LMC: Your work on haunts

EL:  The first haunt I worked for was simply called “The Haunted Nature Trail”, here in Riverside. I was working as Mask Department Supervisor, at the time, and the place also had a small retail store during the month of October. I ran the makeup counter and also did simple makeups for customers going to parties, and whatnot. Anyway, one of the actors from this haunt came to be painted up as Frankenstein (do you sense a running theme, yet?) for that night’s performance. As I was making him up, we were talking about his haunt, how good he said it was because of the natural surroundings, how much fun he had scaring people, how they needed someone on the crew to do makeups, etc. So, I went and checked it out. The place, indeed, did have a creepy feel to it! It also needed someone to come in and supply them with decent makeups, masks, props, the whole nine yards. Even though it was mostly a volunteer basis working there, I had a lot of fun having practically free reign to design whatever! I also discovered that there’s a bit of an actor inside me, because I was finally talked into throwing on a costume and heading out to stalk the crowds. Breaking the running stream of things in my life, I wasn’t Frankenstein’s Monster my first venture out. I was, what became, my Bloodlust mask. The following Halloween I played The Monster; complete with red glowing sparkplugs in my neck! That was an absolute blast!

 I was on the Planning Committee of this haunt, and we’d have our monthly meetings at a local burger joint. I’d always bring along whatever new masks I’d designed for that year’s haunt. The employees always enjoyed seeing horrible creatures lining the back wall when we came. I enjoyed watching customers trying to figure out what the heck was going on! Well, the year I was designing my Frankenstein mask, a woman entered the restaurant that would later become my fiancée. It was odd, the way it happened. I was asked to get a drink refill by one of the other Committee members. Instead of just getting up and getting the refill, I threw on the Frankie mask and walked right up to this woman and leered down at her, not saying a word. (Later, she told me that she could see me smiling inside the mask.) A little later, she came over to our table, introduced herself, and joined the Committee. During the haunt, we were already dating. Now, look…we’re engaged to be married!

All because of a freakin’ haunt. Actually, it seems rather appropriate.

The other haunt I’ve been involved with is something in Buena Park, California called “Halloween Haunt”. I was hired on last year (2001). It, too, was a lot of fun…and, I got paid for it!

LMC: That’s a funny story about your wife, is she into monsters or into guys wearing monster masks ;-) ?

EL:  Both, but she only has eyes for one mask-wearing guy, if you know what I mean.

LMC: How is working on haunts different from just making masks for sale?  Do you work year round? Do you approach the creation of a mask intended for a haunt differently?

EL: In the past, I’ve approached a mask for a haunt as if it were a collector’s piece; making sure every detail was just so and the paint was exceptional, with every little hair in place. Then, I worked at a haunt. I found that 90% of the guests didn’t even look at the darn masks! They were too busy running away from them. There are still those 10% that do stop to examine the masks. It’s that small percentage that attend a haunt that I make a mask for. A lot of people say, “Why put a lot of work into something that’ll never be seen in the dark”? Well, someone will see it! That’s why. Why put a lot of work into an effect that’ll only be on the screen for two seconds? The answer is the same.

LMC: Any pros you admire?

EL: All of them. Everyone you can think of. David Ayres, for being there for me in the beginning. For being an honest teacher. Dick Smith, for being so incredibly supportive and sharing of his time and knowledge. Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, Stan Winston, Steve Johnson and Greg Cannom, all for their perfectionism and great design ethics.  Jeff Keim, for doing all that he does and succeeding. Anyone who has worked for any of the greats mentioned above. All the professionals I’ve ever met in my lifetime.  The magnificent Brazilian brothers Alex Oliver and David Rock are just incredible designers and sculptors. The list would go on and on for 100 pages! I admire so many.

LMC: What about amateur artists?                                  

EL: Again, this list would be 100+ pages long. I admire everyone who has the inner desire to create art, in general, and the balls to get some clay, some paint, some whatever, and just go for it; regardless of the fact that it’s their first time! Make mistakes. Learn from them.

LMC: Talk about some of the masks you created for DeathStudios.  How did you begin working with Jeff Death?

EL: Jeff’s great! He first contacted me back in 1999/2000. He was inquiring about a mask I produce that I also share with a partner. Several years before, I’d submitted a photo of a vampire mask I’d just done to Death Studios and never heard back from anyone. So, it was a real surprise and honor to have Jeff emailing me out of the blue! That first deal never happened. But, in 2001, I submitted an original mask and finally had a mask in their line up. My first mask at Death Studios. Something I was hoping would happen for a long time (well, since I first learned of them in the late 80’s). Sculpting for Jeff has been a very enjoyable experience for me. Heck, two of my masks ended up being used in the October Playboy’s annual ad for Death Studios! That was totally unexpected. 2003 will be my third year sculpting for them. It almost doesn’t seem real.

The masks I’ve sculpted for Jeff are Hemlock (Khalid, in my line up), Briney Deep, and The Thang. Each one was sculpted with Death Studios in mind. It’s really nice to sit down and decide what kind of mask could possibly sell best for them. I like that.

LMC: What impact do you think Jeff and his studio have made on the mask world?  What are your impressions of Jeff as you’ve gotten to know him? 

EL: Jeff’s had a MAJOR impact on the mask world! I’m sure many will agree. Jeff’s shown that a little guy can succeed in this business. How many other mask makers can’t claim Jeff as their #1 influence? Jeff is to masks what Dick Smith is to makeup. He’s genuine, honest, trustworthy, diligent, tenacious and sharing.

LMC: What’s your favorite mask you have created?           

EL:  My favorite mask is always my latest mask. Right now, I’m sculpting a new one for Death Studios, and it’s my current favorite. I’m bad, I tend to get bored of the older ones after a few years. I’m not saying that I don’t still put the same amount of effort into making them as a new one when ordered! I’m just saying I like the moment of sitting down with a brand new pull (the first one out of the mold) and playing with coloring it. It’s a mouth-watering moment, for me. There are so many possibilities with a new mask. Unless, you’re doing a likeness of a popular character, then it’s a bit more restrictive. Still fun, though.

LMC: Talk about the Red Jack mask, Eyegore, Predator.

EL: Red Jack…well, he’s a popular mask. Still, after five years, that mask is selling well for me. He’s a character from a script a friend of mine, David Brock, wrote almost ten years ago. I could make twenty-five different masks, easily, from that script! It’s terrific. Maybe, one day soon, it’ll hit the screen…then, watch the sales of the mask go through the roof, huh!? Anyway, another of my masks is also from the same script, Boingo; a large, baby-faced lump of a mask, with a single orange tuft of hair atop his head. Many people ask who the character of Red Jack is, and I give them the backstory. They often say he’s vaguely familiar to them. He just has one of those faces, I guess. David’s also a big fan of Tim Burton, so that plays into his character a lot.

Eyegore is, obviously, supposed to be who he looks like, Marty Feldman, from “Young Frankenstein”. That film’s another major influence in my life. I thought it was a perfect comedy. I’ve often wondered why no one, to my knowledge, ever put out a mask of this character. So, finally, I broke down and did it myself. I know there are other big time fans of this film out there, so that’s why I’m also offering a collector’s edition.

The Predator mask I made was, initially, for the local haunt I used to work for, “The Haunted Nature Trail”. They wanted a Predator-like vignette for the haunt in 2001. So, I made the mask (along with hands, gauntlets, the armored chest-piece, an airburshed bodysuit to represent his skin, and I played the character. I wore that costume every night of that haunt. I loved the first film. I got to act. I watched the film over and over for month, getting all of his moves down. It was fun, but I couldn’t see a thing in that mask! People would come up to me later on and say, “You were really good”! I’d say to myself, “You went through”? Working there put to the test how well some paints work, and just how much abuse they can take. The paint on the one I wore was retouched so many times during the run of that haunt! It’s a bit darker now than it originally was. I had a lot of guests taking pictures of me both out on the trail and back inside after the show. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a single picture of me inside the costume. The whole thing was a good exercise in sculpting a likeness; especially one so popular. I tried to get it as close as I could to the original. Because of a lack of time, I didn’t get to put the little spiny things on the head, though. The collector’s piece that will be made available will have those little spiny things.

LMC: How is the mask business going and your new site?

EL: The mask business is doing well. 2002 was a good year for me. Gradual growth is all I can hope for. Growth that comes too fast would only mean lowering the quality and the service, I’m afraid. I’m always on the lookout for new marketing opportunities, and, with the new website (designed and built by Christian Hanson), it makes my job of networking much easier. Chris did a SUPERB job in creating a professional looking site! I’m eternally grateful to him for doing a magnificent job. Many of the buyer-direct orders I took this year were directly from my site, which is great!

LMC: What do fans like to buy?

EL: Red Jack and Briney Deep are the biggies. I expect the collector’s edition Eyegore will also do well. There also seems to be a bit of anticipation for the release of my Predator collector’s piece.

LMC: Who are your typical buyers?

EL: Highly intelligent people of the highest standard! :-)  I have noticed that most of my buyers are collectors and/or haunters. But, there really isn’t a specific type, so far.

LMC: Do you outsource any of your masks for casting/painting?

EL: No.

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