Who are you really trying to fool???
Ever hear that at a haunt after you just jumped out.... all goes to..
Character development,
Why so important?? Basically it is fundamental in creating a character of any type. Anyone can put on a mask and say “BOO”, but all you have is someone in a mask saying boo. If that person, looks at the mask and figures out that it is a evil clown, then they can start to act like an evil clown, but they still are missing some of the most vital information… like, what is a evil clown doing in flannel shirt, blue jeans and converse sneakers and why is he saying “BOO”? How many evil clowns do you see dressed like that and say boo?
Now with that being said, how do you develop an evil clown character that is tangible, note worthy and believable? Find out who that character is, name, personality, background, childhood, what they eat, hobbies, family, siblings, how it became the way it is, etc.
Farmers don’t give names to the animals they have to slaughter because it makes it to difficult to do kill. When they personalize that animal, it becomes more than something that is for consumption, it becomes family. A character without a name becomes nonexistent. it is not remembered, It becomes is a charade, not a being. But if you name that character and find out who it really is, it becomes alive...
So again... use the below to help your character become more than a evil clown mask.....
Character Development
Personal Stuff
Name: Alias:
Bio: Does your character have one? If no, why?
Male or Female?
What was family and childhood like?
What is your character? Big question… Why?
What Kind of ….clown, zombie, pirate, insane, etc?
Born, Created, Living, dead or rose from dead?
How did character die/come back to life?
Brief description of character
Face or features: Hair:
Body: Color:
Clothes: Shoes:
Background on character
How does your character…
Walk: Run:
Move: Stand:
Eat: What or who does it like to eat?
Talk/grunt: Express it’s self:
Sleep: Big Question again… Why??
Body Language
What does your characters body language say?
Does it say I’m Bored, Excited, Friendly, Mad, Crazy, Sad, Downtrodden, Beaten, Bound, Etc. What your characters body language says is its background and all the above.
When in character, NEVER BREAK CHARACTER!!! If you are at a haunt, doing a show, walking down the street or even eating in front of people, stay in character.
For all the others you work with, it affects them as well. No one wants to be working on getting ready for the next scare and slow Joe walks up to them and starts a conversation. Save the talk for after the event or tell them to go back to their scene. Be professional, set an example and be the example!!!
Where does it fit??
You have your character; did you do your homework on where this character can be used?? Let’s say you have a nice Vampire Character. Where can it be used...? It can be used in a Vampire scene, Grave Yard or Queue line. Fine, but what about, say a Dead hobo…. Grave yard maybe… but can it be used in multiple places..? Just something to think about when developing your character and try to remember that some people go all out to improve and develop the character they are doing, so give those people the respect by staying in your character. Depending on what Haunt you are at, think of who you are and why you are who you are? Does that character fit that haunt or who you really are???
“The absence of ones character affects the character of all who participate.”
Quote by Keith Newsome 2008
Character development,
Why so important?? Basically it is fundamental in creating a character of any type. Anyone can put on a mask and say “BOO”, but all you have is someone in a mask saying boo. If that person, looks at the mask and figures out that it is a evil clown, then they can start to act like an evil clown, but they still are missing some of the most vital information… like, what is a evil clown doing in flannel shirt, blue jeans and converse sneakers and why is he saying “BOO”? How many evil clowns do you see dressed like that and say boo?
Now with that being said, how do you develop an evil clown character that is tangible, note worthy and believable? Find out who that character is, name, personality, background, childhood, what they eat, hobbies, family, siblings, how it became the way it is, etc.
Farmers don’t give names to the animals they have to slaughter because it makes it to difficult to do kill. When they personalize that animal, it becomes more than something that is for consumption, it becomes family. A character without a name becomes nonexistent. it is not remembered, It becomes is a charade, not a being. But if you name that character and find out who it really is, it becomes alive...
So again... use the below to help your character become more than a evil clown mask.....
Character Development
Personal Stuff
Name: Alias:
Bio: Does your character have one? If no, why?
Male or Female?
What was family and childhood like?
What is your character? Big question… Why?
What Kind of ….clown, zombie, pirate, insane, etc?
Born, Created, Living, dead or rose from dead?
How did character die/come back to life?
Brief description of character
Face or features: Hair:
Body: Color:
Clothes: Shoes:
Background on character
How does your character…
Walk: Run:
Move: Stand:
Eat: What or who does it like to eat?
Talk/grunt: Express it’s self:
Sleep: Big Question again… Why??
Body Language
What does your characters body language say?
Does it say I’m Bored, Excited, Friendly, Mad, Crazy, Sad, Downtrodden, Beaten, Bound, Etc. What your characters body language says is its background and all the above.
When in character, NEVER BREAK CHARACTER!!! If you are at a haunt, doing a show, walking down the street or even eating in front of people, stay in character.
For all the others you work with, it affects them as well. No one wants to be working on getting ready for the next scare and slow Joe walks up to them and starts a conversation. Save the talk for after the event or tell them to go back to their scene. Be professional, set an example and be the example!!!
Where does it fit??
You have your character; did you do your homework on where this character can be used?? Let’s say you have a nice Vampire Character. Where can it be used...? It can be used in a Vampire scene, Grave Yard or Queue line. Fine, but what about, say a Dead hobo…. Grave yard maybe… but can it be used in multiple places..? Just something to think about when developing your character and try to remember that some people go all out to improve and develop the character they are doing, so give those people the respect by staying in your character. Depending on what Haunt you are at, think of who you are and why you are who you are? Does that character fit that haunt or who you really are???
“The absence of ones character affects the character of all who participate.”
Quote by Keith Newsome 2008
Tags: boo, character, clown, evil, haunt, haunters, newsome, vampire, zombie, zomketh
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by james ! !EVIL GUIDE !! tillery on -
You are so right! We have this problem.Our house is for charity and all of our actors are volenteers but they don't understand people are still paying good money to be scared .Nobody is going to be scared by any ghost or ghoul with white reeboks and lots of healthy human skin showing.As you said an evil clown saying boo just isn't right.I picture evil clowns laughing maniacally holding a sharp bloody instrument or a decapitated head!This year we are going to stress to all of our actors the importance of becoming their character and staying in their character .we are also stressing the need to elimninate any sign of normal human skin or body parts showing on any nonhuman character or undead creature .If its not human it shouldn't look human or act human!!WE are going to give a copy of your list to our actors itis a very good checklist to follow .Thanks for posting it.
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Permalink Reply by Keith "Zomketh" Newsome on -
Not a problem, I just did a demo of this last night for a Feature Creatures, (a group of haunt actors I am with) and I agree, with everything you said.. not a problem on using it as well... glad to be of help... also, if you have makeup artist, have them quiz the people they are making up about the character they are doing, Just a few questions can get that person into gear really fast..
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Permalink Reply by Pig Man on -
Great post Keith. I'd like to copy it and put it up on our make up room wall.
At the Hydro we have a rule if you come with wight tennis shoes we have a can of black spray paint and will use it. We check each other for pink skin and can be fired for saying Boo.
I do play a clown with a flanel shirt though, Speedbump is his name he is not really evil though he is more of an entertainer. He is one of my favorite acts to play. I never liked clowns and was forced to do one one night so I took a mold I had made and forced some latex tire tred into it and poured more latex, thus run over road kill clown. He is a fun charictor with lots of energy and exuberently greets each group with a HEY! HI! HEY you know im gonna be a rock star. yep gonna dig up my old freind Jimmy Hendrix next week and learn from the best. If the groups are spaced enough I'll go on how I'm gonna get a band togeather with Jerry Garcia Krit Cobain and Janice Joplin and call it the Really Dead. When you can create a personality for your charictor it can be so much fun to be that charictor. Speedbump really isn't scary he's funny but he still gets his scares with an intial startle with his excited greeting and can create a great diversion for other monsters to get a great scare. This year I'm thinking of getting him an electric gitar and a small amp to play a few chords really badly, shouldnt be hard as I don't know how to play it anyhow.
Make Up is only skin deep the charictor comes from deep inside - Attachments:
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Speedbump2.jpg, 8 KB
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Permalink Reply by Keith "Zomketh" Newsome on
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Sounds like a great guy... I always hear great things about Hydro... Hope the post helps and I myself am going to stretch a little and be a clown this year... still working on him. Will post him once all done with him..
Pieces...
keith
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Permalink Reply by Damien Reaper on -
Yeah, That's right. I agree To me when i go see other haunt I get tired of The Freddys Jasons Micheals
It really gets boring Or If an person does Jason and then talks, Wrong! If you do these Icons do them right.
But I would like to see actors make their own character in haunt. Then to add what Zombkeith said
It also helps to change your look every year,It keeps it fresh to yourself and haunt viewers + fans
If you want to think a person grows and changes ,So a Monster changes just the same .
Well give you instants my persona Damien Reaper changed 10 times
I themed it with rooms i did which includes Graveyards,Funural Parlor (Wedding Chappel "which was not my idea") Look at my pics to get an idea of what i babbeling about.
See ya kiddies
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