Parallax Powered Halloween (Los Angeles)
JonnyMac
Posts: 9,107
For those of you in the Los Angeles area looking for an interesting Halloween display, check out my friends at House of Restless Spirits.
http://houseofrestlessspirits.com
Mind you, this is, technically, a home haunt, and it's only open on Halloween and the Saturday that follows. Why? Well, in order to control the world-class illusions (Eric Maurin, the owner, is a professional magician), there must be no spilled light from the neighbors -- they cooperate for a couple nights, but that's it.
Most of the effects are controlled using the EFX-TEK Prop-1 (BASIC Stamp 1) controller. Last weekend I spent a few minutes remembering SX/B so I could re-purpose an EFX-TEK FC-4 (SX20-based AC lighting controller) to create a flickering flame effect or an old oil lamp. There's an SX28-based DC-16 (also from EFX-TEK) in the mix, too, though I might change that out to the Propeller-based HC-8+ from EFX-TEK.
As I do a lot of work around the Halloween industry I'm bored with the now-traditional jump scare and gore attractions. HoRS is in the style of the Disney Haunted Mansion, though spookier because it doesn't have the jokey bend to it. It's a really cool place. One of the interesting aspects is that you walk around the house (looking in at the ghosts that occupy it) rather than through. There's lots of spooky stuff on the outside, too. In fact, if you don't walk through the yard slowly and while paying complete attention, you'll miss many of the amazingly subtle effects.
Is it worth the trip to Santa Monica and up to an hour wait in line? I think so -- and the first time I went I stood behind a large group of people, each of whom were wearing a Disney IMAGINEERING jackets.
Be safe, and have a Happy Halloween!
http://houseofrestlessspirits.com
Mind you, this is, technically, a home haunt, and it's only open on Halloween and the Saturday that follows. Why? Well, in order to control the world-class illusions (Eric Maurin, the owner, is a professional magician), there must be no spilled light from the neighbors -- they cooperate for a couple nights, but that's it.
Most of the effects are controlled using the EFX-TEK Prop-1 (BASIC Stamp 1) controller. Last weekend I spent a few minutes remembering SX/B so I could re-purpose an EFX-TEK FC-4 (SX20-based AC lighting controller) to create a flickering flame effect or an old oil lamp. There's an SX28-based DC-16 (also from EFX-TEK) in the mix, too, though I might change that out to the Propeller-based HC-8+ from EFX-TEK.
As I do a lot of work around the Halloween industry I'm bored with the now-traditional jump scare and gore attractions. HoRS is in the style of the Disney Haunted Mansion, though spookier because it doesn't have the jokey bend to it. It's a really cool place. One of the interesting aspects is that you walk around the house (looking in at the ghosts that occupy it) rather than through. There's lots of spooky stuff on the outside, too. In fact, if you don't walk through the yard slowly and while paying complete attention, you'll miss many of the amazingly subtle effects.
Is it worth the trip to Santa Monica and up to an hour wait in line? I think so -- and the first time I went I stood behind a large group of people, each of whom were wearing a Disney IMAGINEERING jackets.
Be safe, and have a Happy Halloween!
Comments
Try http://www.houseofrestlessspirits.com/
EDIT: Appears to be working now. The spiritsss are restlessss, indeed.
I never really considered a California trip in october.
House of Restless Sprits will be on my things to do, places to go list.
I'm sure my nephew Mike would appreciate a visit.
Mike lives in Holly Wood, Santa Monica is not very far away.
Thanks