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brainman Special user 970 Posts |
Guys!
I will have the opportunity to have: 800 to 1000 persons in a very beautiful hall in an old castle (seated like in a cinema). They are all from one big company (computers), and they are there to see a motivational movie. It is possible to make this room completely dark. What kind of scary "intro" to their film comes to your minds...??? I need fresh ideas. Thanks, P |
Doug Byrd Veteran user VA 361 Posts |
Give us some more background on what you are willing to do. Do you just want to walk out and do it, and then exit stage left? Are you going to have access to the hall a day early for some set up? And of course you'd need to raze it afterwards, in solitude.
We'll come up with something for you, brother. Your Friend in Fright, Doug
"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
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brainman Special user 970 Posts |
I do have one day for preparation.
My picture is something like.. let them enter... take their seats... and the lights are turned off. Then: In the complete darkness a candle is lit. From here I'd like to move (them). It should not place my persona in the center of action. Just that strange or strong things should happen... ;) |
cogliostro New user Tampa 99 Posts |
Okay, no scary intro immediately comes to mind, but let me just repeat what we have so I can get a better understanding of the staging you have to work with.
1) We have a huge audience, guessing 15 people to a row and 60 rows deep (darn that's big). 2) You have one day to setup whatever you'll be doing, and presumably one day to tear down afterwards. 3) You cannot be center stage. Okay, I'm a little put off (read intimidated) by the size of the crowd that you have to work with. To quote Charlie Chaplin, "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot." To extend this bit of Hollywood wisdom, fear requires you to be up close and personal. This seems almost impossible when dealing with a crowd of 800-1000 people at once. My gut instinct leans towards using the existing film screen, setting up some video equipment, and projecting yourself on the screen. This allows everyone to view and vicariously participate at once. Allowing a member of the audience to be part of what ever effect you choose would then be critical - otherwise there's nothing to vicariously experience. As far as choosing a specific scary intro? Who need to play off something they all share as a group. So I'd work off the castle setting and history. No castle is complete without a ghost... give them some evidence that the ghost is there among them. BTW, exactly why does this company want to scare its employees before giving them a motivational movie?! - Rob P.S. You're web site is exceptional! |
Doug Byrd Veteran user VA 361 Posts |
Building off of Rob here:
Use psychological ploys to build terror in your guests. Most castles are drafty. Use that knowledge to your advantage by explaining that when the dead walk amoungst us unseen by the naked eye they can still be felt as a cold breeze that moves in an otherwise warm room or area. This should work especially well if you have blackened the room down to one candle. It would be great as you tell the tale of how the ghost died (say a brutal betrayal that ended in a murder by gunshot) that the audience could get a whiff of cordite and blood from nowhere. This kind of sensory overload works real well to heighten things. Then you could end your tale in that the ghost must be put to rest. You explain that the body is buried (supply location here) and that you need to capture the spirit and take him to the grave site. This is the only way to free the spirit from this mortal coil. Produce an arcane looking jar. Explain that this will be the vessel by which the spirit will be claimed and transported to the grave site. You take the lid off and set it beside the jar and then begin your ritual to call the spirit to the vessel (be as elaborate and exagerous at this point as you want to be). Nearing the end of your ritual the jar jolts all of a sudden (ie. proof that the spirit is now inside) and you reach out and place the lid on it. Now the ritual has ended and you have the jar capped on the table with the candle beside it. As you are about to finish the jar can either rock side to side and fall over making the lid fall off or the best way would be to have the jar rock just slightly and then explode into little pieces. While this is happening there would be a low groan filling the hall become louder and louder until the point of escape. At that time the candle would go out as well as the audience hear a horrific mad scream and the words "I WILL NOT BE HELD IN A CLAY JAR!" Let there be silence and darkness for a beat of 10 then up come the lights and you can say, as you sweep up the mess, "Now that's motivation!" Doug
"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
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Sir T Special user 535 Posts |
I could be wrong, but if your group is there to see a motivational movie, are you sure Scary/bizaree is the way to go? An interesting perspective, I will give you that!
I did happen to read a very interesting opening monolog in Damone's Diary, which could be adapted to what you are doing very nicely, it runs about 2 or there minutes, depending on how you wanted to play it. Building a bit on what Doug wrote: If you could get a couple of REALLY attractive women to help out, The Stigmata of Cthulhu, would work rather nicely with Doug's story, with few modifications, to his story line. Again I am not sure, if I would go this route, I would go with a move powers of the mind/Mentalism approach, but hey that is me. Kevin |
brainman Special user 970 Posts |
Thank you guys, you did inspire me a lot!
See you. P |
Terry Holley Inner circle 1805 Posts |
About 10-15 years ago, the late George Kirkendall (considered by some to have produced the best reel of all time) released an effect titled "Philosopher's Stone" which gave the illusion of human flesh melting off the bone.
I was considering investing in the effect and while asking around, one well known mentalist here in the USA told me that "it was wonderful and that it was an effective special effect that the audience will go away remembering." I never pursued it, but I have always been intrigued by the idea. I know nothing about the method and I never saw anyone present it. I have no idea if it is still marketed by anyone, but you may be able to track something down if it sounds interesting. Terry
Co-author with illusionist Andre' Kole of "Astrology and Psychic Phenomena."
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truthteller Inner circle 2584 Posts |
George was a friend and I saw him present his "Living End" Many times.
It is not currently available, sadly. Some collector's may have one, but they would probably not wish to part with it. It was an amazing presention piece. |
Rev.moonchild Regular user Bristol, Pa. 173 Posts |
Put them in a mind set before they even sit down by making a mock history about the castle in a brochure . They are reading the flyer of the history while they enter the auditorium . Half of your job is done .
Try to build off of the motivational movie that they are seeing the company will love that you made your show tailored towards the companies goal for being there.
Follow the spirits of the wind and you will find your voice
<BR> Rev. Moonchild <BR> <BR>www.magicalelixer.com |
Jon Dee Regular user 148 Posts |
As far as the flesh melting off face effect, that sounds like what is advertised from Hocus Pocus on page 10 of the Sept issue of magic mag.It is called The Face By Borodin.
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Sven Heubes New user Duesseldorf, Germany 59 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-09-03 21:51, Jon Dee wrote: I strictly would recommend this one!!
If you were half as good as you think you are, you would be double as good as you think you are...
Dai Vernon |
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