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Author: Brian Foreman

Midnight Syndicate Interview: Behind ‘Monsters of Legend’ and ‘The Axe Giant’

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:07 — 85.3MB)

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"Monsters of Legend" CD by Midnight Syndicate (July 2013)In this episode of HaunTopic Radio, Midnight Syndicate stops by to fill you in on what they have been up to over the last few months and you also might learn something about them you didn’t know. We also announce the 2 lucky winners of some cool props for the month of August Give Away and tell you what prizes we are giving away for September. You won’t want to miss these treasures!

For almost two decades, composers Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka have been known as Midnight Syndicate, creating symphonic soundtracks to imaginary films that facilitate a transcendental and adventurous escape into the secret dimensions of the mind’s eye. To many of their fans, they are Gothic music pioneers brewing a signature blend of orchestral horror music and movie-style sound effects. To others, they remain the first “haunted house band” that forever changed the Halloween music genre and became a staple of the October holiday season. And some know them as the duo that teamed up with Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to produce the first official soundtrack to the legendary Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Their critically-acclaimed works are reminiscent of sweeping, complex masterpieces by artists such as James Horner, Danny Elfman, Black Sabbath and King Diamond and have been featured as a part of films, television shows, video games and at haunted attractions, amusement parks, and live performances worldwide.

 

Find More Midnight Syndicate and Buy Their Music!

 

The Winners of HaunTopic August Giveaway Are:

Michelle Montanaro

John Murray

Thanks To HauntNav.com for donating this Scary Peeper Prop:

Win this Scary Peeper Prop from HauntNav.com

Thanks to Stabbing House for donating this prop package:

Win these Halloween Props from Stabbing House

The Prizes for September are: (11 Winners This Month)

A 7 CD package from Midnight Syndicate (1 Winner)

Halloween Ambient CD from Ken Elkinson (3 Winners)

Welcome to the Horror Show Downloads from Sam Haynes (5 Winners)

Music for Haunts Downloads (2 Winners)

How Do You Win? Become a Member of The Haunter’s Toolbox for FREE.

If you are already a member, reply to any email you have received from us with ‘CONTEST’.

Haunted House Tips and Online Resources for Halloween/Haunt Projects

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:39 — 39.4MB)

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Check out this audio podcast on Halloween & Haunted Houses!!In episode 52 of HaunTopic Radio we dive down into our secret interview archives and dig up some clips you have never heard. We focus this episode on Tips & Tricks from other Haunters, Advice from the Haunt Experts when operating your Haunted House, and Where to Find that Tutorial You Need for Your Last Haunt Project.

We bring in Leonard Pickel (HAuNTcon), Kelly Collins (MHC), Eric Lowther (Haunted Overload), Rich Teachout (Asylum Haunted Screampark), Kristy Noble (Noble Manor), & Travis Russell (Camp Nightmare) to shed a little light on your dark projects. Advice you need as you are building, some marketing tips, project tips, and more haunt tips while you pound away in your workshop.

We also took a poll on our social media sites and asked you where you go for Haunt Projects, Haunt Tips, Haunt Tutorials, and inspiration for your next Halloween/Haunt project. Below is an active list of all the websites you mentioned. Don’t get lost…

Online Haunted House/Halloween Resources: (picked by Haunters)

  1. Haunt Forum
  2. Halloween Forum
  3. Garage of Evil
  4. Haunt World Forum
  5. Haunt Space
  6. Scary Lady Videos (YouTube)
  7. Stiltbeast Studios (YouTube)
  8. Hollywood Haunter (YouTube)
  9. Haunter’s Hangout (YouTube)
  10. Haunt Project
  11. Halloween Monster List
  12. Scary Guys
  13. Instructables
  14. Stolloween
  15. Dave Lowe Design
  16. Haunt Nation Magazine
  17. Haunter’s Hangout (facebook)
  18. Haunted Attraction Industry (facebook)

We extended our contest deadline to August 31st! If you want a chance to win one of the prizes below then make sure you are a Member of the Haunter’s Toolbox. If you are already a member, watch your email. If you are not a member- Sign Up For FREE Here.

A prize package from Stabbing House

stabbing house

OR

A Scary Peeper Prop from HauntNav.com

Win this Scary Peeper Prop from HauntNav.com

The top winner gets to pick!!

Where is your favorite place to find Haunted House or Halloween Information?

Monsters Wanted: A Journey from Home Haunting to Owning a Haunted Attraction

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:41 — 77.8MB)

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monsters wanted documentaryMonsters Wanted is the New Haunted Attraction Documentary from ThoughtFly Films. The movie follows Rich Teachout, an IT professional, as he quits his job and invests his life savings into opening a one-of-a-kind haunted attraction.  He and his partner Janel dedicate every moment, ounce of energy and dollar to making their “scream park” a reality. Along the way they have to deal with sabotage, civil war, and the crunch of time to achieve their goals. The resulting movie is a rare peek into a multi-million dollar industry known for its well-guarded secrets and self-proclaimed madness.

“We can’t be more excited about how this project turned out,” says co-director Joe Laughrey. “We knew starting out that the industry was interesting enough to support a feature, but we had no idea the level of emotional investment these haunted house owners have in their work.  This is really a great story for anyone who’s taken a chance or followed a dream.”

“We had over 200 hours of footage,” says co-editor and co-producer Kaley Roberts. “The editing process was intimidating, but I’m glad we took the months of work we needed to find a story that people inside and outside the industry can really connect with.”

In addition to following the Asylum Haunted Scream Park, “Monsters Wanted” also gives an insider’s perspective on several different haunted houses and the industry as a whole.

“Going to the Transworld Haunt and Attraction Show was an eye-opening experience,” says director Brian Cunningham. “Here you had thousands of haunters and vendors set up in one place, all working to try and make their attraction stand out from the others. It wasn’t until then that I realized how big the industry was and how many people are involved in it. It’s one of my favorite sequences.”

The movie also features music by acclaimed indie rock bands Sick of Sarah and Viva Viva as well as Louisville locals OK Zombie and Two-Pump Chump.

“We needed music that could blend together all the different emotions the characters were feeling,” says Cunningham. “We really found a great soundtrack to support the images on screen.”

“It’s a great mix of horror, comedy and real-life drama,” says the film’s co-director Joe Laughrey. “But at its core, ‘Monsters Wanted’ is about following a dream at all costs.”

Monsters Wanted is scheduled for release on August 27, 2013 through Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and Digital Download. Buy Monsters Wanted

 

“Monsters Wanted:” There’s nothing more terrifying than following your dreams.

 

Find Out More About Monsters Wanted:

 

Win Prizes for the Month of August!! Submit Your Entry Before August 24th, 2013. Here is What YOU Can Win. You must be a member of our FREE Haunt Club the Haunter’s Toolbox. (All new subscribers between now and the deadline will be automatically entered. All current members- check your email.) Sign Up Here.

 

1) A Scary Peeper Prop from HauntNav.com

Win this Scary Peeper Prop from HauntNav.com

 

2) A Prop Package From StabbingHouse

Win a Bloody Meat Cleaver from Stabbing House!

 

Win a Bloody hand from Stabbing House

Horror Movies, Monsters Wanted, Midnight Syndicate, & ScareLA with Matthew Hampel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:18:23 — 107.6MB)

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Boris KarloffIn Episode 51 of HaunTopic Radio we dig down into our Horror Movie archives with our new HaunTopic Crew Member Matthew Hampel and discuss what scary movies have affected us over our lifetime. We review the new documentary Monsters Wanted which follows the journey of The Asylum Scream Park and the struggles they faced their first year of business.

We even sprinkle this show with spots from other Haunters and how movies have influenced their haunt & horror career. We include a short interview with Kevin Segawa from Scream Team Productions on the premier Halloween, Haunt, & Horror Convention ScareLA in Los Angeles on August 10 & 11.

 

We announce the 3 winners for this month’s HaunTopic Giveaway. We also include 3 NEW tracks from Midnight Syndicate’s new release Monsters of Legend!

 

This show is jammed pack full of Midnight Syndicate tunes, horror movie memories, prize winners, a new Halloween trade show, in-depth reviews, and more scary stuff!

ScareLA– When people hear “August” they think of beaches, late nights, back to school shopping … all of that changes this year.

Don’t run from the fear—embrace it at the ScareLA Halloween Convention! ScareLA and Creative Partner Scream Team Productions bring the horror holiday to Los Angeles, California August 10th – 11th, 2013. Premiering at LAMart, it gives the City of Angels its first convention “…dedicated to celebrating Halloween.” Anyone wanting a preview of what’s to come this October needs to be here!

Here is what we discuss in this episode:

  • Horror movies and how they influence haunted houses
  • The new Haunted Attraction Documentary Monsters Wanted
  • 3 New Tracks from Midnight Syndicate’s ‘Monsters of Legend’
  • The new Halloween Convention in Los Angeles, CA called ScareLA
  • “How To Create a Theme and Backstory for Your Haunt” Seminar
  • 4 clips from other Haunters and the horror movies they like

 

The links to our topics in this episode:

 

The Winners of This Month’s HaunTopic Giveaway are:

Juli Savage

Hope

Slouthia

If You Want A Chance To Win Next Time Click Here to CREATE A FREE MEMBERSHIP

Thanks to John O’Brien of Job 4 Davinci and John Dean of Terrorealm for Sponsorship this month!!

 

 

 

 

Zombie Camping at The Plague & Camp Nightmare Haunted Attractions with Travis Russell

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:04 — 65.3MB)

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The Plague Haunted HouseDr.Yorick moved into this small lakeside community years ago, and nothing has been the same since. His wife died when his experiments went wrong, leaving him a widower with numerous children. 

But no one has ever seen the Dr. or the children. They remain inside the modest building they call home. Assistants maintain the property and remain silent about what happens inside. 

The strong scent of burning flesh is dominant in the dark night, along with the sounds of victims of The Plague….

The Plague Haunted Attraction and Camp Nightmare Haunted Hayride are both located at the Americamps Lake Gaston Campground in Bracey, VA and owned by Travis Russell of Big T Productions. Travis used to be a Home Haunter and outgrew his home many years ago, which led him into a business opportunity to move all of his Halloween belongings to a friend’s campground. It’s been growing each year ever since!

The Plague is the indoor haunted attraction featuring infested patients, failed experiments, and screams of his missing children. Camp Nightmare is the outdoor haunted hayride where the escaped victims roam through the woods and zombies lurk within every shadow. If you think that’s not scary enough, then trying staying the night to survive the Zombie Camping experience where the undead take over the camp and leave no tent or camper safe from the infection. If you’re too scared for that, then just come for the kid friendly activities during the day and Travis promises to be easy on you…..maybe….

Travis Russell is not just a Haunter. His background in professional lighting, set design, and audio engineering have transitioned over to the Haunt Industry quite well. His company Big T Productions has coordinated events with groups such as the Rolling Stones and he is always available to help with your questions about making your show stand out from the crowd.

In this episode of HaunTopic Radio, we get Travis Russell to open up the doors of The Plague and lead us through the shadows of Camp Nightmare to see how he does it. Listen to the show for some cool tips and tricks for your Haunted Attraction or Home Haunt!

 

In This Episode We Talk About:

  • The best way to use professional audio/ lighting indoors and outdoors
  • The transition between home haunting & pro haunting
  • Quick building tips for your haunt set
  • Using a campground as your base for a Haunted Attraction
  • Turning your passion of Haunting into a business

 
 

Find Travis Russell Here:

  • The Plague/Camp Nightmare Haunted Attraction
  • The Plague on Twitter
  • The Plague on Facebook
  • Travis on Linkedin

 

July HaunTopic Giveaway! (Enter before July 24th) To get a chance to win one of these prizes make sure you are a member of our FREE newsletter “The Haunter’s Toolbox”. SUBSCRIBE HERE.

Halloween Artist

1) A personalized comic cover of your Haunt or Character by John O’Brien (the artist above)

2) A personalized color illustration caricature of you as your favorite monster. (also by John O’Brien)

3) A hand-crafted scarecrow mask by John Dean of TerroRealm in Rutland, VT.

Scarecrow Mask

If you want a chance to win next time make sure you’re a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox Newsletter!

Click Here to become a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox for FREE

 
 

All Music in this episode of HaunTopic Radio by Sam Haynes.

sam haynes-halloween music