Life Cast

The third Saturday of every month is the day for the CalHaunts make-n-take. Because of being completely slammed last year (starting up a business, getting my work into a museum, etc.), I hadn't been able to go play with my club buddies, so I was really excited when I could make it and do the build this time.

I especially was happy to catch up with folks and get a very nice crop of hugs, too. This past Saturday was a particularly fun make-n-take, since we got to do some life-casting.  The Speedo can, it turns out, was not necessary for the build, since teacher Ed Martinez had some nice skull caps to use. I wish I had thought to take off the Speedo cap before the casting, as it was so tight it gave me a huge headache, and I couldn't take it off once we started because I would have ruined the mold.

Chris Ape was on hand to help. Pictured here with friend Cory.



Ape stayed out of the way because he didn't want any silicone in his fur, and who can blame him?Friend Stacy and I were each other's modeling partners, and she did a fantastic job. After lubing my face, eyebrows and eyelashes liberally with petroleum jelly, she started  the process. Robert of Mantooth Manor and Perfessor Evil ran around and lent deft hands wherever needed. Robert had already taken on the lion's share of the work by organizing this particular make-n-take, and boy, did it run smoothly!

Some folks are lucky to have a significant other who loves haunting as much as they do. Oh, and who also comes with his own body bag!

CalHaunter Scott, who is too sexy for his bag!

So, after three coats of the silicone stuff, plaster bandages are applied on the outside, so the mold is protected. Do I need to mention that it's not allowed to cover up people's nostrils during this procedure?

 After everything has cured, it's time to get the mold separated from the face. The model blows through the mouth and puffs up his or her cheeks to get the stuff started in that direction. Below is the "Holy crap, that hurts!" look, as some of my eyebrows and eyelashes came out in the mold, in spite of the huge slathering of petroleum jelly.

Peek-a-Boo! After an hour or so under the silicone, I was free! I really would have to warn anyone who is claustrophobic NOT to attempt a life cast of their faces. While I don't suffer from that malady, it was a very isolating experience, even for me. I was more than ready to get the whole thing off!

Next, it was my turn to help Stacy out. 

Below, Robert is helping in his own special way... 

In the end, I had a really good casting to work with. Today or tomorrow, I'll get the plaster cast done and share it with you!



I did a little looking around and found this book on makeup effects, in case you're interested. While I haven't read it as of yet (because I have at least thirty books to read before I can even think about getting to this one...) it looks like it had some good reviews. One thing I would tell you as a safety tip is DO NOT attempt to put plaster over someone's face in order to take a life cast. Plaster has an exothermic reaction while it's setting, and that means it is really hot as it's going through its process, which could burn your model's face. Be smart, people!

Preview

It's My Face!

You really have to make this year the year you found or join a haunt club. You really do!

Today I'm heading off to Hayward (a two hour drive, might I add) so I can get a silicone life cast done of my face. Why my face? Am I that vain, that I want to have my face all over my haunt this year?

No. Everyone I know are parents who have activities with their kids this weekend. If I want to do a Madame Leota effect, it's my face or nothing. And I really want to add one this year.

Hopefully, I'll be able to post pictures. Have a great weekend!

The Delightful Haunt of Chez Neumansky

Yet another CalHaunts NorCal rock star, Dan Neumansky (and family!), made this great haunt.

Read his fun blog post at Chez Neumansky, Part Deux.

 Rock on, Dan! Great work!

Cal Haunts Members Rock! Forest of Lost Souls and Perfessor Evil

This month, the Folsom Telegraph has been good to haunters. The paper did a four-part series on some local haunters, and not only did they include yours truly, but fellow CalHaunts NorCal member, Joe DeCelle.

Joe runs The Forest of Lost Souls in El Dorado Hills (right next door to Folsom), and really keeps the Spirit of Halloween alive. Congrats on the nice article, Joe!

CalHaunts/Haunt Project's Perfessor Evil has also had a turn with the press in the Geek Out! section of CNN. He totally deserves his time in the spotlight after working so hard to keep up with all the updates he does for us on Haunt Project. You go, Rik!

Again, congratulations to both of these dedicated haunters. Happy Hallows, guys!

Make 'N Take

At a make 'n' take this weekend with my CalHaunts buds. It's on making a foam mask-head, and you wish you could be there with me, don't you? I'm really looking forward to connecting with everyone again. It's been awhile since the last meet, and I've been jonesing!

Hope you get a chance to do some building this weekend!

CalHaunts NorCal

We had our yearly wrap-up meeting on Saturday at my house. Every meeting is a potluck, and this meeting, of course, everyone brought their videos or slideshows of their haunts to show off. Here's one of the YouTube contributions from our group.

One of our members does a puppet show for the kids.

We had such a great time, ate far too much, had too much sugar and killed off two large bottles of champagne. We usually don't have the opportunity to socialize so much, because our meetings are make-and-takes and we're building a project, so the wrap-up meeting tends to be more of a party than a meeting. I'm good at parties!

Below, the rogues who made it out to my place. What a great group of people!

Betcha Haven't Seen This in Awhile!

I'm off to my CalHaunts NorCal meet today for the "Bride of Articulation" build. I'm really looking forward to it. I missed last month's make and take because of Grandma's 100th birthday, so I'm jonesing for a meeting.

Hope your weekend is full of prop-building!

Davis Graveyard

I may have done a quick post on these folks awhile back, but due to a case of hormone brain, I can't remember!

Davis Graveyard is one of the haunts I most admire. The props are not only well-made and look great, but they're clever, too: the little detail of a child's polyester Superman costume hanging off the end of a bony finger comes to mind.

Like many in the haunt community, Jeff and Chris Davis spread the love wherever they can. From teaching gravestone make-and-takes to hosting a fundraiser for the local high school dance troupe, the Davises represent the generosity of spirit I've come to love in haunters.

Jeff has recently written an article for Haunted Attraction Magazine about how to recreate his video projected head project. As something of a newbie to haunting at this level, and someone who is only just learning about animatronics and other fun elements for my haunt, I really appreciate clear directions. (Clear directions keep me from burning off my eyebrows.) Like other haunters, he helps you to discover your inner MacGyver by pointing you in the direction of eBay and things you already have around the house.

Well, I'm off to my CalHaunts meeting today, to learn some nifty new things. I can't wait!