Welcome
to Dark Works 2005...
This
has been a year from hell, many problems to get past and none
of them related to TSP or Dark Works. However with many last
minute props and long cold late nights working on the set-up,
the haunt came together as planned. Once again I changed the
inside of the haunt even though I told myself last year I
wouldn't. I wanted it darker inside and harder to run through.
Keep in mind while looking at the pictures that additional
lighting was used to shoot the pictures. Otherwise this page
would be damn near all black. This year took a while to figure
out how the haunt would feel. It took on a backwoods, Rob
Zombie meets Steve Hickman kind of vibe. It was different
to say the least. So here it is, what everyone has been waiting
to see, Dark Works of 2005. Enjoy...
I toned down the que line area this year.
I want to try to keep it easier to set up and quicker to take
down. Not sure if I mentioned this before but by the time
it's light out the morning of Nov. 1st. The entire outside
of Dark Works vanishes. All that is left to see from the street
is a plain wood fence and gate at the bottom of our driveway.
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Inspired by the fantastic work that Eric
did on his new Skeleton Marionette down at Vile
Things, I built a crank-style half corpse for over the
que line. I only animated the arms, not really interested
in having the torso raise up and down as in a FCG prop.
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I did manage to hang onto the rules sign.
The large TSP logo is from last years gate that was used to
cover the garage door opening.
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I re-designed the gate to the courtyard,
again. I went with a double gate and a new Dark Works sign
overhead. The other Dark Works cross style sign was nice but
a real pain in the ass getting on and off the house.
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The front gate at night with additional
light for the photo. Every once in a while one of us would
come out of the gate, between groups, dragging a shovel on
the concrete up and down the que line.
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The skull was rigged with a fogger that
was fired to signal the next group to be let into the courtyard.
Our door man would let in groups of 2 to 3.
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Looking through the front gate into the
courtyard area.
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Night shot, same view as above. Light added
for the photos.
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6 new open mouth skulls on wood stakes line
the path inside the gate. These skulls are part of the new
GraveStalkers foam line.
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Just inside the gates you are greeted by
the new night watchman prop. Can you tell what mask was given
a face lift to make this guy?
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Our new skeleton/corpse light fixtures provide
the only lighting on the path to the front door of the haunt.
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Just to the left side of the night watchman
prop you get the first glimpse of the new spinning water wheel
and pond.
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The front view of the haunt, pond is to
the right (not shown). This is the area where I would jump
out of the haze, clap my hands together and yell at my quests
things like " Hope yur all here fur supper" or "Hot
damn welcome ta Dark Works".
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The barrel from last year with a few GraveStalkers
skulls.
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Standing in front of the haunt and looking
to the right you get a good look at the pond and the prop
built to light this area.
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Here's a down shot of the courtyard.
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Laying on a bench outside the haunt is the
first pneumatic prop. This corpse is manually triggered with
a key chain size remote. As I gave the guests there instructions
at the front door, I would activate the prop causing the hose
in the mouth to whip around wildly. Before the guests could
react, I would pick up a rolled newspaper, wack the corpse
in the fore head and yell " I told you ta huuuuush !"
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Two more corpse lights where used to light
the area in front of the door.
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The first room inside the front door shot
from different angles. The Librarian prop was moved up front
and the room was made wider. Guests are instructed to remain
on the carpet just inside the door until there host tells
them to go. Once the Librarian looks up at them, I would swing
the door open, point and yell " OK, I'm your host, go
to your left through them there curtains !".
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The fireplace was also moved to the first
room. This room is the largest room of the haunt. It also
contains the most candle fixtures. I wanted guests to be able
to look around for a few seconds before moving on to the darker
maze section.
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Before going through the curtains you will
walk by our next pneumatic prop who sits quietly waiting.
Just when you think she's a static prop it jerks forward and
looks up at you.
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One of the many mirrors used through out
the haunt. The curtains that lead into darkness.
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Just inside the curtains. On your left is
this static prop which is right up on you, making you go to
the right, down the hall.
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Looking at the mirror at the end of the
hall. The second pic is looking back at the static prop.
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I used less "Dorp" this year.
Mainly it was used only in areas where there was enough light
to see it.
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You are now in the new maze part of the
haunt. The first prop is good old "Ozzy" who whips
around out of his dark hole into broken out wall boards. I
attached a long section of chain to the prop that drags on
the floor. It makes a hell of a racket inside the contained
area behind the dresser.
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Turning the corner toward another full length
mirror then to the right is the next prop area.
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The first prop to trigger is the new trunk
prop that opens violently making the latches slap back and
forth.
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Just when you thought to yourself "well
that sucked" the corpse prop from last season comes out
of the dark casket over the barrels on the floor.
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Down the hall turning left you are now in
the "gallery area" of the maze.
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One of the many Bucky skeletons.
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In the gallery on your left is an empty
picture frame hanging among many other frames. The next pneumatic
prop pops up into the frame. One of the cool features of this
area is the fact that you can see the scare from more than
one location. If your not looking to the left, the frame and
prop can be seen in the mirror directly in front of you.
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The last picture frame at the end of the
hall contains a half corpse, lighting the way. As you turn
the corner you are now in a area with several book cases.
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The next prop briefly comes up into the
book case to your right. Then back down into the darkness.
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Around the corner hangs another corpse prop
and a Dorped entrance way. As you walk down this black hall
you trigger a light which makes the prop up in the ceiling
visible.
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Walking under this prop causes his to slam
his head down toward yours. If you're a tall one, you might
be lucky enough to feel his rotten hanks of hair brush across
the top of your head.
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Next is the chained prop from last season.
This area is completely dark before being triggered. Like
last year it leans forward and stops as if he's chained to
the wall. (which he is!)
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Looking into the next room you see a few
lit candles and oil lamps. Also a person sitting at a table
full of rats. Will the person move suddenly?
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Nope! The rat does. This fine little number
got a lot of people. Another good example of misdirection.
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Past the rats and through another Dorped
entrance you will see the last pneumatic prop behind a set
of broken out bi-fold doors.
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This one is designed like the Twins props
from a few years ago. As you walk by this very dark area the
prop comes up and raises its arms and hands above his head.
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Most of the time we had some one waiting
in a dark corner by the back door. Telling them how they have
"reached the end"...
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Out the door and down the ramp back toward
the courtyard.
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This last prop wasn't used much. It's a
basic cable style prop which is manually triggered and reset.
Just as the door at the end of the ramp begins to open I would
trigger the prop. The guests would trigger a motion sensor
that controls a small 4 watt light.
The corpse prop would fly down the cable
into the up-lit area and stop inches in front of you, jerk
back up the cable then back down.
Guests would continue back
out through the gates where they entered. The courtyard was
so dark and hazy that an actor could stand up against the
fence by the exit without being seen. This created a great added "Good
Night Neighbor" scare.
Thats it for Dark Works 2005...
Be on the look out for Handbook 5 which
will contain many of these new prop designs.
Also out this coming year The SoundScapes
of Dark Works.
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