2008 Woodie Awards
Halloween starts early at Universal
Amanda Zike
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: News
Alex Browne, a hospitality management major, said he always enjoyed Halloween Horror Nights in years past, so when he entered UCF as a freshman in 2006, he decided to audition for the event and has worked there ever since.
"My favorite holiday is Halloween," Browne said. "I also work at Disney, so I can make people laugh during the day and scream at night … it's fun."
While the majority of students enjoy working at Halloween Horror Nights, there are a few things about the job that are sometimes unpleasant, such as the drunk guests who get out of hand, Browne said.
Michaelson said the only downside he's experienced is getting home at 4 a.m. on the nights when the event goes late and there are long lines.
"The benefits are good," Michaelson said. "You get a free pass for the whole year. It's a fun job and you get paid to have a good time."
This year will mark the 18th year since the first Halloween Horror Nights. Opening night is September 26, but Universal has been working behind the scenes for quite awhile on this year's event.
"I've been designing Halloween Horror Nights for years, and it used to be we would have some downtime and move onto other things," Roddy said. "I've watched Halloween [Horror Nights] grow that it's now a constant development track. In fact, I'm already developing for Halloween 2009."
The theme of this year's event has not yet been released; however Roddy said the theme this year is "legendary."
"We can't reveal it yet," he said. "That's usually a big deal for us."
Roddy said the theme won't be released until mid September; however, on the Web site, www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando, there is already a storyline beginning that will start to make sense as summer progresses.
Auditions are held now through August 26 for haunted house and street performers, stilt walkers, actors, dancers and singers. Visit www.universalauditions.com for more information.
"You get to become some of the most incredibly dark and deviant creatures," Roddy said, having started as an actor at the event in 1992 himself. "Scaring someone is unparalleled as a job description. It is the coolest job in the world."?
"My favorite holiday is Halloween," Browne said. "I also work at Disney, so I can make people laugh during the day and scream at night … it's fun."
While the majority of students enjoy working at Halloween Horror Nights, there are a few things about the job that are sometimes unpleasant, such as the drunk guests who get out of hand, Browne said.
Michaelson said the only downside he's experienced is getting home at 4 a.m. on the nights when the event goes late and there are long lines.
"The benefits are good," Michaelson said. "You get a free pass for the whole year. It's a fun job and you get paid to have a good time."
This year will mark the 18th year since the first Halloween Horror Nights. Opening night is September 26, but Universal has been working behind the scenes for quite awhile on this year's event.
"I've been designing Halloween Horror Nights for years, and it used to be we would have some downtime and move onto other things," Roddy said. "I've watched Halloween [Horror Nights] grow that it's now a constant development track. In fact, I'm already developing for Halloween 2009."
The theme of this year's event has not yet been released; however Roddy said the theme this year is "legendary."
"We can't reveal it yet," he said. "That's usually a big deal for us."
Roddy said the theme won't be released until mid September; however, on the Web site, www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando, there is already a storyline beginning that will start to make sense as summer progresses.
Auditions are held now through August 26 for haunted house and street performers, stilt walkers, actors, dancers and singers. Visit www.universalauditions.com for more information.
"You get to become some of the most incredibly dark and deviant creatures," Roddy said, having started as an actor at the event in 1992 himself. "Scaring someone is unparalleled as a job description. It is the coolest job in the world."?