Maniacal Productions The Dark Entertainment Specialists

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This October experience first hand the work of these ultimate dark entertainment specialists as they post exclusive pictures and videos of the upcoming 2005 season. Now loaded with a community section where you the viewers can participate in messageboards, chat rooms, and more...

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8:26 AM - 9/29/2005

The Final Day

This is it...one more day before the orrs pen a the Cleveland Haunted Hollow. I am as prepared as I can be. I have gone through my costumes, make-up, and weapons and have established a basic insanity character for the first night. The fisrst weekend is always a slow start in our area so I want to save some of my more elaborate characters for the nid-season rush, but something inside still pulls me to go all out for the first night. Either way I am sure it will be a great night...it always is. This also marks the first day of live shooting for the movie...MANIACAL: THE UNTOLD STORY. We are very excited about this. We hope to capture some great live scares on film to make the start of the movie entertaining to say the least. Those of you in the Nirtheast Ohio are I encourage you to come and visit the Cleveland Haunted Hollow this season. For the first time in over 20 years the house has been completely re-designed from start to fisnished and is now under new management. My partner and brother in darkness is completely in charge of the venue and has worked all spring and summer to create an attraction that utilizes terror, gore, and exploitation. He has staffed the house with quality performers that really care about the creative side of this industry. There are no longer any cheap and cheesy rooms and every single mask has been thrown out. Those that have seen the Haunted Hollow in the past have no idea what it is like now. The only way to know is to experience the terror first hand. So again if you are in this area you must pay us a visit this season for one of the best looking houses and shows ever to hit the Northeast Ohio market.

Mr. Maniacal

8:17 AM - 9/29/2005

Radio Interview Reminder

Just wanted to post a quick message about my upcoming radio interview on October 4, 2005 on artistfirst.com internet radio. It will be an hour long interview covering my new book "The Art of Fear: Theories of a Dark Entertainer" and my work int he haunted attraction industry. You can listen to it live on artistfirst.com on October 4, 2005 at 9 P.M. or if you miss it the show will be posted in their archives.

7:04 PM - 9/24/2005

Voices from the past...

Today I got a phone call from an old friend from California. Gwen owns and operates a charity haunted house to raise money for children with autism. Her and I have been friends for a few years now and share many of the same interests including our love for the haunted attraction industry. It was great to hear from her again. Normally we just talk through emails, but with the season quickly starting it was a great to hear her voice. I wish her the best of luck and those of you that are reading this check our her website at http://www.sbtcinc.org/ to learn more about what she does. Good God! The season starts in less than a week and a half.....

7:03 PM - 9/24/2005

The Upcoming Season 1 week to go...

Greetings one and all,
     Can you feel it in the air? IF it is night where you are take a moment to step outside. Now do you feel it? October is almost upon us. At least in Ohio where I reside the days are getting shorter and the nights colder. That crisp cold smeel of decay is starting to fill the air as the colorful plants, flowers, and trees slowly begin to die. For people like me in the haunted house field this is a sign of things to come. A sign that fear will once again emerge from it's slumber and will be unleashed upon the masses. I cannot wait. I feel the burning in my blood. I can sense the fear in those I pass on the street. Soon....soon my dear friends the time will come and the haunt houses will open their doors to unleash the evil that has waited since last November.

Mr. Maniacal

7:02 PM - 9/24/2005

The Toast

As her soul enters mine I feel on fire

Her influence takes hold on my mind

Colors fade

Time Slips away

Once Again floating through insanity

9:02 AM - 9/20/2005

The Upcoming Season

Well this is it. The final two weeks before the 2005 season kicks starts to terror. I'm excited to say the least. This season is special for me, because not only am I once again reunited with my brother Mr. Maniacal, but we are finally doing the documentary we have been talking about for years. For the first time in th epast few years I actually have brand new characters planned for this season...I mean full blown characters that I have been planning out and constructing costumes for the past couple of weeks. Also I plan on performing some old favorites again that I also haven't done for quite a few years. All of this for the sake of the documentary. I want to capture the magic all on film. There are even one or two characters I have performed as over the years that I think it's time to retire. It's going to be a crazy season to say the least. The only thing I worry about is my knee. I injured my left knee many years ago and now it's starting to act up again. As long as it holds out the season I'll be happy. Be sure to check out this blog on a reg. basis since during the season I'll be posting my thoughts and experiences right here for all to read. Happy Haunting.

Mr. Maniacal

8:02 PM - 9/17/2005

The Art of Fear Radio Interview

Just a quick note here to let everyone that reads this blog that I will have a 1 hour live radio interview promoting the new book The Art of Fear: Theories of a Dark Entertainer. It should be interesting so be sure to tune in here on the internet. Oh yeah I guess it would help to tell you the details. October 4, 2005 on artistfirst.com at 9 p.m. and you can listen to live on the internet through windows media player. I'm looking forward to the show it will be interesting to say the least.

Mr. Maniacal

7:56 PM - 9/17/2005

Pathetic People

I hate people, I mean I really hate people. Not everyone, but the idiots of the world and there are many! It seems that somehow when I need something done I always hook up with the stupid people. You would think that someone in a profession like a mortgage broker they would be professional, but alas they are not. They are just like everyone else...pathetically unprofessional. It's a long story so I shall put it simply short...because of one piece of paper that this broker never informed me was completed it has delayed my family from closing on our new home! DAMN HIM!

Sorry had to vent.

8:07 AM - 9/6/2005

Twisted Nightmare Weekend

     I know it's been awhile since I have entered anything in this blog, but time has been limited. Let's see much has happened since I started this online journal of thoughts, happenings, and such. My wife and I completed the Twisted Nightmare Convention in August. It was different to say the least. We were there promotin gmy book, The Art of Fear Theories of a Dark Entertainer and I think that went well. Sales were not as high as I wished, but decent enough and the exposure was excellent. I talked with allot of low budget producers there and I think that in the near future I will be branching out and working on film.

     However the most important thing that has happened was that the convention re-united the Maniacal Brothers after a year of going our seperate ways. We will be workign together at a haunt that Mr. Maniacal (Ryan Farrell) has completely redesigned almost on his own. DO you realize what kind of accomplishment that is? To take Northeast Ohio's longest running and quite possibly it's largest indoor attraction and gut it and rebuild all the room sentirely with only a few extra hands now and then? It is amazing and the haunt looks fantastic. It is an honor to say I'll be working with him again at his haunt. After the convention and we chatted and it became official. After years of talking about it, saving up money for a budget, and finally with the right place to do it in, Mr. Maniacal and I are shooting our documentary MANIACAL: THE UNTOLD STORY. It will be unique to sa the least and we will post more about it as it progresses on our website.

     But back to the convention. I met many wonderful people there including Kenny Miller, Ari Bevel, and had the chance to talk once again with Michael Berryman. Kenny is a great great guy, Michael is typical Michael (a overall groovy dude), and Ari (my table neighbor) was great. HE has even agreed to do a cameo in our documentary! Linda Balir was there along with a great collection of B movie actresses and actors. And of course the highlight of the con was watching Ted Raimi nurotically jumping from table to table never looking like he was comfortable being there. On Friday night I even almost hit him with my hearse when I was leaving...sorry Ted! My wife, son (Danny), and I had a blast on Sat. when the entire Star Wars crew showed up. These people were awesome. They were a group of fans that belonged to the Ohio Star Wars fan club and they went all out! The costumes were fantastic! There were clone troopers, storm troopers, endor troopers, Vader complete with automated breathing, and a remote control R2 that chased Danny around the hotel! In short it was an awesome time that I can't wait to do again.

     Well, that's it all in a nut shell for now. I'll be posting more later today covering the haunted hollow and the upcoming prep for the movie. I feel bad that I havent' posted sooner, but with everything going on like I said time has been very limited!

Mr. Maniacal

7:51 AM - 9/6/2005

The Art of Fear: Theories of a Dark Entertainer

Well the day has finally come and gone and my book after a long time waiting is finally available to the public. It is a strange feeling to say the least. I started the book years ago with research and ideas and after almost a year of dealing with my publisher the final version is complete. They are a good company I guess giving new authors a shot, but I must advise anyone that goes through them (PublishAmerica) that you must even proff read your final copy. After my book went to print and I got copies I found some things that were just no right that were just not supposed to happen. In one paragraph there is at least two sentances missing whcih makes it feel like I quickly jump topics and at one point I talk about a bath tub and it is in the book not as tub but as tube.These kind of things bug me, but to some they may seem minor. The whole experience is interesting and kind of surrealistic. I love it. Now soon the insanity of promotion will be in full swing and I shall be attending conventions doing seminars and signings. The first event will be the first weekend of August so I will be sure to be writing comments on here.

1:34 PM - 7/21/2005