Heavens Gates Cemetery

[Chiller]

Some of you might have seen these before, but for those who have not, and since Halloween is fast approaching, I thought I would show you why the Darkside is my home.
I have been doing a home haunt for 11 years now, and unfortunatly this year, have had to cancel, due to lack of help and money. I just could not pull it together. These are some of the images from last year.

My cemetery gates and one of my gravestones. The gates are about 10' tall, and the white gravestone is about 9' or so. All are scratch built and hand carved and painted.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/564918/154_5404b.JPG
The fog is one of my fog machines I was testing.

Most of my "static" props are life like, to portray the realism. We usually have 5 "live actors" that wander the cemetery, or stand motionless in the shadows, waiting to scare people . This is a shot of the cemetery caretaker. He gets mistaken for a real person every year.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/564918/153_5399b.JPG

A shot of my stone crypt. It is life size and also doubles as one of my electrical boxes. The static prop behind is "Alice" she is not real.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/564918/154_5405b.JPG

Every cemetery need a minister :lol2:
I did this shot with the "painting with light" technique. Used a long exposure, and flashed the red light on the minister, and then ran over and flashed a blue light on the gravestone in behind.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/564918/153_5364a.JPG

Please forgive the bad quality of this shot, but it is one of my first animatronic props. This is a life size replica of Samara from the movie The Ring. She actually sinks into the well and comes out really slow. I think this one scared about 98 of the 100 that were brave enough to get close.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/564918/153_5370b.JPG

Finally another animitronic prop. This is supposed to be a girl who discovered a coffin. Her hand opens and closes the lid of the coffin. Inside I have a fog machine triggered to release every 5 minutes. The the lid opens a burst of fog shoots out. I lose the motor to this last year, and have to replace it. Burned that sucker out. :lol2:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/564918/153_5361b.JPG

Thanks for lookin.

[Aprilraven]

wow, your just awesome chiller... shame you couldnt get it going this year, but one year, i am coming to see it in person....

great shots, and your make up artist is killer!! ( i know its you!)

your talent is amazing...

[photo gal]

These are awesome Chilley and I am sorry you won't be doing it this year as I know how much you love it and what a wonderful job you do with it!! I am sure the neighbors will miss it too!

[Antarctican]

Dang! This is the first year I could've seen Heaven's Gate. And that Ethel could have been part of it. Or at least her legs could have been.

The pictures of it are awesome. You clearly put a lot of time, effort and love into this display, and I'm sure the kids in the neighbourhood (and probably quite a few adults!) are gonna miss it. Hope you have another place you can haunt on Halloween.
http://www.kolobok.wrg.ru/smiles/user/snoozer_07.gif ................. http://www.kolobok.wrg.ru/smiles/artists/snoozer/moderator.gif

[Chiller]

Thanks so much . I really appreciate your comments.
I have got the chance to work another haunt as an actor, but there is a part of me that says I should stay home and still hand out the candy and face the 200 or so people that faithfully come out every year to see it.

[Calliope]

These are incredible Chiller! I would LOVE to be hanging with on Halloween one year!

[JonMikal]

love your creations Carl...you are the master my friend! :bowing:

[jocose]

Chiller(s), these are great...what do you do with this stuff off-season? Do they sit on the porch swing or anything fun like that? Peak out of the attic window??

[John E.]

Jeeze that's terrible, the kids will not know what they are missing, hell, I would want to see this myself.

Really enjoyed the pictures, hope you get it up and running next year

[Chiller]

Thanks so much everyone. Really appreciate your comments.
Linda and Jon...your welcome to come help next year.;)
Jo....I usually work all year building props. Some have actually taken up to a month to complete. Samara took just over it. The "well" was built from a 45 gallon cardboard drum cut in half. All the rocks were hand cut from styrofoam, and glued to the side. The well was painted black(to add depth to the stone) and layered with 4 different greys and finally white and red.
The body was built from a wood frame and "hinged' at the elbows and shoulders for movement. The backbone is three pieces, with a spit just under the half way point,and an 'axel" added where the motor is attached. I have a slow motor connected to a speed control that drives the backbone up and down. Samaras hands are attached to the frame of the well, so when the motor pushes the backbone up, it looks like she is rising out of the well, and during the downside of the motion, she sinks back into the well.
Her face is handmade from an old stryofoam wigs head. That prop alone logged in over a month. The gates took almost three.

Thanks so much all. Your comments are always appreciated.

[Digital Wizzard]

(((((((Hey Chiller))))))

My hat off to you, what fantastic work! Its a shame there is so much of the wet stuff between us, would be nice to see them in person...


Andrew