Monsterpalooza is an American multigenre convention focusing on horror, Monster and makeup work. The convention takes place every spring in Los Angeles County, California, most recently in the Pasadena Convention Center. A smaller offshoot convention, "Son of Monsterpalooza" is held in Burbank in the fall.
History
After a successful trial run in New Jersey in 2008, Monsterpalooza was organized on the West Coast by Eliot Brodsky in 2009, and held at the Marriott Burbank Convention Center.
[ "Meet Monsterpalooza’s Eliot Brodsky", Ryan Turek, March 8, 2010.] It has been held annually since then, and usually takes place in March, April or May. The spring event moved from Burbank to the Pasadena Convention Center in 2016, and became the venue's most attended event.
[ "Werewolves, Zombies and Mutant Hamsters at Monsterpalooza 2016", by Star Foreman, April 25, 2016] A smaller offshoot convention, "Son of Monsterpalooza" is still held in Burbank in September.
[ All Monsters Welcome: Son of Monsterpalooza, Alysia Gray Painter, NBC4 Los Angeles, Sep 16, 2015.]
Programming
Convention programming includes
,
Panel discussion, and workshops. The spring Monsterpalooza event features a museum which displays screen-used props, masks, life-size figures and movie creatures from participating Hollywood FX studios and artists.
[ Podcast Episode 73: Monsterpalooza 2016, April 29, 2016, Beth Accomando, KPBS.] Workshops focus on the craft; makeup demonstrations and creature effects. The emphasis is on classic horror, including characters from B movies of Hollywood's Golden Age and modern horror, science fiction and fantasy films.
[ "That's Not CGI: At Monsterpalooza, Monsters Are Real", Beth Accomando, April 20, 2012, NPR.] Panels have included behind the scenes looks at films such as
The Shape of Water,
The Predator,
,
Alien Romulus,
Terrifier, as well as attractions such as Halloween Horror Nights and more.
Over the years, Monsterpalooza has hosted several famous actors and industry personalities, including Robert Englund, Bruce Campbell, Ozzy Osbourne, Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Giancarlo Esposito, Cassandra Peterson, Michael Dougherty, Kane Hodder, Jennifer Tilly, George A. Romero, Martin Landau, James Remar, Sonny Chiba, and Linda Blair.
Reception
Monsterpalooza draws tens of thousands of attendees and is also visited by various horror celebrities and others from the film industry. Director Guillermo del Toro said on his Twitter that Monsterpalooza is "the monster convention I dreamt could be possible as a kid".
Director J. J. Abrams said in an article with CNN's Marquee Blog that Monsterpalooza "is a total blast".
Brian Collins from
Birth. Movies. Death. called it the "best horror convention of all".
[ "Collins’ Crypt: Monsterpalooza Is The Best Horror Convention Of All", Brian Collins, for Birth.Movies.Death.]
External links
