Theme to Halloween

Working on the "Easter egg" that we put on our haunt DVD each year is always a last minute idea that usually comes together quite nicely. This year, no exception.

We figured out the footage no problem, made some edits and then we had to find the music. We wanted something different than we normally use (although we love Midnight Syndicate and Nox Arcana) this year, as with our haunt video, we threw caution to the wind about copyright. Working often with artists, that is very hard for me to do. I am pretty anal about only using things that I have the rights to....I have this funny allergic reaction to lawsuits (some bad past life experiences.)

But, this year, with the home haunt, I finally gave in to husbands request to "loosen up." One of my favorite things husband did was create the "Ode to Halloween" video of our cat Hal (Halloween Cat.) The Ma Rainey song "Black Cat" is perfect, I like obscure songs that are under the radar - and that song is a good contrast to what we normally use.

We had already high jacked Christopher Walken for the video (not literally, take a lesson from Suicide Kings and never kidnap Mr. Walken), so when it came to score this year's Easter egg, we grabbed the theme from Halloween and the Shamrock jingle from the Halloween III movie and made this video.




It is very silly, but we made ourselves laugh, and that is the important part. It is like our video this year, made for us instead of worrying about awards and what the rest of the world thinks :)

I think I need to apply that philosophy to my yard. :)

Haunter's DVDs shipping soon!

The 2008 Haunters DVD collection is schedule to ship later this month. It is a real treat and an inspiration to see fellow haunt enthusiasts from all over the country submit their videos. This year there are Gathering photos and videos (groups of haunters that get together by region) and lots of how two videos. Should be great way to spend a few evenings....or a weekend.

Order yours today!

Finally!

We did it. We have 90% of the Halloween props put away (thanks Dan for helping with the mud men!) Except for a few things that need to be repaired and a pile of party decorations that need containers, all of the props are upstairs and stored until fall.

We have noticed that we are running out of room :)

Look! We can now get a least one car in the garage!!

A transplanted Rose

You will never guess who moved to the Northwest! Seriously, I screamed at my desk when I found out what happened to one of our favorite yard haunts - ever!

Ms. Rose, the famous Rose Manor haunt. Winner of the 2005 Yard Haunt of the Year award!

I don't know all the details, but it appears her owners couldn't keep her and needed to find her a home. The lucky new owners are House Bloodthorn. They seem to appreciate their new found treasure and we are glad to see she is in good hands and not forgotten.

Check out their blog and find out about this great new haunt. If you like The Davis Graveyard, you are going to love this haunt. Jeff and I always have a hard time getting out and seeing other haunts, but we are going to have to make an exception this year and get ourselves out that way this October.

Join us in welcoming Rose to the Northwest (where we have the best yard haunts!) :)

We survived

The funny thing about us is that we can pull this whole yard display off and the many events that surround it without wanting to kill each other, at least not that we would say to each other. :)

But when it comes time to make the video, oh my goodness! I thought our marriage surviving a major (down to the studs) kitchen remodel would be the worst of it, oh, no, that was child's play.

So after about of month of back and forth and back again, we are very close to having the 2008 DVD done. We spent most of Saturday just working on the Easter Egg. A part we always love when we are done, but the making process is a big relationship tester. (check out 2008's Ode to Halloween - our adopted stray, I mean what else to you call a cat that shows up in October?)

I think this video is our best yet. The 2008 shows the yard from setup to take down (a very sad day indeed.) And the best part is that husband found a unique soundtrack.

I come home from work and he tells me that he has found something that I will love or absolutely hate. I love it. It is perfect. It is Christopher Walken reciting The Raven. What, I ask you could be better? (besides Vincent Prices version which is about 2 minutes longer and we were already at 8 minutes.)

I was as happy as can be. I told him that like he said, people will like it or hate it - can't please everyone. Check it out when you get a chance. Better yet, buy the DVD set from Propmaster when they become available later this month!!!

2008 Videos on YouTube

We have uploaded our 2008 videos on YouTube

• 2008 Yard Video
• 2008 Year in Pictures
• Coachman video (our new big prop for 2008)
• 2008 Graveyard dancers (check out their new costumes!)
• Open House footage (news coverage 2008)
• 2008 haunt conventions (we were out and about in 2008)
• Tombstone class

Find all of our videos on the blog to the right. Happy Haunting.

We will have a 2008 DVD with more footage and a surprise or two available in late February. Check back for details.