Since the inception of the "Tom On the Job" I've done a lot of scary things. I've fed alligators, climbed in to a pit with a sharp-clawed blue rock iguana and came dangerously close to losing a finger in a conveyor belt at a chocolate factory. But nothing could have prepared me for the scariest job of them all: zombie.
For 19 years, Universal Orlando has been putting on Halloween Horror Nights throughout the month of October. It's an after-hours event that focuses less on the normal kitschy amusement park fare and more on scaring the pants off of you. This year is no exception.
"Each year, we work hard to create a scary, entertaining and memorable event," said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. "For the past 19 years, we've created the ultimate Halloween experience and we look forward to continuing that tradition for years to come."
Named the No. 1 Halloween event in the country by amusement industry publications Hauntworld.com and Amusement Today, the theme of this year's experience is "Ripped From the Silver Screen." Yep, Universal has brought to life some of your favorite horror villains like Frankenstein, Chucky, the Wolfman and now, Tom.
When I showed up at Universal I had no idea what to expect. After being handed a pair of Dickies and bloody flannel shirt, I met with show director Michael Roddy.
"You're going to be transformed from the mundane everyday experience into a flesh-eating, pus-faced, carnivorous, intoxicated by some sort of virus, messy-faced zombie," said Roddy. "In the 19 year history of Halloween Horror Nights, we said the one thing we've never done is to have an event based on the films (of Universal), the ones that really scare us."
Guests to the park are treated to a number of scare zones and haunted houses based on films like "Saw" and "Dracula" as well as attractions based on genres of film. One of those is "Containment," a walk-through zone where a virus has escaped and turned all who encounter it into zombies. I, dear readers, am one of those zombies.
My transformation began at a makeshift makeup station with Jeff Standard, a full-time makeup artist with Universal. Standard's credits include the Oscar-nominated film "Monster," which starred Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos. A base of liquid latex is first applied, then come the boils. After overcoming some uncooperative latex and solving what had affectionately become known as the "sliding boil issue," colorful touch-up paint is applied making me road legal for scares.
The next step would be figuring out what makes a good "scareactor.''
"First thing a good zombie does is wear some kind of flannel so you're OK there," says Roddy. And while I may have had the look down, I searched for some tips on technique.
My biggest question was in selecting the best targets. After shooting down my theory that young children and the elderly would be the easiest prey, Roddy gives me some advice. "Usually when you see a big guy coming, there's a girl behind him that's really freaked out," he tells me. "Dart around the big guy and attack from behind."
With that in mind, I head out to the street. "Containment" is a small stretch of walkway that is overwhelmed with a thick green fog that really aids my technique. Hiding in the mist, my interpretation of a zombie is reminiscent of an old school George Romero creation, silent and lumbering. And it's working.
After an hour of wandering the streets of Universal, scaring the pants off of every one in my path, my night comes to an end after one last horrifying scare. How the heck do I get all this makeup off?
If You Go
WHAT: Halloween Horror Nights
WHEN: Oct. 15-18, 21-25 and 28-31; Hours are 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 16-17, 22-24 and 30-31; all other nights are 6:30 p.m.-midnight
WHERE: Universal Orlando, 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando.
TICKETS: $69.99; Florida residents can get up to a $30 discount via advance online purchase with code from Coca-Cola or Burger King. Ticket is for after-hours event only and does not include entrance during the day.
INFO: 888- 467-7677; halloweenhorrornights.com; universalorlando.com
For 19 years, Universal Orlando has been putting on Halloween Horror Nights throughout the month of October. It's an after-hours event that focuses less on the normal kitschy amusement park fare and more on scaring the pants off of you. This year is no exception.
"Each year, we work hard to create a scary, entertaining and memorable event," said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. "For the past 19 years, we've created the ultimate Halloween experience and we look forward to continuing that tradition for years to come."
Named the No. 1 Halloween event in the country by amusement industry publications Hauntworld.com and Amusement Today, the theme of this year's experience is "Ripped From the Silver Screen." Yep, Universal has brought to life some of your favorite horror villains like Frankenstein, Chucky, the Wolfman and now, Tom.
When I showed up at Universal I had no idea what to expect. After being handed a pair of Dickies and bloody flannel shirt, I met with show director Michael Roddy. "You're going to be transformed from the mundane everyday experience into a flesh-eating, pus-faced, carnivorous, intoxicated by some sort of virus, messy-faced zombie," said Roddy. "In the 19 year history of Halloween Horror Nights, we said the one thing we've never done is to have an event based on the films (of Universal), the ones that really scare us."
Guests to the park are treated to a number of scare zones and haunted houses based on films like "Saw" and "Dracula" as well as attractions based on genres of film. One of those is "Containment," a walk-through zone where a virus has escaped and turned all who encounter it into zombies. I, dear readers, am one of those zombies.
My transformation began at a makeshift makeup station with Jeff Standard, a full-time makeup artist with Universal. Standard's credits include the Oscar-nominated film "Monster," which starred Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos. A base of liquid latex is first applied, then come the boils. After overcoming some uncooperative latex and solving what had affectionately become known as the "sliding boil issue," colorful touch-up paint is applied making me road legal for scares. The next step would be figuring out what makes a good "scareactor.''
"First thing a good zombie does is wear some kind of flannel so you're OK there," says Roddy. And while I may have had the look down, I searched for some tips on technique.
My biggest question was in selecting the best targets. After shooting down my theory that young children and the elderly would be the easiest prey, Roddy gives me some advice. "Usually when you see a big guy coming, there's a girl behind him that's really freaked out," he tells me. "Dart around the big guy and attack from behind."
With that in mind, I head out to the street. "Containment" is a small stretch of walkway that is overwhelmed with a thick green fog that really aids my technique. Hiding in the mist, my interpretation of a zombie is reminiscent of an old school George Romero creation, silent and lumbering. And it's working.
After an hour of wandering the streets of Universal, scaring the pants off of every one in my path, my night comes to an end after one last horrifying scare. How the heck do I get all this makeup off?
If You Go
WHAT: Halloween Horror Nights
WHEN: Oct. 15-18, 21-25 and 28-31; Hours are 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 16-17, 22-24 and 30-31; all other nights are 6:30 p.m.-midnight
WHERE: Universal Orlando, 6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando.
TICKETS: $69.99; Florida residents can get up to a $30 discount via advance online purchase with code from Coca-Cola or Burger King. Ticket is for after-hours event only and does not include entrance during the day.
INFO: 888- 467-7677; halloweenhorrornights.com; universalorlando.com
