Props Part 2

This week, we'll look at various paper props.

First off is the Ouija Board. This particular board was bought at a Toys R Us quite awhile ago. It is, in fact, just a simple board game from Hasbro and Parker Brothers. If you want to see more on how the Ouija Board animation works in our attic scene, visit an older blog post all about it here.

Next is an image of the Saukville Examiner newspaper from October 1, 1950. This is also a prop I have covered in depth in earlier posts. View the Saukville Examiner's Conception, Design, and Execution at the links provided.

Finally is a photo of the Resurrection Spell that is displayed on the "shrine table" in the attic scene. Supposedly, this spell from an old witchcraft book is what Elizabeth tried to use to summon her dead parents. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out too well.

Props Part 1

This week, we continue to look at props found both in the attic, as well as in the cemetery.

First off is a 13-hour clock - custom made, and it actually works!

I replaced the face with a print out version of a '13' Hour Clock - a tribute to Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction. I painted the clock hands a blood red, so they would stand out against the mostly black and white face. The hands were originally black. The iron body was then painted and aged as well. It was originally a dark green, but we painted it gold and aged it using a dull brown.

This next prop is a birdcage that I found at a thrift store. It was not meant to really house a bird, as it has no door. Just the creepiness of an empty bird cage, with it's swing slowly swaying in the breeze is all this prop needs to bring a chill to the attic. 

Finally, this lantern, which really works, is housed in the cemetery. Although not oil burning, this lantern was made to look like one. It was already pre-aged, as it was bought online on a Halloween prop website.

Fleur-De-Lis

Welcome back! First off, you have probably noticed the new design of this blog. I wanted the blog to look slightly more sophisticated and complex than the original, simple, gray design. I'll always be looking for ways to improve this blog, so think of this last re-imagining as a first step.

And now on to the main post...
Our attic is full or knick-knacks, from typewriters to telescopes. One of the new props that will debut in 2011 is a fleur-de-lis ornamental piece. A fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily, used in decorative designs.

The prop is a subtle tribute to the character of Lillian Greywood - a lily.
The prop was bought at Hobby Lobby on sale for only $5.

How the Ouija Board Works

This week (now back from my April hiatus) I'd like to look into how Greywood Manor's signature effect works: The Ouija Board.

First debuting with the attic scene in 2007, the Ouija Board effect, generally unchanged, has intrigued trick-or-treaters every year since (except 2009). If you do not know what this effect is that I am talking about, please view either the Greywood Manor 2007 & 2008 or Greywood Manor 2010 blog posts. Both showcase video of the Ouija Board effect found in the attic scene of the haunt.

The Ouija Board effect inspiration cam out of actually using the Ouija Board (read more on that here) as well as the fact that this effect is important to the story line of the haunt. From The Back-Story:
"She [Elizabeth] was said to have tried to contact her parents in the spirit world using many techniques, including the use of a Ouija Board.  No one is sure if she ever succeeded.  Some believe she aroused a demonic spirit in place of her parents.  The evil spirit may have pretended to be her parents, gained her trust, and then turned on her.  On Halloween of 1908, she is said to have died, perhaps by the evil spirits that had become part of her life."


But how does this ethereal effect work?
The mechanics behind it are actually fairly simple. Below is a quick sketch I drew of the apparatus.

A continuous piece of fishing line is connected to the two metal bars that a cam rig moves up and down. One string end on each bar. The fishing line is then fed up over the attic's "background" curtain through some fish-eye hooks. It is then fed down to a simple pvc and plywood "turnaround." Finally, it is fed to two holes found in the upper corners of the ouija board. The planchette, or movable ouija board pointer, then rests on the string, weighed down by some washers secured to the backside of the planchette. The different movements of the two cams causes the planchette to have an apparently random course - but if you watch it long enough, it does go through a loop that takes about thirty seconds to complete.


To see the cam rig in action, you can view this short video posted below.

And there you have it! How one of the most interesting effects at Greywood Manor works.