Blog Archives

7/31/2016 Contest Winner of the Free Photo Shoot with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!

7/31/2016

CONGRATULATIONS
Jackie Tinsley

you are our winner of the
Win a Free Photo Shoot with UZA and
UZA Synyster Syn! First off, Congratulations!
We want to set up a time for you and
find out what you would like to do for your photo shoot?
We are so excited for you and look forward to working with you soon! Please keep sharing the contest with others,
we will be doing more and having more winners.
You will be getting an email to set up the date and time for your Personal Photo Shoot with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!

Thank you so much for entering and once again Congratulations!

Your friends Team UZA and UZA Synyster Syn.
Founder Sydoney Banks.

FREE PHOTO SHOOT CONTEST WILL BE CLOSING AND IT
WILL REOPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
If you have already entered you can still win - we are just closing it now for new entries and we will reopen it up again sometime in the future. If you have entered, no worries, we will still be selecting winners until September and maybe even longer. If you have completed a UZA review and sent it in you will be entered as per instructions. Keep an EYE on our site to SEE when we reopen the contest. It has been FUN meeting all of you and CAPTURING your LIKENESS. Thanks for the MEMORIES!

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FREE PHOTO SHOOT CONTEST WILL BE CLOSING AND IT WILL REOPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

7/31/2016

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FREE PHOTO SHOOT CONTEST WILL BE CLOSING AND IT WILL REOPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
If you have already entered you can still win - we are just closing it now for new entries and we will reopen it up again sometime in the future. If you have entered, no worries, we will still be selecting winners until September and maybe even longer. If you have completed a UZA review and sent it in you will be entered as per instructions. Keep an EYE on our site to SEE when we reopen the contest. It has been FUN meeting all of you and CAPTURING your LIKENESS. Thanks for the MEMORIES!

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Out of This World Adventure at IDEA Museum in Mesa AZ

7/24/2016

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UZA Founders Ray and Sydoney Banks went on an adventure to a galaxy far, far, away. They went to an event called Sci-Fi Family Day at a galaxy named Mesa, Arizona on a planet called IDEA Museum. They had a blast at IDEA Museum. IDEA Museum inspired Ray and Sydoney along with countless others to experience their world differently through art, technology, science, creativity, and imagination. They made masks, built robots and raced them, took photos with a green screen wall, doodled and made artwork, even had tea with the Mad Hatter, and so much more. They even met up with some friends of theirs the Arizona Ghostbusters and had a great, fun time with them. We believe that everyone should come and try out this wonderful planet in the Mesa, Arizona galaxy. Come and enjoy the day by having your own adventures at planet IDEA Museum like we did. It really is a blast for the whole family and all ages. We hope you have your IDEA Museum adventure soon!!

Ray and Sydoney are safely back at home now and they will never forget their exciting encounter that they had on that mysterious “out-of-this-world” day.

*Hint* They might have even brought a little something or someone back with them!

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Haunted House Tips, Warnings and more.

7/20/2016

How to Avoid Ticking Off the Actors in a Haunted House
Haunted houses are a fun part of Halloween. Here are some tips from a haunted house actor about the etiquette and
common sense of going through a haunted house.
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Ticking-Off-the-Actors-in-a-Haunted-House

Don't bother trying to act tough, we know you're scared. And pretending you aren't scared or trying to act smart just wastes your money, not ours.

Be sure you really want to go through the house- there's nothing worse than a customer who keeps their eyes and ears covered, or runs.

Make sure you won't react poorly to the environment.
Fog machines and strobe lights are often used. Keep this and any medical conditions that could be aggravated by this in mind.

Do not come if you are drunk or under the influence of drugs. You won't have fun, your friends won't have fun, the actors won't have fun, and you could be a danger to yourself or others.

If there are rules,
listen to them.

Even if it is not explicitly mentioned, do NOT touch the actors. This is liable to get you thrown out, and possibly arrested.

Unless they are unprofessional, actors are unlikely to break character, regardless of how many devastatingly witty one-liners you come up with. You might think it's hilarious to ask for an actor's phone number, or to comment on how hot they are. Trust me, it's not.

Do not hang out in an actor's scene and refuse to move until the actor is forced to break character to get you out. This is not funny. This ruins the experience for the people behind you and forces the actor to break rules.

Stating that you aren't frightened indicates to the actors that you are. If you see an actor peeking out from behind a curtain, it is probably because they WANTED to be seen. Saying "ha, I can see you!" doesn't prove that you're clever.

Pushing aside curtains in search of actors waiting to scare you ruins the scare. Do not do this.

It's not your job to scare people, it's the actor's.
Let them do their jobs.

Do not try to scare the actors. This will almost certainly not work, and you'll look like a prat.

Do not touch props. Do not play with props. Do not move props. Do not attempt to steal props.

If you find yourself too afraid to continue, request to be taken out. Do not ask to be taken out unless you genuinely want to leave the house. A false chicken out will only irritate actors who have to break character to escort you out.

Asking an actor to not scare you will often not work. In fact, it will only encourage them to scare you more. If you are truly frightened, chicken out.

Do not force your companions to stay if they are frightened.

Try to have some fun when you walk through. Having no fun ruins the experience for everyone.

Running in a haunted house can be dangerous and destructive. Try to avoid it.

Do not walk slowly or dawdle. Try to keep an average walking pace. This will ensure that you won't clump up into big groups with the people behind you, which leads to less scares for everyone.

Come in smaller groups (2-4 is usually good). This makes you more manageable and easier to keep track of in the house.

The longer you wait at the end of a hallway or in a doorway being frightened or debating about who goes first, the more time the actors have to prepare to scare you.

When you leave the house don't warn waiting customers about what it might hold. That's kind of like telling people the end of a movie that they're waiting in line to see.

Don't take photos or video tape when you walk through. This really destroys it for others. Posting on Facebook, Instagram, or anywhere else really destroys it for those that want to enjoy, and hurts those that took the time to create this art form. It also causes the actors to have no vision for a few minutes...making our job rather difficult.

If you do happen to know one of the actors personally, don't yell out their name or ask/mention any personal information or upcoming plans to meet. Again, this ruins the experience for anyone else in front or behind you. It also ruins the scare actor's experience. Many hours of rehearsal have been put into your one walk through. Plus it could be of concern to give out actor's names.

Leaving the group you are with to hide and try to scare them is not only rude to the performers, it can hold its own dangers. There are electrical cords and other items that are intentionally set out of the way to not be a hazard to guests. By straying off the path, you may be putting yourself in harm's way or get lost.

If you see an actor setting up a scare for someone in your group, don't try to 'help.' You're probably not as clever as you believe and your friend probably isn't as stupid as you think. Telling them, 'look over there' and pointing at the stalking actor is tantamount to saying, 'hey, there's a monster over there getting ready to scare you.'

Tips

When planning to attend a Haunted House think about your attire. Close toed shoes are a better option (sneakers, etc). With all the jumping by yourself or your group, toes often get stepped on. There may also be items you can stub your toes on.

If you do go through more than once, don't be obnoxious about how much you now know about the house. Try to enjoy it as you would a new house.

If an actor tells you something, such as "Wait", "Move faster", "Wrong way" etc.
, listen to them.

Be aware of when a house closes. If it closes at, say, midnight, do not show up at midnight. The actors will be preparing to leave, and the house will probably already be shut down.

A haunted house is usually only as scary as the surprises that it holds. Going through more than once can ruin the experience for you and the actors, unless you are respectful on your subsequent ventures and are there to appreciate the things you might have missed the first time through.

Remember, most actors, this is their JOB. As you are leaving their room, or the whole park for that matter, tell the ticket booth who did a good job. It makes the "monsters" feel appreciated and will continue to do better.

Making fun of actors or attempting to break their character is neither witty nor amusing.

Don't try to be a tough guy. Don't be insulting to and/or hit the actor because they scared you. You paid money for them to do that. If you can't handle it, stay home.

Don't tell actors "stop scaring my kid(s)". If you think your kids can't handle it don't go in. If your kids can't handle it chicken out. You ruin everyone in the groups good time as well as the actors good clean fun when you get angry for forcing your child into something they can't handle.

Most houses will allow you to request a "low" scare or a "high" scare if you feel the need. Please do not request a low scare unless you've got small children with you, and do not request a high scare if you can not handle it.

Warnings

As stated above, do not touch the actors. Do not hit the actors. Do not kick, push, bite, slap, lick, scratch or otherwise assault actors. The same goes for mannequins, which could be an actor pretending to be fake.

Don't bring flashlights. Bringing flashlights ruin the whole effect that most houses often try to create. It spoils the thrill for not only you, but your entire group.

Do not run. You could destroy the house or hurt yourself and others.

If you are prone to striking out when frightened, do not go through a haunted house. The actors do not want to be punched in the face for doing their jobs any more than you do. If you meant to do it or not doesn't matter. If you can't control yourself, then stay home. Some "hitters" find that keeping their hands in their pockets can keep them from reflexively lashing out. You might see if that works, but do so before you go.

Unless you yourself are on fire, no smoking in the house.

www.hauntworld.com

Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper with UZA

7/13/2016

Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper
Click Names below to see full article

Zombies and more at library

Zombies on the prowl

The madness of our 2nd Annual Comic-Con just keeps getting BIGGER and better! Mark your calendar's for Saturday, July 16th NOW because you just can't miss this kinda of awesomeness!
Saturday, July 16 at 1 PM - 4 PM

Vista Grande Public Library
1556 N Arizola Rd, Casa Grande, Arizona 85122

UZA will be doing a makeup and SFX class at 3:15pm called “Bruises, Blisters, and Gore!” This is a great beginner class for those interested in makeup for any kind of character or event. We even had someone from a group that does emergency drill events come to get more information on how to do makeup on accident participants.

UZA will have a booth with our information and some other UZA favorites as well. We will have UZA’s Ray Digger The Grave Digger wandering the comic con for free photos with any interested attendees. Sydoney will have her cameras ready to take the free photos/videos and she will put them on Facebook after the comic con is over and after Syd edits them, so this may take her a day or two. Be sure to get a flyer from Sydoney telling where you can retrieve your photo from and where
you can share your own photos with us.

Take a look at what Casa Grande library staff members did out of their excitement and made for Saturday's Comic Con for the UZA makeup tutorial. Some staff members created this AWESOME display to advertise our makeup tutorial at the Comic Con. You Wonderful folks did an outstanding job! You are Amazing and we can't wait to meet all of you and see all the colorful and costumed attendees!!

Zombies and more at library

Posted: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 9:11 am

By MELISSA ST. AUDE Staff Writer

CASA GRANDE

Casa Grande Comic Con runs from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. It’s free and open to all ages.

The event is a chance for children and adults to don a superhero cape and mask and visit the library, said Youth Services Librarian and event organizer David Brown.

It’s expected to attract plenty of Deadpools, Batmans, Harry Potters and other characters.

Last year, more than 400 people attended the event and this year, with expanded offerings, organizers expect a greater turnout.

“This year’s event is going to be bigger and better,” Brown said.

Among the events this year are:

n Drawing demonstrations by comic book artists;

n Makeup tutorials by United Zombies of America;

n Interaction with Tucson’s Copper Queen Roller Derby Team;

n Information and giveaways by Casa Grande Paranormal Investigators;

n Professional cosplay costume workshops hosted by ThermoCosplay;

n Martial arts demonstrations; and

n Costume contests and raffles.

The event aims to celebrate all fictional characters from popular stories, not just comic book or graphic novel heroes.

“Libraries across America are becoming hubs for comic-con type gatherings for people interested in characters from graphic novels, comics, film, television and popular culture,” Brown said.

Some library patrons are fiction fans and travel to San Diego for large comic conventions or to Phoenix or Tucson for mid-sized events, but Brown said many don’t have the means to attend out-of-town gatherings.

“We wanted to provide them with a similar experience,” he said.

Casa Grande Comic Con is the library’s end-of-the-summer finale and signals the conclusion of its summer reading program, in which children earn prizes for reading for a specified amount of time every day.

Costumes are optional.

Vista Grande Library is at 1556 N. Arizola Road.

Zombies on the prowl

Posted: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 8:29 am

By MELISSA ST. AUDE Staff Writer

CASA GRANDE

Zombies will be on the prowl Saturday in Casa Grande.

Complete with blood and bruises, the living dead will take their place among the superheroes, ghost hunters, roller queens and popular comic book and sci-fi characters roaming about the Vista Grande Library Saturday as the second annual Casa Grande Comic Con gets underway.

United Zombies of America, a Phoenix-based professional entertainment group, plans to offer a “Bruises, Blisters and Gore” workshop during the event, teaching others how, with a bit of makeup, they too can transform into any type of eerie and spine-chilling — or cute and lovable — character.

For Sydoney Banks, founder of United Zombies of America, being a zombie isn’t all about blood and gore.

“We are not just a monster horror group,” she said. “We do many things and they may often involve monster-type characters and horror. We really do so many things — photography, makeup, videos, classes, panels, workshops, improvisation, security, volunteering, social media, advertising and more.”

The family-friendly group’s motto is “The family that scares together stays together.”

They’ll host a makeup class Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at the Vista Grande Library.

“This is a great beginner class for those interested in makeup for any character or event,” Banks said.

United Zombies of America will have a booth at Casa Grande Comic Con offering information about the group. UZA’s Ray Digger “The Grave Digger” will wander throughout the event, offering free photos with participants.

The group, which was founded in 2012, is no stranger to comic conventions. They’ve taken part in the Tempe, Apache Junction and Yuma Library comic con events as well as the Amazing Arizona Con, Mad Monster and various thespian festivals throughout the year.

This year is their first participating in Casa Grande’s Comic Con.

“UZA loves doing various types of cons, especially library cons, because we love giving back to the community,” she said. “We support anti-bullying and paying-it-forward.”

She said people love zombies for many reasons, including the realism and the feeling that “it is more apt to happen futuristically to humans.”

“Of all the monsters there are, zombies might be the most realistic because they tend to occur from diseases, viruses, toxic spills, mutations, science experiments, attempting to reanimate the dead and more,” she said.

With recent books, comics, movies, games, video games, cartoons, toys, clothing and television shows that portray zombies, the monsters are enjoying a surge in popularity.

And while some enjoy being frightened by the characters, others enjoy doing the scaring.

Banks fell in love with zombies after performing at the “Haunting Haunted House” in 2009 and 2010 with her family and friends, Jess Acridge, Casey Corbin, Kristen Cline and others. UZA was started by the group soon after to help Banks explore her dreams, help others with theirs and to provide entertainment and fun, she said.

Many of its members are performers who appreciate the lore, makeup and creepiness of the living dead and some have received theatrical training from various organizations such as Disney, Universal Studios and professional haunted house experiences.

The group performs at events throughout the year.

UZA specializes in makeup and special effects and has its own live interactive game, “Zombie Attack,” which travels throughout the state.

But as a child, Banks was never intrigued by monsters or horror and didn’t tend to watch horror movies.

“I did love Halloween, the costumes and decorations even more than the candy,” she said.

Banks was 15 when she was assigned as the lead zombie in her first haunted house acting roll. In that role, she learned about monsters, horror, haunted houses and other characters.

That year, she won the season’s top actress award for the haunted house and since then has participated in other professional haunted houses each year, including “Rob Zombies Great American Nightmare” in 2014.

Someday, she’d like to open her own haunted attraction that would be open throughout the entire year.

The group is family friendly and has members of all ages. For more information or to join, visit www.united-zombies-of-america.com or visit the booth at Casa Grande Comic Con.

Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper

7/13/2016

Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper
Click Names below to see full article

Zombies and more at library

Zombies on the prowl

2nd Annual Casa Grande Comic Con 2016

7/8/2016

the Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper an article about Casa Grande Comic Con.

Melissa St. Aude Staff Writer & Valley Life Editor
Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper Q & A UZA Founder Sydoney A.A. Banks.

Q. Tell me a little bit about United Zombies of America - what's it all
about and how did it start?

A. United Zombies of America (UZA) is a professional entertainment group that officially began in the spring of 2012. We are actors/performers, artists, educators, jacks of many trades, so to say. We are NOT just a monster/horror group, but we do many things and they may often involve monster-type characters and/or horror. We really do so many things: photography, makeup, videos, classes/panels/workshops, improvisation, security, volunteering, social media, advertising and even more. We support Anti-bulling and Paying It Forward. We are a family friendly (all ages) group and we believe that “Families that Scare together Stay together!” UZA began because Sydoney Banks, founder of UZA, fell in love with horror and zombies through performing at “The Haunting Haunted House” in 2009/2010 with her family, Jess Acridge, his family, Casey Corbin, Kristen Cline, her family and others. They all helped her find her passion and her purpose in life. UZA began so she could explore her dreams and to assist others with theirs and to provide entertainment and fun for all.

Q. Why are you participating in Casa Grande's Comic Con?

Did you take part last year as well?

Do you do other comic conventions as well?

A. This is our first time to participate in Casa Grande’s Comic Con. Sydoney found it on Facebook and jumped at the chance to be involved with it. UZA loves doing various types of cons, especially library comic cons. UZA loves giving back to the community. We have done the Tempe, Apache Junction, and Yuma Library Comic Cons as well as Amazing Arizona Con, Mad Monster, YumaCon and more.

Q. What can people expect when they see your organization at Casa Grande's Comic Con? I understand you'll be doing makeup demonstrations?
Will zombies wander around the event as well?

A. UZA will be doing a makeup and SFX class at 3:15pm called “Bruises, Blisters, and Gore!” This is a great beginner class for those interested in makeup for any kind of character or event. We even had someone from a group that does emergency drill events come to get more information on how to do makeup on accident participants.

UZA will have a booth with our information and some other UZA favorites as well. We will have UZA’s Ray Digger The Grave Digger wandering the comic con for free photos with any interested attendees. Sydoney will have her cameras ready to take the free photos/videos and she will put them on Facebook after the comic con is over and after she edits them, so this may take her a day or two. Be sure to get a flyer from Sydoney telling where you can retrieve your photo from and where you can share your own photos with us.

Q. What is it about zombies that people find so entertaining?
Can you tell me a little bit about why you are interested in zombies?

A. Some of the reasons people may be interested in zombies could be that of all the monsters there are, they might be the most realistic, because they tend to occur from diseases, viruses, toxic spills, mutations, science experiments, attempting to reanimate the dead, and more. So maybe we feel that it is more apt to happen futuristically to humans. Haitian voodoo zombies have even been reported and written about. There are books, comics, movies, games, video games, cartoons, toys, clothing, and television shows that portray zombies for our entertainment. Some people enjoy being frightened while others enjoy frightening them. This year on July 4, AMC with Greg Nicotero opened, “The Walking Dead Experience” at Universal Studios in California. They created it so people could feel what it is like to face zombies at specific places from the show. Sydoney really wants to go and experience this attraction for herself.
Sydoney never really felt anything for any monsters or horror growing up and she did not know much about any of them either, because she did not grow up watching them. She did love Halloween, the costumes and decorations, even more than the candy.

During her first haunted house acting role she began learning more about monsters, horror, haunted houses, and cons and she continues to keep learning more about the entire industry to this day. She was only 15 years old and assigned as the lead zombie, graveyard lead and trainer for the graveyard and all the zombies. She even won “Actress of the Season” for 2009/2010. She has done other haunted houses each year since then including, “Rob Zombies Great American Nightmare” in 2014. She now loves zombies and working in haunted houses. She hopes to run her own haunted attraction. She would love for it to be open throughout the entire year.

Horror is great, but UZA is so much more!
Please come by and see us at Casa Grande’s Comic Con
on Saturday, July 19, 2016.

Thank you for interviewing UZA! We would love to meet all of you and get a photo with you and Ray Digger at the Comic Con.
To see and learn more about us visit us at
www.united-zombies-of-america.com

The madness of our 2nd Annual Comic-Con
just keeps getting BIGGER
and better! Mark your calendar's for Saturday, July 16th NOW
because you just can't miss this kinda of awesomeness!
Saturday, July 16 at 1 PM - 4 PM

Vista Grande Public Library
1556 N Arizola Rd, Casa Grande, Arizona 85122

UZA will be doing a makeup and SFX class at 3:15pm called “Bruises, Blisters, and Gore!” This is a great beginner class for those interested in makeup for any kind of character or event. We even had someone from a group that does emergency drill events come to get more information on how to do makeup on accident participants.

UZA will have a booth with our information and some other UZA favorites as well. We will have UZA’s Ray Digger The Grave Digger wandering the comic con for free photos with any interested attendees. Sydoney will have her cameras ready to take the free photos/videos and she will put them on Facebook after the comic con is over and after Syd edits them, so this may take her a day or two. Be sure to get a flyer from Sydoney telling where you can retrieve your photo from and where
you can share your own photos with us.

7/06/2016 Two Contest Winners of the Free Photo Shoot with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!

7/6/2016

CONGRATULATIONS

Danielle Esplanade

&
Grecia Sifuentes

Danielle Esplanade and Grecia Sifuentes
you are our winners of the
Win a Free Photo Shoot with UZA and
UZA Synyster Syn! First off, Congratulations!
We want to set up a time for you and
find out what you would like to do for your photo shoot?
We are so excited for you and look forward to working with you soon! Please keep sharing the contest with others,
we will be doing more and having more winners.
You will be getting an email to set up the date and time for your Personal Photo Shoot with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!

Thank you so much for entering and once again Congratulations!

Your friends Team UZA and UZA Synyster Syn.
Founder Sydoney Banks.

It is not to late to enter and win! We will be having more winners for The Free Photo Shoot Contest with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!
Click here to enter!

7/31/2016 Contest Winner of the Free Photo Shoot with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!

FREE PHOTO SHOOT CONTEST WILL BE CLOSING AND IT WILL REOPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

Out of This World Adventure at IDEA Museum in Mesa AZ

Haunted House Tips, Warnings and more.

www.hauntworld.com

www.hauntworld.com

Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper with UZA

Casa Grande Dispatch Newspaper

2nd Annual Casa Grande Comic Con 2016

7/06/2016 Two Contest Winners of the Free Photo Shoot with UZA and UZA Synyster Syn!

CONGRATULATIONS

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