Rumors L.L.C. 11/18/24 Rumors L.L.C. 11/18/24

AFTER AFTERLIFE

Afterlife

PHOTO ALBUM AT THE VERY BOTTOM

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PHOTO ALBUM AT THE VERY BOTTOM ⬇️

Soft Heat was so long ago that many say it was only a myth.

After a string of missed party opportunities over the summer started looking like they’d drag in to fall, a line was drawn in the sand. Rumors would not miss out on Halloween.

Approximately 3 weeks before Halloween night, after overcoming many trials, avenue was finally able to booked for Afterlife. With the path ahead clear, various internal departments began gathering data, designing and executing the plan.

The goal from the start was to create an event that could be enjoyed by all levels of Halloween lovers (and haters). With the short production timeframe Rumors opted to keep the concept simple. A panel of experts determined that a themed dance event with costumes encouraged would be most fun and effective; however, the initial challenge was to apply an overarching classic Halloween theme capable of inspiring the best costumes while also providing a classic Rumors twist to make it unforgettable.

In the end the theme was decided unanimously: Castle Rumors, a medieval castle where dark enchantment benevolently rewards righteousness with free swords and alcohol.

PROCESS

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PROCESS ✂️

Digital sketch overlay on preliminary survey photograph (Left)
Final installation. Rampart with heart shaped cut outs and proprietary projector slot. (Right)

Once the concept is locked in, the task of production begins in three key areas: media, fabrication and planning the event itself.

A key advantage at Rumors that many people don’t know about, is our in-house expertise in the fields of media and fabrication. Our founders are knighted in their respective kingdoms of knowledge.

During production of Afterlife, the Classic Magic (TM) of RUMORS shined its light bright as ever through the darkness along the path to Castle Rumors.

The first step is to capture imagery needed to promote the event. Set design, props gathering, and international talent searches are the usual steps.

MEDIA

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MEDIA 🎥 📸

Once again, due to the time limitations, we decided to keep our media concepts simple and manageable. Utilizing only the bare essentials of Halloween: Skeletons, dungeons, 1990s Jaguar XK8s, flames, hammers, feather quills and lots of fog.

The first video was shot in our studio space using props from the extensive Rumors collection: torture cage, skeleton, medieval weapons, beverage-ware, and banner, and remnants of ancient ruins positioned as an efficient backdrop. The timing was made to coincide with a major moon phenomenon which lent its supernaturally blue, wavy light through studio skylights and one moonbeam focused through a lens was used to ignite the candle seen warming the bones of the skeleton next to the 1983 Motorola DynaTAC cellular phone.

The second video was shot just outside our studio. The 1997 Jaguar XK8 convertible was released from The Garage with great hesitation due to safety concerns about its untested Fog Machine function, but it performed perfectly through all 27 takes with only 1 *fatality which made it into the final cut. The promotional video has since been nominated for several awards and has been released on laserdisc and VHS in Sweden.

Notes:

*Fatality: RIP Cornelius. You were our most durable intern.

The third video was again shot in the studio with props on hand: wood table dating from the 16th century, coin currency and jewels borrowed from the treasury of a king who wishes to remain anonymous, potion flask, wizard pipe, sword, axe, two oil-flame braziers, and fine parchment.

The fourth video, focusing on our sword giveaway was shot in the Smithing Yard below Castle Rumors. The crew had to stay up late the night before the shoot to ceremonially ingest the required quantity of 18oz Michelob Ultra to produce the empty can ore needed to produce the quality and volume of “steel” ingot for smithing the enchanted sword that was offered as the surprise giveaway (to the Chosen One) at the spiritual peak of Afterlife. The sword design was conceived and crafted by the only available master sword smith in the Yard and while at first he was not at all interested, the stick-on-dirt drawing presented by the director is reported to have shocked him with the resemblance to the sword from his recurring nightmare and he set at once upon the forge to his work “as if in a trance.”

The final videos were shot on location at Castle Rumors. One showcasing the haunted tower and one inside the throne room.

Promo stills and posters can be enjoyed below…

FABRICATION & PARTY DESIGN

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FABRICATION & PARTY DESIGN ⚙️ ⚒️⚙️

in-house fabrication resources multiply the possibilities of media production, special effects, venue decor, signage, sponsor deliverables, armament, vehicle modification, and so on.

Afterlife venue decor called for design and fabrication of recognizable, “castle-y,” architectural motifs and props including life-sized ramparts and menacing gates, neon signage, royal crests, and 38 specially commissioned giveaway swords. RUMORS’ acquisition of a state-of-the-art CNC router machine has resulted in enhanced construction workflows while reducing staff deaths and injuries by 77% over 3 quarters. Digital fabrication has become the new standard of internal production and constitutes nearly all decor and prop objects featured at Afterlife.

The Castle masonry was designed to make a big environmental impact and enhance the existing qualities of The Rose Chapel. Secondary concerns included: defensibility, resistance to spells.

Fun trivia: The Castle Rumors ramparts were constructed without a single death!

Now on the crown jewel of AFTERLIFE. The iconic “Castle Rumors” neon sign frame was carved by the CNC machine in about 20 minutes however, installing the led neon components required nearly 5 hours of hand-soldering and gluing.

Lighting effects were achieved by three main sources. A pulsing red light over the entry, the Castle Rumors sign and a laser projector (Loaned to us from the library of @shelushy. Thank you, @shelushy!)

The castle ramparts were designed to accommodate the shape of the projector seamlessly.

Sponsor builds were incorporated into the party in the form of a crest with crossed-swords. Participating sponsors, Acre Distilling and Piattelli Vineyards, each enjoyed their logos immortalized at the center of the heart-shaped crests with the sword engraving design modified from the giveaway swords to read: “Afterlife.”

We wanted to have a souvenir for guests to take home from Castle Rumors. We decided that souvenir would be swords. Each sword was engraved to read "Rumors Fort Worth" with a few skulls for good measure. Even with automated means, the swords took 7 hours of machine time but the results were worth the wait.

These swords were delivered to their storage barrel deep within the castle armory and each found its destined hero during the night.

FREE SWORD

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FREE SWORD ⚔️

The story of Surprise Giveaway Sword… almost defies description. We had no idea what kinds of fine blades were available on the internet. Once we had a taste of steel there was no going back. We knew we needed to give one away.

Just as foretold, Justin (“The Just”) @masterofpuppies, adorned in magic gauntlets and a righteous Ghostbusters costume freed the Sword to the grateful cheers of the peasants. He is said to still be out there, somewhere, standing constant vigil and dealing justice in the dark nether-regions of Fort Worth.

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SPONSORS 🍷🥃

Sponsorship has been the noble tradition at the heart of RUMORS productions for millennia. During the time of Afterlife, two great kingdoms came to aid in the greatest themed Halloween dance afterparty that the Near Southside has ever remembered: Acre Distilling and Piattelli Vineyards.

ACRE DISTILLING:

Acre Distilling, a great friend to RUMORS since its earliest event (Soft Heat, Valentine’s Day 2024) has again answered the call to replenish the great but eternally ingested casks of spirits in the storage cavern below Castle Rumors. Acre’s wizards devise and distill some of Fort Worth’s finest spirits, and so truly it is always a great blessing to have their support.

Afterlife featured 3 cocktails freshly mixed the hour before the event and dispensed from crystal faucets into ice upon request, as well as tasting servings of extra bottle samples to all attendees throughout the night:

Black Magic - Espresso Martini (Java Shine infusion of Avoca coffee in Longhair Jim whiskey).
Blood Rites - Blackberry Sage Limeade (Miss Addie’s infused Black Halo vodka).
Sir Arnold’s Delight - Peach Tea Arnold Palmer (Peach Dream infused Black Halo vodka).

This night’s lovely barmaid, Derrik, reported a surprisingly easy time inventing the cocktail recipes from Acre’s supply of Java Shine, Black Halo Vodka, Peach Dream Vodka, and serving tastes of Cinnamon Girl and base spirits.

PIATTELLI VINEYARDS:

Wine is famously the preferred drink of the dark ages. Enjoyed by peasants, lords and kings alike.

Piattelli Vineyards provided bottles of their Grand Reserve Malbec and a Pinot Noir Champagne. Piattelli is a new friend of RUMORS, but was extremely well received at Afterlife.