![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/326\/2013\/10\/Robert-Kurtzman.jpg\" "\\"Robert")
<\/a>This week, I was graciously granted an opportunity to visit Creature Corps<\/a> in Crestline Ohio to speak with Robert Kurtzman<\/a>, world renowned Director\/Producer\/Special Effects Creator about the Kurtzman Institute of Art<\/a> and his amazing new haunt, the Mad FX Lab<\/a>.\u00a0 For SFX and horror movie geeks like me, this was an unbelievably exciting moment.\u00a0 For those of you who may or may not admit to hiding under your bed from the monsters Mr. Kurtzman created over the last three decades, let\u2019s review just a few of his projects.\u00a0 Deadly Impact<\/a>, Buried Alive<\/a>, The Rage<\/a>, Wishmaster<\/a>, From Dusk Till Dawn<\/a>, The Evil Dead II<\/a>, Scream<\/a>, Pulp Fiction<\/a>, Alex Cross<\/a>, and\u00a0John Dies at the End<\/a>.<\/p>\nClearly, Mr. Kurtzman and his talented staff know their stuff, and now they have opened the doors to the Creature Corps facility to a select group of talented applicants.\u00a0 The Kurtman Institute of Art launched in 2012 providing its students with the unique opportunity to learn hands-on, in a working special effects facility.\u00a0 Graduates not only gain cutting edge special effects skills and techniques, but earn practical experience and leave the institute with viable working credits already on their resume, giving them a leg up in the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of them want to learn makeup effects, but we do much more than that.\u00a0 We cover the fur transfers, animal construction, human replicas, and silicone full body casting.\u00a0 A lot of the other schools don\u2019t cover that, they cover just the basic appliance work and the beauty makeup.\u00a0 We\u2019re less of the beauty makeup and more of the FX makeup.\u201d Says Kurtzman about what students can expect to learn from the institute.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ve been involved in the tv series Longmire<\/a> and worked on some of the animal effects with us, All Cheerleaders Die<\/a>, and a few others.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens when a supernatural virus unleashes demonic forces that possess the creature creations of a world famous special effects facility???\u00a0 All Hell breaks loose!!!<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 madfxlab.com<\/span><\/p>\n Over the weekend I was able to personally see some of the Creature Corps staff and Kurtzman Institute student\u2019s exemplary work first hand as myself and the gang from Hallowicked Haunted Woods<\/a> paid a visit to the Mad FX Lab<\/a>.\u00a0 First off, let\u2019s talk value, General Admission is only $12.00, and if you\u2019re a veteran haunt visitor, you know what a great deal that is.\u00a0 That gives you a single trip through the Mad FX Lab and adjacent woods.<\/p>\n Is there another haunt or activity on your agenda afterwards?\u00a0 Pay $17.00 for the Fast-pass and you can skip waiting in line and get right in to being terrified.\u00a0 Remember to breathe, it\u2019s just like watching a horror movie\u2026 only intensely realistic, up close, and in your face.\u00a0 But whatever you do, do NOT run, do NOT cover your eyes.\u00a0 Ignore the pounding of your heart and the spine-tingling sensation of being watched long enough to take in some of the most stunning haunt scenery you will ever encounter.\u00a0 As a veteran haunt worker, I can give no higher praise than this to Mad FX Lab\u2019s elaborate, excruciatingly detailed designs.\u00a0 Take full advantage of being paralyzed with fear.\u00a0 You won\u2019t see this level of experience and talent anywhere else.<\/p>\n One trip through is definitely not enough to take it all in.\u00a0 Fortunately, there are All Night Passes available for $25.00 and if you just can\u2019t get enough, and would love a behind the scenes look, you can top off your evening with a studio tour for an additional $10.00.\u00a0 With the Mad FX Lab you can completely customize your terrifying experience to spend as little or as much time in a place where all of your worst nightmares are made.<\/p>\n The best part of all of this is that proceeds from the Mad FX Lab benefit the Kurtzman Institute of Art!\u00a0 You will be supporting arts education AND unleashing the potential for a horde of future FX artists to create even more diabolical monsters to keep you awake at night.\u00a0 I\u2019ll mark that as a win-win in my book.<\/p>\n The Mad FX Lab is located at 707 South Thoman St, Crestline, Ohio 44827. Visit the website for more information, ticket prices, and special events or call (419) 683-3900.\u00a0 Can\u2019t make it this year?\u00a0 Not to worry!<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to keep expanding the haunt.\u00a0 We put this together in a very short period of time this year, so next year we already have those plans of how to make it even cooler.\u201d\u00a0 Kurtzman says, looking towards the future, \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to spring because that\u2019s when we can start building stuff to make next year even bigger and better.\u201d<\/p>\n I can\u2019t wait to see what they do next!<\/p>\n Melody Evans<\/a>\u00a0is a Social Media Manager for a family of healthcare companies and\u00a0a freelance book review blogger for\u00a0Up All Night Novels<\/a>. \u00a0When she\u2019s not \u00a0forgoing sleep in the endless pursuit of literary satisfaction, she can often be found diligently glued to her keyboard, seeking new outlets to express her love of all things geek chic.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week, I was graciously granted an opportunity to visit Creature Corps in Crestline Ohio to speak with Robert Kurtzman, world renowned Director\/Producer\/Special Effects Creator about the Kurtzman Institute of Art and his amazing new haunt, the Mad FX Lab.\u00a0 For SFX and horror movie geeks like me, this was an unbelievably exciting moment.\u00a0 For […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1634,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[277,318,6,8,128],"tags":[358,368,364,351,350,367,354,360,321,322,359,362,361,357,363,355,352,353],"class_list":["post-2274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-geek-entertainment","category-geek-girl","category-movies","category-tech-stuff","category-geek-tv","tag-alex-cross","tag-axe-giant","tag-beki-ingram","tag-buried-alive","tag-deadly-impact","tag-face-off","tag-from-dusk-till-dawn","tag-halloween","tag-hallowicked-haunted-woods","tag-haunted-attractions","tag-john-dies-at-the-end-robert-kurtzman","tag-kurtzman-institute-of-art","tag-mad-fx-lab","tag-pulp-fiction","tag-robert-englund","tag-the-evil-dead-ii","tag-the-rage","tag-wishmaster"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/326\/2013\/10\/vip-night-300x169.jpg\" "\\"vip")
<\/a>If all of that wasn\u2019t enough to tempt you to take a walk on the monstrous side, The Kurtzman Institute of Art invites you to engage in an unbelievable, one night only VIP Celebrity event.\u00a0 You will have the opportunity to meet Robert Englund<\/a>, best known as Freddy Kreuger from the \u201cNightmare on Elm Street\u201d franchise, as well as Beki Ingram<\/a> and House<\/a> from SyFy\u2019s \u201cFace Off\u201d, Gary Jones<\/a> and Chris Hahn<\/a> of SyFy\u2019s \u201cAxe Giant\u201d, Ed Douglas<\/a> of Midnight Syndicate and many more!\u00a0 Tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime event are $125 and include a tour of the school, the special FX studio and the Mad FX Lab.<\/p>\n