EVERYONE who is involved with Knott’s Scary Farm from the Monsters, to line control, to black out, to build, to cast leads, to designers attend orientation in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. For some, it is an introduction to everyone and very first taste of being apart of the event for their Rookie Year. For others, it’s a big Family Reunion with their Haunt brothers and sisters. Returning for another year to scare guests in the fog together. Towards the end of Orientation, Jeff Tucker welcomes everyone by saying,
“Welcome, you have just taken your First Steps into a Larger World. Welcome to the Greatest Job you’re Ever Going to Have. Welcome To The Family.”
Orientation begins with a massive amount of people filing into the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. Friends sit together and you can see whole scare zone families as they all wear their Scare Zone Jerseys. Everyone has papers with important Scary Farm info on it, so they are informed on all the important spooky knowledge and happenings.
During Orientation, they cover how to scare and be safe while working haunt with Jesse the Safety Manager. He goes over step by step on the safest way of the scare with “zombie joe.” His presentation also includes haunt lingo of your start position being dubbed “The Boo Hole.” I love how the room roars with laughter and how Jesse is absolutely having fun with them. They go over what to do with dangerous/intoxicated guests, because that is the worst. Overall, he gives them tips and instructions on how to have a safe and fun season.
Up next is Jeff Tucker and he goes into detail of important information everyone who is working Haunt needs to know, THE HAUNT SURVIVAL GUIDE! He goes into the best times to come to get ready, parking, and the technical information they need to know. Also, that “On Call” positions are still open for Haunt, it is a list of scare actors on the ready for when spots turn up. These spots usually become open towards the end of the season. Hey, if you missed auditions, there is still a chance to work haunt at least a few nights, get a taste of the fear of others. Mwhahahahhahahaha! Just so you know, it’s 18+ to work haunt, and “it’s not too late, it’s never too late.” Link Down below.
After all of the important information has been dispensed by The Tucker, he asks if anyone has questions. Then he asks, “How many are you are new to Scary Farm?” Many hands rise into the air and he welcomes to the spooky, twisted and scary Haunt Family. He then wishes everyone a fun and safe haunt seasons and introduces Jon Cooke and Pasta to the stage.
Jon Cooke begins by asking how everyone is doing and for the Scary Farm veterans to give a warm welcome to everyone who is new in the family. Family is key to Scary Farm, it is the relationships, companionships, and friendships that form during the event amongst the staff and monsters that are amazing. It is everyone’s Passion and love they share for Horror, Halloween, and Haunted Attractions that make the event great. These are the people who work and anticipate Haunt all year long. They carry the Halloween spirit with them where ever they go. Just like in the film Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2: “The Saw is Family.” Many of these Scary Farm monsters and staff hang out together all year long. Unfortunately, they lost 3 of their spooky family this year, they celebrate their memory through the love of Horror and for Haunt. My heart goes out to all of the haunt family who are still healing over their passing. They will be remembered fondly in the fog.
So all that is said and done, we interviewed many people this evening, but we will focus on Jon Cooke and Pasta. Jon Cooke is a Scary Farm designer who has created mazes and attractions such as Paranormal Inc., Shadowlands, Infected, Fear VR: 5150, Trick or Treat: Lights Out, Dark Ride and many other contributions to the event… bringing the FEAR and the Next Level of Haunting with every innovation, mixing the classic haut/halloween style with new technology/ideas. With every idea, he begins from concept to bringing it to full fruition. He works together with the design dept. and every dept. to assure that Scary Farm is the Scariest Event in So Cal.
In Fact, he works closely with Pasta. She is a major part of Haunt, not only is she the head of the Paint Dept. but also oversees the cast of MONSTERS. She works alongside Jon, going over designs and how each attraction’s look and feel. What they will need from, wallpaper, distressing, paint, colors, etc. She leads her team of about 13 painters and crew leads in going through every attraction and giving it the eerie and creepy looks and feels. Bringing the horror to life!!!!!
“Magical Nightmares.” 3:)
She states, “after the designers pick the cast she goes in and teach them how to be those characters.” From creatures, to evil carnies, monsters that lurk in the fog, demons and what not. They go over with each scare actor what the creature is and how to be the creature. Directly under them is the cast leads who are people that guide/manage the scareactors/monsters in each maze/scarezone. *WE WILL COVER THEM IN THE NEXT EPISODE 😉 .
Overall, Pasta and Cooke oversee the entire event to make sure it is the scariest event you attend this haunt season 3:) 😉 Thank you to Jon Cooke, Pasta, Jeff Tucker, Jesse, The Monsters, and everyone who participated in this episode. You can see all the madness that has taken place in the vid down below. Thank you for reading and we hope to see you In The Fog!
Prey: Navigate a hay maze full of dead ends with only a faulty lantern as your guide. You are not alone. Mutant beasts are lurking around every corner.
PARANORMAL, INC. – The Haunting of Hayden Hill: Last year’s groundbreaking Paranormal Inc. maze will return to Knott’s Scary Farm this year. Featuring high flying aerial stunts and scares, guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff prowl for new patients to torture.
The Dead of Winter: Wendigo’s Revenge – Deep in the frozen tundra, the realm of a treacherous snow queen has been usurped by her evil minion, the horrific wendigo. She may be dead, but her evil spell hasn’t been lifted: The dead cannibals have risen from their snowy graves as hungry creatures feast on the surrounding villages. During the chaos, the queen’s prized possession, the horrific wendigo, has seized control of her throne, ready to prey upon any unsuspecting visitors who enter the borders of its icy domain.
Trick-or-Treat: Take a brave step forward and ring the witch’s doorbell…trick or treat, which will it be? After surviving her grisly welcome, wander into the Green Witch’s never before seen potion room and bewitched attic. But don’t leave too soon; you’re the special guest at the Green Witch’s deadly dinner party where she and her menacing Tricksters await your arrival.
The Tooth Fairy: This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out their bedroom window and into a world of deranged dentistry. Unbelievable special effects include a blackout room through which guests must feel their way out, a disorienting x-ray strobe light room, and a final encounter with the massive tooth fairy, himself. Say aahhh.
Voodoo – Order of the Serpent: The haunting legend of Papa Legba continues as guests follow him on his foreboding journey to conjure the serpent demon goddess in the outskirts of New Orleans. Trudge cautiously through the cursed swamps of the Deep South, where creatures search the murky bogs for their next bloody sacrifice and demons curse the innocent with Voodoo hexes.
The Gunslinger’s Grave: A Blood Moon Rises: Deadly howls and a full blood moon mark your impending doom as werewolves overrun the crime stricken old west town. Walk in the bloody footsteps of a betrayed and left for dead gunslinger on his path of retribution against the Skinwalkers.
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