Wanted - Northern Virginia Haunters

[Halloween_Anna]

Looking to connect with other haunters in No. VA:

I've been doing a home haunt for the last 5 years in Manassas, and so far have only found one other haunter in my area online.

I am interested in attending or starting, hosting, whatever, a make and take session in the Northern Virginia area.

Any ideas for projects would be welcome. My favorite prop medium so far is Great Stuff, but I'd like to expand my skills.

If it works out, we could start a group for our area, if there's not one already.

Contact me here if you're interested.

[jcgorla]

We live in Lake Ridge area. Although we don't do a haunt at this point we really love decorating for Halloween. We are looking to more based on stuff we've seen other haunters make here on HauntForum.

[bmaskmaker]

I'm in Takoma Park, Maryland, and know there are a couple of haunters on this board from Maryland ... but haven't heard of a Make and Take locally. I'd travel to Manassas. : ) And would be happy to host something up here as well.

My dominant medium is paper mache (a la Stolloween -- tho I use a slightly different recipe). I did wire my own lights this year using the Stiltbeast tutorial. And in 2012 I'm adding a graveyard, so will be working on carving/embellishing tombstones with possibly some groundbreakers / skulls, etc.

Again, love the idea of doing a NoVa / Metro DC make and take. Any other takers?

[Halloween_Anna]

I wouldn't mind working on building a ground breaker or something. I have a shiatsu massager that's just begging to be re-purposed. I'm also getting 2 pitini skeletons, but they won't be delivered until May, and then I want to corpse them.

We'll have to figure out everyone's skill levels. I've had success just copying other people's stuff off the internet. Most people will even tell you how they did it. I ususally end up tweaking it any way to fit my own needs. I've messaged 3 others I found by trolling the members here, I hope they respond also.

would definitley be interested in doing a mache project - I've had little success growing real pumpkins, so I'd like to make a lot of them.

[gothdj]

So, replying here as well. Interested ? Yes.
Here are some video links to show where we are at, skill level
2008-2010 - Halloween 2008 to 2010 movie.wmv - YouTube

2011 - Halloween 2011 night final 10.wmv - YouTube

I haunt with a buddy of mine, Greg. who also lives in the Ashburn area.

[jcgorla]

We are definitely interested in doctoring up some store bought tombstones from last year and making some of our own with foam and monster mud. Mache would work too.

Some other projects for this year include a working ghost phone and more graveyard stuff. I bought a light o rama for Christmas and will look to incorporate that into my 2012 Halloween display.

I have a new fog chiller and flying crank ghost we made last year that could be shown as examples.

[bmaskmaker]

Wow ... great video. For skill level, I'm experienced in paper mache ... (been making pumpkins and gargoyles for 2 years.) Would be happy to demo my techniques and recipes. For everything else I'm an avid learner. :)

I'd love to see a demo of the flying crank ghost!

When were you thinking of getting together? Mid-late February? March?

[bmaskmaker]

I don't have 10 posts yet, so I'm not sure if pictures will show up ...

Here's an attempt to show my 2011 display -- all original paper mache (except the socks on the feet.) ...

Left side:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wIgeSVRuLlk8Dh2qGNuGN9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

In case the image doesn't show, here's the link
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wIgeSVRuLlk8Dh2qGNuGN9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

Right side:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DbOEw_bpIDieDTwIA8cgfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

In case the image doesn't show:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DbOEw_bpIDieDTwIA8cgfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

[Joiseygal]

I don't have 10 posts yet, so I'm not sure if pictures will show up ...

Here's an attempt to show my 2011 display -- all original paper mache (except the socks on the feet.) ...

Left side:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wIgeSVRuLlk8Dh2qGNuGN9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

In case the image doesn't show, here's the link
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wIgeSVRuLlk8Dh2qGNuGN9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

Right side:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DbOEw_bpIDieDTwIA8cgfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

In case the image doesn't show:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DbOEw_bpIDieDTwIA8cgfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

I see you were a member since May of 2010. Maybe you want to use your 10th post on introducing yourself in the Welcome room thread. :) Once you get 10 post than if you need assistance with posting pictures than I would be happy to help.

[gothdj]

I am thinking March is a good month to kick things off... Any one else have thoughts on it ?

[gothdj]

Oh, and thank you on the compliment of the video. Had to shoot most of it with an IR camera. One of the things I am gonna work on for next year is figuring out how to tween the vid cam to film better in low light. !
AS far as what Greg and I know how to do fairly well is tombstone making, and, in general fabricating structures with dence foam board. We also make good looking faux iron fencing, window boards, foamboard coffins, that kind of thing...

[randomr8]

I'm in.

[Spooky1]

Roxy and I are on the other side of the Potomac, and might be interested (depending on our availability).

[Halloween_Anna]

Wow I leave town for 4 days with no access to a computer, and this thing really takes off!

As I stated at the beginning, I'd like to host the MnT, at least the first one, and will take care of the food and overnight if needed. We've also had a request for a drink and think, if that's necessary to decide the 1st project.

Looks like some of you guys want to delay until March. That's fine, I'm open to Feb. also.

We need to decide on a first project. Do we do it here, or meet up at a bar?

Can we get a vote?

the projects I've seen mentioned here are:

-tombstones
-learning mache
I'll leave out my own wants at this point.

Looks like gothdj may have the most experience, but not all of you are commenting on your skill levels -

gothdj - would you be interested in teaching the tombstones? if so, let me know what kind of tools you'd need for a demo.
We also have a mache expert here -

bmaskmaker - would you like to run a demo?

I think all all seem to be on the same page as far as complexity of project. No one is clamoring for an led hack or computerized light show yet.

[bmaskmaker]

This sounds great. Yay.

I'm happy to demo my mache techniques. Anna mentioned an interest in pumpkins and it's a good, easy place to start -- so a paper mache pumpkin demo?

I'm open to a drink & think too ...

As for projects, what are typical MnT projects? (I'm trying to wrap my mind around a project that can be completed (or at least partly) during an afternoon.

[gothdj]

Well, I do not know if I have all that great of skill, but I am in the middle of doing a translucent spectre ( out of saran wrap and packing tape, if you would believe it.. )
And I ust finished off doing a corpsing of a skeleton using drop cloth plastic, a heat gun, a skeleton and and a touch of paint and stain. If you check my other threads, you can see the results of that under my post of " January Project"

If there is interest in quick corpsing, that is definitely a project that can go from start to end in one evening. I have all the needed stuff for that, except for spare skeletons.

Anna, where abouts do you live ?

Tombstones are also a fairly quick project, but needs a bit of homework... knowing what you want to put on the stone, etc. I have two books that are just epitaphs.. Maybe worth bringing for folks to look through. I also have Volume One of DC Props, How to Haunt your House, Books 1 and 2, and a pretty good how to haunt prop video.

I would not mind learing how to program the Light-o-rama system, as I plan on getting a 16 plug version this spring, hoping to simulate some good lightning effects on the house. I have experience programming music sequencers, I figure it must be a lot like that.

I also have a TON of very, very creepy ambient music, and some classical pipe organ music, if there is any interest in that.

Is anyone good at video editing? Looking to do a peppers ghost illusion as well for this years haunt. We filmed some basic video of our wives in 'ghost' outfits lurking around a black back drop.. that is about as far as I have gotten on that.

I would like to see some paper mache stuff, though I am not too sure what the application would be in our haunt specifically.
Our longer goal will be to add a very large Lovecraftian theme/feel to the Cemetary and Wake haunt of ours.

I have babbled enough.

[gothdj]

Oh, yeah, I think a simple bar or restaurant might be a good idea as a first meeting... we could all bring small samples, pics, vids on tablets, that kind of thing to get the ball rolling a bit maybe?

[Halloween_Anna]

I have no problem with the drink and think meeting, except for lack of tablet, lol, but we do have at least 3 interested from the other side of the water. What location would you have in mind? Awfully far for just a planning session. If you want to have just a couple meet up and plan and then open it to whomever, I can do that too.

I'm ready right now to say let's have a mache/tombstone session at my house in March. That's plenty of time to come up with epitaphs, and items you might want to make out of mache.

I def. want to do corpsing, but I'd like to wait until after May when I will have 2 skellies to corpse. We could use them to try 2 different techniques - the plastic wrap/heat gun and something else. I've seen great stuff used, and also something that looks more dry and mummy-ish, cant remember the material this second.

I also have a ghost projection I want to finish. and bought a 2nd projector this past weekend. My challenge is camouflaging the reflective panel.

[Halloween_Anna]

Anna, where abouts do you live ?

I live about 3 miles south of Centreville, down Rt. 28, in the Yorkshire area of Manassas.

[gothdj]

Well, that does not sound too bad for me, I am at the end of rt 28, as it hits rt 7. Bummer we do not have someone like in the Falls Church area or something a bit more central.
As for corpsing with latex/greatstuff, those kind of things, the issue there is drytime.. defintiely not a one day/evening project. I do have an 'virgin' skeleton that I could bring to do a sort of demo, though I would be taking it back with me when done. :-)
How is everyone set for things like fog chillers and pipes?

[Halloween_Anna]

My homemade chiller needs work. Sorry doing this from DROID

[gothdj]

So, date and location is set. Message Anna or me privately and we will give details.

[Halloween_Anna]

Any stragglers out there - the No. VA drink and think is tomorrow...lunchtime...PM me for details....

[Spooky1]

Wish we were close enough to attend. Let us know how it goes.

[Halloween_Anna]

Okay! First meeting went well, with 6 attending. The patrons at Red Robin were givng our table strange looks, though; must have been the large jack-o-lantern sitting on it.

Our first make and take event will be fabricating tombstones.

Early April, in Manassas.

Please give feedback for specific dates. Hope to see you all there!

[Halloween_Anna]

And keep in mind that April 8 is Easter...zombie bunnies???

[Grouf]

Sorry I missed the drink and think. I'd be really good at part of that... I'm in the Clifton/Centreville area and am up for whatever you all schedule short of the first week in April (family vaca)...

[RoxyBlue]

Goth, I've asked Joiseygal to copy your post to Anna's new thread about the April Make and Take here:

http://www.hauntforum.com/showthread.php?t=30423

That will be the best place to post new comments:)

[Joiseygal]

I have moved the post to your No. VA April Make and Take March thread. Please post on that thread for the March upcoming meeting. It makes it easier for new members to find current meetings in your area. Thanks! :)