Quick update before I disappear back into the final 2 weeks of HHN production, which we lovingly refer to as “the suck”…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 9, 2013
A few more quotes from Universal Studios Hollywood’s official Twitter account:
- Crews are working 24/7 to finish the mazes, tonight I’m hoping to finish the on-site audio mix for Insidious and Evil Dead…
- We also start scareactor training tonight…chainsaw and stilt walking performers…also continuing to work on backlot VIP experience…
- As producer of HHN, I have a mantra for this time of year “Eye of the Hurricane” Have to be the center of calm in the raging storm around me
- When you’re producing something as large as HHN, you can’t freak out about how much work is left to be done..you just do it, piece by piece.
- This why I tend to work with the same vendors and artists and crew members year after year…we’re all veterans, we all trust each other
- You also have to learn to expect the unexpected, something is always bound to go wrong or not work the way you envisioned it…
- You have to be ready to “call an audible” and make a quick change…hey it worked pretty well for Peyton Manning the other night. LOL
- I’ll give you a good example from this past weekend. I have a huge lighting/audio/scenic crew working on Terror Tram right now…
- I find out there’s a film shoot I didn’t know about…happening right where we’re working…big problem but there’s always an audible…
- I’ve been on enough sets to know there’s always the people who will tell you “no” regardless, you have to find the right person in charge..
- In this case that person was the “Location Scout” 3 people told me “no” but the location scout told me “yes” so we worked out a deal…
- I know the Universal Backlot like the back of my hand, was able to show the scout a different location that worked for them…problem solved.
- Every day there are dozens of these incidents, I spend most of my time just resolving issues…which I guess is what a producer does…
- The big push for the next couple of days is Insidious cause we’re hosting the premiere this week and shooting a press junket in maze with cast
- The scenic, props and dressing for this maze are in great shape, now it’s all about the lighting and the audio…how to save time?
- This is why I build all the audio in a studio offsite, can’t speed up the lighting, have to have the set for that…but audio is ready to go.
- The biggest time suck is programming, Insidious has a lot of programmed audio and lighting sequences because of the paranormal subject …
- Illuminated baby walkers, point source baby monitors, scrim screen illusions, the seance scene…animated effects…it’s a ton of programming
- There’s a really cool Behind the Screams video for Insidious with James Wan, Leigh Whannell and Jason Blum coming soon…stay tuned
- So, heading back into the bowels of HHN Production, so much to do, so little time to do it. See ya on the other side! #HorrorNeverSleeps