It takes a lot to create amazing haunted attractions… from building the mazes, designing the setting for scare zones, creating the shows, and creating the atmosphere which makes the haunt memorable. But above all of these things, it is the monsters that lurk in the fog that haunt our waking nightmares. There is so much talent that goes behind creating haunted attractions and the group that will be highlighted in this article are the people who make the monsters look terrifying at the world renowned Knotts Scary Farm. Today we focus on the makeup artists.
Without the magic of the makeup artists, the monsters would look like “normal” people…well, people that are rabid and out to get you. With skill and imagination, these artist create creatures and characters that stick with us long after the haunt is over and even all year long in our nightmares or in our cherished memories of good times running in the fog.
These talented people work at the speed of lighting as monsters are circulated through the makeup room. Each makeup artist would be assigned several monsters (mazes, scare zones, Infected, Trapped and all monsters in between) to prep all the way to the opening hour of each evening of Scary Farm. With each monster they have 15-20 min depending on how intricate the make-up is or how much prosthetics they have to apply on the scare actor. But it is magical to see these actors sit in the chairs of the artists and turn them into horrifying creatures of the night.
The makeup room is like an assembly line of terror with about 20 or more makeup artists working on the many monsters that are getting ready to be unleashed.
It is a wonderfully spooky haven with the air of Haunt surrounding everyone and the spirit of Halloween everywhere, with the Haunt décor and the little macabre decorations in each artist station. The costuming area and dressing rooms share the same warehouse as the makeup artists, it is a true monster making machine in there.
When I payed my visit to the makeup and monster making warehouse one chilly evening in October, it was wonderful to see so many of my monster friends and makeup artist fiends. Many of them looked at me with surprise and asked me if I was scaring along side them that evening. I wish I could have scared along side my friends of Scary Farm but I was there to support my Scary Farm makeup artists and fiends! Many people think of the monsters when they think of Haunt but it is the makeup artists that make the monsters look frightening… and I applaud them for all their hard work and talent.
When lurking around the makeup stations taking pictures of the haunt magic happening, I would smile because I love seeing my makeup artist friends and monsters gear up for a most terrifying evening. It was such a treat to see all the wonderful madness happening all around. I have to thank my dear talented friend Vicki Woods for giving me this opportunity to go behind the scenes and share their amazing work. Applause to the talented people who work behind the scenes making Halloween Haunt a memorable experience for all those who travel into the fog.
This is a special thank you to all the makeup artists at Scary Farm and all other Haunts because you are a part of a team in making the monsters look amazing. Thank you to Knott’s Scary Farm for granting me the honor of lurk behind the scenes and see the magic behind the terror… and to see my fiends get into their characters and my makeup artist fiends in action. From the bottom of my dark heart… Thank You.
I can’t wait to see what NEW creations are awaiting in the fog for Scary Farm and to see what gore the makeup artists have up their sleeves this year! Thank you fiends for joining me on this behind the scenes look of the makeup of Knott’s Scary Farm. Hope you all have a wonderfully spooky day and see you all soon In The Dark!
