The Magic Mirror

This is a great effect from the folks at imagineerieing.com

Calkins Rd. Wegmans Food Markets (10.29.08) Rochester, NY

Here are some pictures of the monster visiting the Wegmans on Calkins Rd. in 2008.

Hallowindow

   Mark Gervais is an illustrator and animator from Calgary, Canada.  A few years back he came up with a brilliant idea to decorate his home, using some of his animated art work.   He turned to local Calgary musician and producer, Dewi Wood to supply spine tingling sounds and Hallowindow was born.

     Hallowindow is a collection of Halloween themed animations that you can use for window projection or your TV.  It is available on DVD and as downloadable video files with spine tingling soundtracks.

     In order to display the animation in your window you will need a DVD player hooked up to a projector with proper connection cables.  It is best to use a projector with a fairly bright bulb, 2000 lumens or more, but dimmer projectors will also work.  You will also need something to project the image onto in your window.  A simple solution for this is a white bed sheet or a white shower curtain pinned to the window frame on the inside of your house.  There are also some other tips about projectors on the Hallowindow blog.

     The pictures presented here don't do this masterpiece justice.  I strongly suggest checking out Mark's page or YouTube to see Hallowindow in action.

Trying on the suit

Took a dry run, just to make sure that everything was in working order.  Sounds like I'm in dire need of some WD-40!

Monster For Rent

What exactly is Monster For Rent?

     He’s a stilt-walking monster, standing at just under 9’ tall.  In his younger days, he worked at various “haunted houses” and “haunted hayrides”.   Now as a more seasoned monster, he spends the Halloween season, hiring himself out to entertain at birthday parties, Halloween parties, grocery stores, farm markets, and different companies who want to draw some attention to their business during the Halloween season.
     Originally from Rochester, NY, the monster spent a number of years living in West Palm Beach, FL.  Currently, he resides in the quiet town of Wellston, OH.

 So what does the monster do?

     Really that depends on the specific event.  The overwhelming majority of the time, he’s called into action to shake hands and pose for pictures with party-goers and customers of the various events that he’s hired to perform at.
     At company functions, he’s been used to pass out advertising literature, march in parades, draw attention to certain displays within a store, or even stand by the side of the road to help draw in business.

Can the monster talk?

     Sadly, no… The mad scientist who created the monster neglected to give him the ability to speak.  However, he’s become quite adept at communicating with folks through hand gestures and head bobs.

There will be lots of young children at my event.  Will the monster be too scary for them?

     While it is true that a 9’ tall monster might seem pretty intimidating, the monster very rarely scares any little ones.  In his experience, children who are afraid of Santa Claus, clowns, or the Easter Bunny may also be afraid of the monster.
     The monster has become quite adept at scanning the crowd for signs that any of the little folks are looking a bit uneasy.  When he detects this, he avoids eye contact and focuses on the folks who are close by, shaking his hand and posing for pictures.  Generally, this allows any timid youngsters to move along and not suffer any frights.

The monster is so big.  Will he fit in my home or business?

     Aside from being just under 9’ tall, the monster is able to fit just about anywhere that an event might be held.  He’s easily as maneuverable as any “normal” person.  As such, he’s able to duck through regular doorways, climb stairs, and pretty much go anywhere required, doing what needs to be done.

There will likely be big crowds at my event.   Will this be a problem for the monster?

     Not at all.  The monster is very sturdy on his feet and hand full peripheral vision.  Whether he’s indoors with merchandise displays or outdoors in a throng of people, the monster is very adept at moving about in tight spaces.

Could the monster hold a sign to promote my event/business?

     Yes, absolutely.  The monster would be able to hold/carry any sign that any other “normal” person could.

Any chance we could dress the monster up in one of our uniforms?

     Sure.  Aside from being rather large, the monster would be happy to.  Over the years, he’s worn t-shirts, aprons, hats, & buttons from those who’ve used his services.

Where can I get more information?

     You may either leave a comment below or send an e-mail to monsterforrent@yahoo.com.  I promise to respond as quickly as possible.