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Post by Brandon on Oct 29, 2007 15:30:38 GMT -5
It is my observation that the Trimper’s have an issue on their hands when replacing stunts inside the Haunted House. Lately, many stunts have been replaced with more modernized effects. But, nowadays, there seems to be a lot of space that is not properly utilized. More than ever, corners are left wide open, and places that were once filled are not, which to me is a waste of good space. The problem, as I mentioned to George Lacross earlier today, is that when Tracy developed his stunts, he would build very large “boxes” to facilitate them. So, you may have a small stunt like a cat, but have a very large box to go along with it. A perfect example of this is an effect like the Knit Wit or the Mermaid upstairs. Both effects would not necessarily require such an enclosure, but that is just how Tracy went about his business, and to be honest, I like it.
But, it poses many problems for Trimpers and other dark rides. Distortions does not have their stunts in an enclosed structure. They are out in the open. For example, the mummy or moving coffin installed last year, do not utilize space efficiently. Same goes for the Ghoul up where the Head Slinger used to be. That area is perhaps the largest square footage for a prop in the entire ride, and it has one prop with its pneumatics sitting there; the Head slinger took up much more square footage with its large staircase etc. The Knit Wit, Lady in the Cellar, Mermaid, Seasick Pirate, Bar tender, Bathroom and Wine Cellar stunts were all enclosed. But now that most are done away with, we are left with wide open spaces which are hard to fill (down before the exit, where the Wine Cellar used to be, there is nothing more than a skull and an old mammoth web in there.)
It seems the only solution, unless you spend major bucks for major effects, is to add walls to make rooms and do some different layouts of the track to best-utilize all of the space. The Haunted House covers an enormous amount of space, which is why Trimper’s utilize the space when possible with stunts like the Train tunnel, two crooked champers, Bat hill (room shrinking effect) and wave room. There is simply SO MUCH space, that it becomes noticeable if it is not filled.
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Post by gary on Oct 29, 2007 16:07:40 GMT -5
Agreed. Aside from the major effects already installed, I noticed there is a good deal of blank space between items. If there isn't a Ghost Ship background already in place, there might be a few window curtains on the wall to fake the appearance of a house window, but not much in the way of "supporting" fixtures to fill out the space. A pretty normal idea would be to add more furniture. It's a house, right? Some old chairs, tables, floorlamps... throw some fake cobweb around, highlight some of it with fluorescent paint, some of those 'flicker-flame' light bulbs here and there.... This kind of thing just helps set and keep the mood. Don't give the riders a chance to think about what's coming next, distract them as much as possible. I love stuff that moves, lights up or has sound. But a few lesser props still provide good scenery. A skeleton in a chair lights up for two seconds. The chair was rescued from the garbage truck. The skeleton was a close-out special from the craft store as Halloween ended. The PIR-activated spotlight is a radioshack special set on its shortest timer setting. An old 70's electric organ can be set up with a "clothed" skeleton precariously draped over the console, as if dead. Upon approach, the lighting from undernearth makes it difficult to see any detail in the figure. Once the car gets close, the lights flip-flop to reveal the organist's face is just a skull and eyes. Lobby organ music is pumped in. It would bridge the areas. But what's the actual opinion of Scotty? Is he looking to generally enhance things on a limited budget? Are we more in the hypothetical arena? I bet if a few of us really sat down and put our heads together, we could come up with some amazing ideas and creative ways to solve these minor problems while not having to resort to ordering new $9000 generic stunts that will fall apart in two years!
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Post by Brandon on Oct 29, 2007 19:20:35 GMT -5
Exactly. No stunt has to be overly expensive. You can go to a local yard sale or flea market and pick up a few bookshelves, upholstered chairs, some tables and maybe an old lamp or two. You are correct in saying that a lot of the upstairs contains backdrops from Ghost Ship—behind the crab was are old boards from a ship deck lining the walls, some nautical artistry of sharks and the like on the walls, and panels of inside a ship’s cabin behind where the head slinger was. If it wasn’t for those, I would be inclined to say that the upstairs needs a lot of help. After reviewing some video, the first half of the ride is Okay in my book, as far as stunts and/or scenery. It is the second half that is missing something…
All of this talk is hypothetical, unfortunately. But undoubtedly, if a few of us sat around a table over a few drinks, a pad of lined paper and some pictures, we could turn the place upside down with a fairly low budget, I’m sure.
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Post by gary on Oct 29, 2007 21:29:56 GMT -5
I'm just wondering what direction to go when throwing out ideas.
On one hand, I'd love to plot the positioning of each trick and what scenery would lead up to them and how to enhance this with backgrounds, extra items, minor gags and lighting ideas.
On the other, I'm interested in drawing up plans that are actually viable and would create a noticeable upgrade to the existing layout and turn out within a small budget. Safety and anti-vandalism also being taken into consideration. (for example, how much space should still be left open so staff can easily navigate the floor without being directly in the car path)
See, the creative of me wants elaborate sets for every room and clever lighting. But the business side of me welcomes the challenge of getting the most bang out of limited funds. Tell me I can spend $3000 and I'll come back with a list of supplies and labor to meet that.
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Post by 14rollipie on Mar 8, 2008 7:37:49 GMT -5
i like making dark ride stunts it would be fun to make one for trimpers. i would like to make a forest of trees behind the witch that pops out at you. maybe they could be made like the ones in the graveyard.
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Post by mttbrilhart on May 22, 2008 17:31:22 GMT -5
Your all right about the upper level. Right after the balcony, there is to much empty space and to much randomness! First, I think they should take all the ghostship backdrops to the storage place where the headslinger is at the moment. Then they should make new backdrops that would have a house style theme, and not a pirate ship theme. I don't think there is really any reason to have the pirate ship themed ones when nearly all the Ghostship stunts have been removed. Next, do what gary said and put plenty of old furniture in to make it look like a house and fill all that wasted blank space. Then they should add some more stunts to the remaning areas.(Tracy stunts,or classic looking stunts would be prefered) Finaly, when will they add a scene with the count in it to the ride? I think it would be cool to have an amazing look alike of the count, (or mabey a carbon copy, if avalibale) replace the mummy as you enter the house again. He could repeat lines like the count in the lobby. Mabey he could say something like "How dare you try to leave gloom house!" or "Our tour has not ended yet, Come, more awaits us!". I think that would be an awsome transition back into the house from the balcony! The mummy could go to another location in the ride. I think that could make a great improvement to the 2nd story area! What do you all think?
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Post by mttbrilhart on May 25, 2008 13:54:20 GMT -5
See! ;D Would'nt that be better than the mummy when return to the inside from the 2 story balcony? He could say somthing like: [glow=red,2,300]"There is no escape from Gloom House!"[/glow],or mabey: [glow=red,2,300]"The tour is not over yet, let us continue to explore Gloom House!"[/glow],or mabey: [glow=red,2,300]"Afraid are you? Fear Not! I said I would protect you, didn't I?"[/glow]I think that would really be a great transition! ;D Do you? What do you think?
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Post by 14rollipie on May 30, 2008 23:36:44 GMT -5
no i think the sawmill
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Post by the TROID! on May 31, 2008 18:39:32 GMT -5
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Post by mttbrilhart on May 31, 2008 18:47:11 GMT -5
OOOOH! Clowns are Scary! OOOOH!
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Post by mttbrilhart on Jun 7, 2008 16:32:37 GMT -5
By the way, is that a Clown version of the Distortons EC? God d**n! How many of those ECs dose disdortions make? They have to many vartiants!
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Post by plokoon111 on Jun 8, 2008 16:08:18 GMT -5
"Afraid are you? Fear Not! I said I would protect you, didn't I?"
^ Sounds like Yoda to me. I think thats what makes the haunted house great, because of its randomness.
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Post by mttbrilhart on Jun 9, 2008 14:42:17 GMT -5
Yeah, It does sound like Yoda! "Love Graveyards in the fall, I do!" "Love Graveyards in the spring, I do not!" "Count Wolf Von Vinderstine, my name is!" "Sound like Yoda, I do!" Who did the voice-over for the count? Was it one of the Trimper's, or there employes? Or was it Frank Oz? "Realized, you have, attached, my head is not!" :DHAAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAA! ;D MTTB~HH Master
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