and this year, we arranged for a spooky photo shoot. I am very proud of this work and think the resulting images are quite stunning. Take a look at a few of my favorites:
You can find Britta at EerieElegance.com or follow her on Instagram or Facebook page where she has been documenting the remodeling of her Victorian Mansion. And of course, she has written three Halloween books that are quite fun.
Can You Spot All 40 Horror Movies?
by admin on Oct.25, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
This meme has been driving me nuts! There are 40 horror films represented in this image. I missed or could not identify 7. And I call myself a horror fan?! The answers are below (no peeking)!
2020 Acquisitions for My Haunted Library
by admin on Oct.21, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
My Haunted Library is one of my prized possessions. With over 600 books in my collection, they cross multiple genres and include everything from Halloween history, cooking and crafts to scary movie companions, rare art books, and paranormal investigation. I add a handful every year, scouring Amazon, blogs and Twitter for updates on new releases. Here are some of my recent acquisitions for 2020:
Fright Favorites
How To Make Tombstones
by admin on Oct.18, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
I’ve been wanting to make horror-themed tombstones for a long time, and working on Eerie Elegance‘s Day of the Dead display in 2015 gave me a lot of inspiration. I finally got started on my horror graveyard this year and plan to add a few tombstones every year! Here is my general overview of how I made my tombstones. While there’s many techniques I’ve yet to learn, this was my starting point. Beyond the standard crafting supplies, I used the following:
- Polystyrene insulation foam
- Hot knife foam cutter
- Plastic embellishments
- Woodburning tool
- Plaster of Paris wrap
- Lightweight spackle
- Water-based spray paint (MTN available at SprayPlanet.com)
Step 1: Plan the Design
First I looked through photos for inspiration and roughly sketched out the designs I wanted, keeping the lettering and embellishments in mind. Since this was a first-time project so I keep the design simple.
Step 2: Carve the Foam
Step 4: Lettering, Embellishment & Texture
I didn’t trust the spacing to my amateur hand-lettering skills, so I drew out my text on wax paper (a few times) then taped the paper to the foam. I used a wood-burning tool to trace the letters onto the foam right through the wax paper, removing any stuck on bits.
With the wood burning tool, I also added cracks to my tombstones and refined every straight-cut edge to make it look weather-beaten and more realistic.
For my embellishment, I placed a plastic hockey mask mounted on a ball of paper and used plaster to coat the entire thing, making sure to keep the mask details. Once dry, I hot glued it to the foam and stuck several wooden skewers through the back of the tombstone to keep the mask in place. I used lightweight spackle to the cover the front face of the foam in uneven, rough patches for more textural detail.
Step 5: Paint, Paint and More Paint
Painting took quite a few passes. The first pass was all light gray paint which I let dry completely. Then came the shading. I would first mist the tombstone with water using a spray pump, then sprayed dark umber in patches. I quickly added some dark green patches and misted the paint again. It blended and ran down the tombstone. I let it dry completely then repeated the process with some darker grey and lighter gray. I sprayed black paint in the letters and misted again to dilute the intensity. Afterwards I traced the letters with some diluted black paint. Once it was completely dry, I sprayed it with a matte sealer.
Notes:
Foam cutters and woodburning tools get very hot and can be very dangerous– third degree burn dangerous. Proceed with caution and read instructions on your tools! And work in well-ventilated space.
Regular spray paint from the hardware store melts foam. Use a water-based, solvent-free paint, like craft paints. I’m a big fan of MTN’s Water-Based spray paint. They are fully foam same, have deep, rich colors, and drys to a permanent water-resistant finish.
How to Make Plastic Pumpkins Come To Life
by admin on Oct.11, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
While I love carving real pumpkins, sometimes a cheap plastic pumpkin will do the job. Department, grocery and hardware stores all carry those orange blow-form beauties in all shapes and sizes but they can be a little lifeless. With a touch of paint and dry brushing you can easily transform a plastic pumpkin into something truly unique. Don’t worry if you are not an artist. You will get great results because there’s nothing complicated or exact about the technique. The best part is that its takes only a few minutes and you’ll have them for years to come.
You will need:
- Plastic or foam pumpkin
- Liquitex Basics Red Oxide (dark red), Burnt Sienna (dark orange), Burnt Umber (dark brown) paints (any craft paint will do, but I love Liquitex colors)
- Flat, wide orange nylon brush
- Paper towels
- Spray bottle with water
- Spray matte varnish or spar urethane
The one minute video below shows you the simple technique:
Dry Brushing Tips
- You want a very light, quick touch with the brush, adding very thin layers rather than thick coats.
- You want to see some of the original orange color shine through so blending the colors by dabbing or lightly rubbing with a paper towel is essential.
- Work on with small sections, adding various colors at once and blend. Once paint starts to dry, it won’t blend.
- If brushes become wet, use a fresh, bone dry brush. I usually have a set of brushes ready to go.
- Use burnt umber along the ribs (vertical line segments) to really define the shape.
- Let paint dry completely before applying varnish. The varnish will seal the paint which is important if you are using the pumpkins outside. Rain, water from the sprinklers and the sun will wear on the paint. Also, because plastic is flexible, paint might flake off if the pumpkins bump or get smashed in storage. Sealing the paint will help.
Explore the Winchester Mystery House at Home
by admin on Oct.07, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
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One of my favorite memories of San Jose, aside from living between two of its oldest cemeteries, was having the Winchester Mystery House a few blocks from our house. The immediate area is now home to two major malls (sorry, one is an open-air, upscale, urban center called Satan’s Row, I think). It’s difficult to imagine this as the orchard-filled, rural area Sarah Winchester retired to for isolation and quiet – and spiritual mysticism.
“The Spirit House” as it’s sometimes called is a stunning marvel of Victorian architecture and madness complete with a maze of over 500 rooms (160 rooms remain), 2000 doors (some with a steep drop), and10,000 windows (some with intricate web designs) sprawling across six acres.
I’ve been there for many tours and Halloween events, but the flashlight tour in 2008 left me a gasp. I was alone in the Grand Ballroom and witnessed a door open in front of me. I didn’t think anything of it and thought a docent would appear but they did not. I called one over and she immediately called a supervisor. The door should have been locked since there was an accounting paperwork in that closet. And during a tour of the basement I clearly saw a construction worker among the duct work and again didn’t think much about it. Later the docent told us, the ghost of a man in worker overalls is seen there frequently.
The pandemic shuttered the house for the first time since 1923 when it was opened to the public, a year after Sarah’s death. It’s struggling like so many other organizations during this chaotic time. Lucky for us, they have created an Immersive 360º Tour for $8.99 (a fraction of the cost of an in-person tour). You get a subscription to the house and get to visit this virtual tour as often as you like.
One of my favorite elements is a 3D model of the floor plan which they call “The Dollhouse.” You get a bird’s eye view of the entire house’s interior and you can zoom into rooms for a closer look or click through a virtual walk-through. It’s a stunning and unprecedented look at the house.
Two books I recommend about the Winchester Mystery House are the souvenir book available only at the gift shop (or their online shop) which features 40 pages of photos and the special highlights covered on the tour. The book is a little dated, presumably produced before the organization fully leaned into the ghostly lore. If they put together a book today with stunning photography embracing this darker side, it would be a best seller (please note the gorgeous photo included at the top).
If you wanted to learn more about Mrs. Winchester, who was a compelling, pioneering woman ahead of her time, read the book Captive of the Labyrinth: Sarah L. Winchester, Heiress to the Rifle Fortune by Mary Jo Ignoffo. This biography is a deep dive into the Winchester family, Sarah’s upbringing, the subsequent heartbreaking story, and the eventual move to the West Coast to create the mansion. Please note that fans of the ghostly business will not be pleased with this book.
The author opens the book with the “haunted mansion” lore then quickly dismisses any further exploration of Mrs. Winchester’s proclivities to spiritualism which was rampant at the time. There’s a clear bias to distance the work from such “fanciful notions” and in doing so, the author willfully ignores much of Mrs. Winchester’s widely reported interests from her later years.
It’s a shame. The house itself is full of beautifully bizarre architecture and structural details that communicate to people like me who love the paranormal that something unusual was definitely afoot on the property. We may never know the details of what Mrs. Winchester actually believed (until that lost secret diary is found buried in one of the walls) but I believe that she believed in something extraordinary. There in lies the mystery of the Winchester House.
Find Chilling Short Stories in We Bleed Orange & Black
by admin on Oct.06, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
Witches! At the Market!!
by admin on Oct.01, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
I’m a sucker for bookazines from the market checkout lanes & Witches: The Truth Behind the Legends & Lore delivers a gloss overview of the history, lore, pop culture imagery & even an intro to being a spellcaster. It has some gorgeous photos, infographics & illustrations and perfect for that one person who loves everything witches. At $12.99 it’s pricey and I would preferred a softcover book that could stand the test of time.
Witches! At the Market!!
by admin on Oct.01, 2020, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Wicked October | Go to Original Post
I’m a sucker for bookazines from the market checkout lanes & Witches: The Truth Behind the Legends & Lore delivers a gloss overview of the history, lore, pop culture imagery & even an intro to being a spellcaster. It has some gorgeous photos, infographics & illustrations and perfect for that one person who loves everything witches. At $12.99 it’s pricey and I would preferred a softcover book that could stand the test of time.