Special Features: A look into the world of scaracters, are you scared yet?

Posted at 3:55 PM EDT (1955 GMT)

Oct. 24th, 2006 -- ThrillNetwork.com, In the Loop and the Coaster Crew invite you to see what it’s like to become scaracters this Halloween season. Join us as we embark behind the scenes into the underworld of actors during Phantom Frights at Kennywood Park.

1. How long did take to do your makeup and how extensive was your makeup?

Will: I had no makeup. I wore a mask. It was very difficult to put on.

Clint: We did not really have any cool gashes or scars. It was just white makeup and darkened out eyes to make us look like vampires. It took a little over 20 minutes a piece for us to do all the makeup.

Katie: My makeup didn’t take long to do. I was really one of the last ones ready for the house but it only took about 20 minutes. There was no special makeup or anything like some of the other scaracters in the house.

2. What haunted house were you in and if you had a choice would you have picked another house instead?

Will: I was the in Pirates 3D house. I thought it was very fun to be in, until the next night when I walked through the Vampire house. If I could have had another choice, it would have been the Vampire house.

Clint: I was in the Villa of the Vampires.. The only thing I really would have liked to have done differently was a part on the midway. Some one who scares you when you are not expecting it. But I did like being in the Vampire villa.

Katie: I was in the Pirates 3D maze with Will, although we weren’t together in the house. I was at the ending of the house, where the best scares really occurred. I probably wouldn’t have picked another house. They are really tough to do. You are in one place all night.

3. What did you like about your haunted house?

Will: The 3D effects inside. The fluorescent paint on the walls and facepaint of the characters mixed with the blacklights made for one scary experience.

Clint: Well I really liked the atmosphere. I think I make a good vampire even though I am a little on the heavy side. You really don’t see any fat Vampires, but you do see fat clowns. So maybe I should have been an evil clown.

Katie: It was a huge maze. I walked through it, and it got really confusing. The florescent lighting was cool. We also had fog machines, air cannons and a draw-bridge. It really caught a lot of people off guard of what we did in the house.

4. How decked out was your haunted house?

Will: Pretty good, most houses I’m in usually have just walls with people popping out. This had added scenes, a bridge and even an animatronics Pirate.

Clint: Our house is one of the scariest ones in the park and is really dressing for its part. We also won the best house of the night! That was because Chris and I were in there.

Katie: I would say the maze was cool. It had pirate faces hanging on the wall, the bridge and the scenes. It was the best looking one I saw. However, I didn’t get to go through every maze/house this year.

5. What was the best thing about the haunted house you were in?

Will: That it was brand new this year and all the guests walking through had no idea what to expect.

Clint: I think some of the scenes really made it what it was.

Katie: Well it being brand new helped out our house. The pirates got to chase out the clowns out of their old house. That was pretty fun. But, the scenes and actors really made the house what it was.

6. Have you ever been a scaracter before this experience?

Will: Just when I dressed up on my front porch scaring all the punk kids in the neighborhood.

Clint: Nope

Katie: No, I never got the chance, but I would love to do this again next year.

7. How hard was it to be a scaracter?

Will: Hard? Are you kidding? If there was a hard part, it was waiting for more victims to come through your area.

Clint: It has a lot of down time. You would not think so but in between scaring you have about 3 minutes to chill before some one comes along and then you jump out again. I am sure for people who can jump around and climb on things it’s harder, but I’m fat so I just jumped out.

Katie: The downtime kind of sucked. Plus, I was constantly on my feet the entire night. It’s a lot tougher then people think. I got to know a few people, so we had fun dancing around when we got a lag, which was frequent.

8. If you could be a scaracter again, what would you do differently?

Will: Nothing really. Maybe not wear a mask again because it was getting hot inside that thing.

Clint: Nothing, I just can’t wait until next year.

Katie: I would rather be able to roam around scaring people, instead of staying in one place or area. The guys that roam the midway have a lot more fun I think.

9. Did you ever get scared by a guest while you were a scaracter?

Will: Nope, I got some laughs from some guests. But nobody scared me.

Clint: Just Will Holder. He is scary with or without makeup, and a mask doesn’t make it much better either.

Katie: No, I didn’t scared from any guest, however a lot of them were amusing. They were trying to act like they weren’t scared when they were.

10. What was the worst thing that happened while you were a scaracter?

Will: Some girl wanted to give Mr. Skeleton which was me, a lapdance. I had to jump behind some barrels.

Clint: Nothing really bad. You get thirsty because of all the fog. The fog dries the air out and you did not have a lot of time to run for water.

Katie: Nothing bad, just a lot of teenagers trying to act tough, or not listening to directions. Some of the guests almost broke the bridge, and thought they were cool doing it. The makeup really sucked though. It was so ITCHY!

11. If you could choose to be any scaracter out there what would it be?

Will: A Giant Grim Reaper. I think when I see those at parks, people are legitimately scared.

Clint: I think next time I am going to go for the fat clown look. Maybe one with cotton candy all over my face… MMMM

Katie: I think a dead person from the cemetery was cool. They are able to hobble around and really play a good character. Anything to be outside roaming around would be awesome.

12. Would you rather be a scaracter in a haunted house, or be able to walk around a park and scare people?

Will: I’d walk around the park. I like to hunt down my victims instead of them coming to me.

Clint: I like the idea of walking around the park. Finding a place, and scaring.

Katie: Definitely being able to walk around the park is ideal. With all the fog used in the park, it’s very easy to scare anyone.

13. Share your best experience of being a scaracter.

Will: Just seeing people of all ages jump and show fear. But all in good fun too. It was definitely great to see the other side of the fence.

Clint: There was this kid who walked right up to me and said he was not scared of me. I was standing in the middle of the hallway because I was supposed to distract people so they would not see the person behind them. Well the girl that was hiding jumped out and screamed. The kid jumped, hit me and fell to my feet in terror. I think he needed a change of pants after that.

Katie: I got to scare a lot of guys. Most of them think they are tough, but they are a lot more terrified then most people think. It was a real great way to get out my frustrations and have a good laugh.

14. Would you do it again?

Will: Oh Hell Yes!!!

Clint: I can’t wait until next year to do this again!

Katie: Yeah, as long as I get to pick my character and looks like I need to plan another outing to Kennywood during Phantom Fright Nights!

A huge thank you goes out to Kennywood, Mary Lou Rosemeyer and all the actors that did this with us. We had a great time, and if the park will have us back, you will see us there next year again. We would also like to thank Chris, he was a little too busy to do the special feature, but he was there with us and had a great time. Also, a big thank you from me to Clint and Will for making the trek up to see Kennywood at its best state, cold and dreary to do this event and the podcast. I just can’t wait to do it next year again with you guys. So to end this, I will just say…. Happy Halloween! Muahahahahahahaha!

For more information about Kennywood and Phantom Fright nights click here!

Want to see what Clint, Will and the staff looked like getting ready? Click here IF YOU DARE!