Chris Ape Celebrity Photo Contest

Christmas Ape, kicking it with pal Jack Nicholson at the Overlook Hotel.

And I really hope that a bunch of people enter into this with the spirit I intended! (That's a plea. Don't leave me hanging!)

It's been quiet here in Halloween land, with not many comments and not much going on, so I thought I'd insert some mid-Winter silliness into a dull season...

My readers know of my dear friend, Christmas Ape, a.k.a. Chris Aype or just Ape, who flies around the world with us and gets his picture taken in the coolest places. Great fun, right? There's only one problem:

Ape has no celebrity photos.

He almost did. Twice, in fact. Once, over Christmas, with Joe Mantegna, and once with Jon Favreau at Monsterpalooza a couple of years ago.

I chickened out, both times. I just couldn't walk up to either of them and explain the magic that is Ape, and ask for a photo for his Facebook page. And I really wanted to, because it would be awesome!

That's where this contest comes in. Chris has requested that I get him into some pics with celebrities, and I thought that given my lack of spine, Photoshop might be the answer. I figured that if this guy could Photoshop celebs into his party pics, someone could Photoshop Ape into a celebrity encounter of some kind.

So there's the contest. Grab a picture of your choice of Christmas Ape off his Facebook page (or you can search this blog) and give him his celebrity picture! He could be chatting with a supermodel, giving advice to President Obama, having drinks with Mila Kunis, skiing with Vince Vaughn, or whatever fun situation you can dream up for him. The celebrity can be living or dead. Use your imagination! You can create and enter as many pics as you like.

Mr. ShellHawk, Ape and I will narrow entries down to the top five, which I'll then post here for a reader vote. (Aren't I an optimist? I'm assuming I'll get more than five!) The deadline for entry will be February 18. The top five will be posted by February 22, when the voting will start. Send all entries to me at shell hawks nest at ya hoo dawt calm. I hope you can figure out the email address from that!

So here are the rules:
1) No naughty pics. Suggestive, o.k. Porn, not o.k.
2) By sending these pics to me, you agree that I can use them in whatever way I choose, including posting them on Facebook or making millions in a tell-all book. (Like that would ever happen...)
3) You must name the celebrity with whom he is pictured. (Because I just don't know them all!)

Extra credit for the story of how Ape and his celebrity ended up in the situation pictured. Keep it short and sweet. The cooler and more far-fetched, the better. 

What do you win? I'll tell you!

First Prize is one of my jack-o'-lanterns. My choice.
Second prize is a trick or treat bag with a softcover edition of  Halloween: The Best of Martha Stewart Living and a copy of  Make: Halloween Special Edition.
Third prize is one of my mini-boos.

Please spread the word! Tweet it, blog it, Facebook it. The more, the merrier, and I might start posting entries in the intervening time before the contest entry period is over.

Let's have some fun with this, gang!

In Search of...

I've been thinking about this recently, so I thought I'd share. After all, if it wasn't for people wondering what comes after, we wouldn't have a Hallowe'en, now, would we?

Friday Tease

There's a giveaway coming soon, for those who are good with Photoshop...

Why is Hallowe'en Such a Big Deal? Especially in January?

Image via Make Magazine and Kevin Smith's Facebook page

I think it boils down to people's innate need to create. 

I tell my beginning ceramics students that everyone is born creative. Hand a five-year-old an open can of Play-Doh, and they grab it and start making stuff. Hand an adult that same can, and they say, "Oh, I have no artistic ability," or run to check the instructions or the how-to page. (I find the idea of needing instructions for Play-Doh pretty weird, myself.)

I think it's because around age thirteen or fourteen, people start telling kids that art is only for "special people" and to start getting ready for their college careers. Everyone knows that art isn't a valid career, right? If it were, there would be funding available for it in a down economy. But that's a rant for another day.

Hallowe'en is a different animal. Hallowe'en, perhaps because it's "a kid's holiday," gives us permission to create whatever we like. We can be an artist, if only for the time it takes to make a prop or a costume.

Make Magazine had a nice little blurb about this concept. Head on over and read it. Then go make some truffle skulls. You won't regret it.

What's your idea for Hallowe'en this year?

Shocktail Hour News!

Our new t-shirt design and blatant play for beer money.

The new Shocktail Hour episode is up and ready for subscriber download! 

Join JT & Baker at the Last Bar on the Left as they tip back a few cold ones and BS about the world of horror! 
The boys will give you the poop about Macabre Faire Film Festival and Halloween Party & Expo shows, blather about the Walking Dead and Season 4 of Face off. 
JT digs deep into his bag of tricks with Flashback reviews of House at the Edge of the Park and Beyond the Darkness. 
The dastardly duo also review Silent Night, Millennium Bug, John Dies At the End & Texas Chainsaw 3D. Taking you to the bridge, JT interviews band BlakOpz and spins a few tracks from their album Blood, Sweat And Fear.

The new Shocktail Hour and Hauntcast t-shirts are available for order, too, so support our beer budget and buy one! And subscribe to Hauntcast, already. Sheesh.

Skull and Bone 2006

Click on the pic to see video.

I really wish I had been able to see this one while it was still up! Skull and Bone tutorials here.

I've been gettin' the itch to re-do the haunt, but reality is telling me it likely won't happen unless I get a crew of volunteers. I just have too much to do in the "adult" world this year! Phooey.

Pesky Spiders

Don't you just hate it when you go out to your car in the morning and you have to get through all the spider webs to open the door?

More pics at Hoover's Corner.

Happy Hump Day

Because you needed to spit coffee out of your nose, that's why.

If anyone can find the original link to this, I'd appreciate it. Love to see if they have other shows like this!

Don't Cry for Me, Argentina!

But do send a flower car...

Hand-carved Argentine flower car

Other images here, via Hemmings Daily.

The Grim Rides Facebook page is another great place to get your hearse on, but if you're not on Facebook, you can head over to the Grim Rides website, which is a load of fun, too! 

I have to admit, with the Mighty Dodge gone, I have been browsing the hearse ads...

Hauntcast Magazine is Up!

After a long wait (hey, Grimlock was viciously attacked by Sandy, and had a lot of stuff to deal with!), the first issue of Hauntcast Magazine is up! 

Hauntcast subscribers need to scroll to the bottom of the loyal minions page for the link to download. This also is my debut as a writer of horror; Squee! (I hope it doesn't suck!)

Subscribe. Just do it. You know you want to!