Gothtober FAQ
What is Gothtober?
Where can I view Gothtober?
How do I apply to Gothtober?
Do I have to be an artist or film maker to apply for Gothtober?
When are applications due?
Why do I have to pay a $25 entrance fee?
So I don't have to pay to apply, only if I am accepted?
What is the theme for Gothtober this year?
What benefits are there to being a Gothtober Artist?
How can I keep up on the latest Gothtober developments?
Who makes Gothtober?
How did Gothtober start?
What size do I need to design for?
If I make something and it's compressed, will it look crappy?
What are the requirements of making a:
Slideshow-Style Presentation?
Animated Flash Movies or Interactive Content?
Video/Quicktime Movie?
Printable Document (like stories, or a fold-out craft project)?
Downloadable Music Files or other goodies?
Anything Else We Haven't Thought of?
Please go to Gothtober.com and click on ARCHIVE and go to Gothtober 2005 to see examples
How can I reach you?
What is Gothtober?
The Gothtober Countdown Calendar™ is a curated time-release flash-based online museum of 31 works of art by 31 different artists. The official run of the show is from October 1st to the 31st, a new piece being revealed with each day of the month. The best way to see what it is though, is by visiting it!
Where can I view Gothtober?
To view Gothtober, you don't have to go anywhere or do anything, it's on the internet. Sometimes this doesn't sink in... it's IN YOUR COMPUTER! You can look at it naked, you can watch it in coffee shops with wireless, anywhere there's internet is where Gothtober lives! Visit Now!
How do I apply to Gothtober?
To apply to be a Gothtober artist, simplply follow this link to the application
Do I have to be an artist or film maker to apply for Gothtober?
NO! You don't have to be an expert or a proclaimed certified anything to apply and make something for Gothtober! All you've got to have is an idea, and a way to make your idea, it can be recipe cards, stories, things that people cut-out or listen to, ANYTHING you think would be spooky or weird enough to interest the masses for Halloween! Chefs, body-builders, retail clerks, office workers, managers, teachers, travelers, students, families, couples and individuals have ALL participated in Gothtober!
When are applications due?
Applications are due August 28th!
Artists will be notified of admission on the 1st of September. This will give you a month, and then some, to work on your project (give or take, depending on what type of project you have, what deadline's been given, and other unforeseen factors.) Artists who are picked for Gothtober are asked to pay a $25 entrance fee.
Why do I have to pay a $25 entrance fee?
Gothtober runs at a staggering financial loss every year, we've never been in this for the money, but this is our 7th anniversary, and since we average more than 10,000 views a week, it would at least be nice to cover hosting costs!
So I don't have to pay to apply, only if I am accepted?
That's right! Filling out the application costs nothing, only when it's been established that you are going to be featured as a Gothtober Artist on the calendar, then we will send you a notice asking you to pay the fee via PayPal. Or in person via check or cashola.
What is the theme for Gothtober this year?
As usual, you don't have to follow the theme, just maintaining a weird or creepy or halloweenie veneer is fine.
?This year's 2009 Gothtober calendar theme is DRIVE-IN MOVIE!
? The peak of the DRIVE-IN movie era was 1958, a "simpler time" before cable TV, video rentals and gigantic over-priced stadium-seating multiplex insanity made the business of entertainment way more complicated.
Horror movies were in their heyday, being viewed on actual celluloid, the Monster Mash was a Graveyard Smash. Route 66 was going strong, it was all about Elvis and Eisenhower, and the Drive-In was the ultimate homage to car culture. Resurrect with us the romantic and nostalgic Good Ol' Fashioned Drive-In Movie theater... accompanied by the usual disturbing Gothtober overtones of course.
Examples/Ideas:
Beetles in your popcorn, bone-chilling thrillers, hooks hanging from car-door windows belonging to hook-handed killers in urban legends, creepy groundsmen yelling at meddlesome crime-sleuthing teenagers, purchasing a delicious and affordable snack from concessions, pre-movie cartoons about monster hygiene and local businesses, Christine-like possessed evil cars, sneaking someone into the show via trunk... (with tragic results,) teen make-out disasters, zombies in the playground, mysterious disappearances and weird unnatural fog prowling into the parking lot, werewolf burgers, vampire fries, mummy malts, Beach Blanket Brain Bingo, general dismemberment, The Blob, Creature from the Black Lagoon (all the Universal Studios Monsters), I was a Teenage Werewolf (starring Michael Landon!), Ed Wood movies, the Chickenheart that ate NY, Ghosts of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper paying you a visit, haunted greasers, Drag-Races, phantoms in your bomb shelter, or you know... like the fifties... appearing normal, but underneath it all, there is a lurking feeling that something is just not quite right.
What benefits are there to being a Gothtober Artist?
Gothtober artists gain international fame and glory! Our stats monitor has shown that we are recognized the world over as the premiere Halloween Countdown Calendar featuring independent artists every day of October. People all over the planet will see your work, some of the pieces go on to premier at film festivals! Barry Morse's piece "Ookie Cookie" from 2008 went on to show at OutFest and Homo A-GoGo this year, as well as Jimena Sarno and Ms Bea's film El Miedo (Fear) that showed in the 47th Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival 2009.
Where can I keep up on the latest Gothtober developments?
Who makes Gothtober?
Gothtober is a small group of ghouls who love Halloween!
The Gothtober Countdown Calendar is produced, curated, directed and illustrated by the Head Candycorn, Julianna Parr.
Cristin Pescosolido is our High Priestess of all things web, part-time programmer and head of media output.
Our PR is handled by none other than the illustrious "Heinous Heather" Thomas.
And, of course, the calendar would simply not exist without the weird and wonderful work of our Gothtober Artists.
How did Gothtober start?
I was experimenting with time-release options in Flash, and came up with a Xmas advent calendar back in 2002. I designed all the art and work behind the doors myself. The following year, I invited 25 friends (as there are 25 days to Xmas) to contribute to the piece. Then I thought... how can I get more doors and make it less about Xmas and make it way weirder? I know! I'll make a countdown to Halloween! The first Gothtober was born in 2003.
What size do I need to design for?
General Gothtober Day Console: The exact size of the Gothober console, where each piece will be housed, will be set at a later date. For certain, it will be in the 4:3 aspect ratio, the "TV" ratio. Frame rate is 30 frames per second There will be a special "Gothtober" border/frame around every piece, I will send it to you as soon as I make it, so that you can plan accordingly for it's existence around your art. Go to www.gothtober.com and click on any one of the days to see the example size from 2008.
If I make something and it's compressed, will it look crappy?
All music, visuals and other elements within Gothtober are compressed for maximum viewer access. Things are going to sound waaaaay less than pristine (very popply and warbly and crackly), and images (especially if they are video/Quicktime movies) will not be as crisp as you'd like them to be. Subtle use of color or things shot in very dark light is not recommended, neither is video work that is particularly text-heavy, as it will muddy up quite a bit and be largely unreadable.
If you are particularly concerned about this issue, talk with us about it ASAP, there may be things that can be done in the preparation/creation of your piece that will save time and prevent disappointment.
What are the requirements of making a:
Slideshow-Style Presentation?Animated Flash Movies or Interactive Content?
Video/Quicktime Movie?
Printable Document (like stories, or a fold-out craft project)?
Downloadable Music Files or other goodies?
Anything Else We Haven't Thought of?
Please go to Gothtober.com and click on ARCHIVE and go to Gothtober 2008 in order to see corresponding numbers that I'm referring to in this document.
Slideshow-Style Presentation
(Examples in the 2008 Calendar are Days: 7,11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 28)
This could be a gallery of works, a story w/pictures, a recipe w/steps, comics, a poem w/visuals, etc.
Show can be activated by viewer pressing buttons (interactive mode) or a timed show that has no buttons that runs by itself.
Limited to 20 images or less.
Music limited to 30-45 seconds, looped.
If you are not digitally inclined, prepare to meet and talk with us A LOT!
Animated Flash Movies & Interactive Content like Games or other types of interactive content
Examples from Gothtober 2008 are Days: 1, 21, 23, 31
(Examples in the 2005 Calendar are Days: 4, 18, 23, 24, 30, 31)
Stories, cartoons, click-through narrations, games!
Please follow size requirements (we'll be giving you the specs on this later)
Music limited to 30-45 seconds, looped, unless you have big plans like dialogue or other specifics (in which we can discuss what is needed)
Frame rate is 12 frames per second!
Gothtober frame png will be provided to you so that you can work within its confines.
Loading bar won't be necessary, one will be provided by Gothtober.
Quicktime Movies
(Examples in the 2008 Calendar are days: 2, 3, 4,5,8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29
This includes creepy music videos, eerie murder movies, tales of gruesome revenge and strife! When possible, please provide us with a .flv file containing your precompressed video. (Stage size specs will be coming later.) We will provide the loading bar. We will provide a frame .png so you can work within its confines for framing your video.
Remember to use bight colorful imagery and stay away from tiny objects and signage, since when things get compressed, it becomes unreadable or looks kinda crappy.
If you send us raw video, it will be compressed into flash using state-of-the-art methods, and kept to a file size no larger than 7 megs unless you're willing to chip in some dough for our bandwidth costs. If you don't know how to compress your movie (or don't possess the technology), I can help you, but please plan to be working with me early on this.
Printable Things
(Examples in the 2005 Calendar are days: 6, 10)
A file for download that can be printed: Paintings, Mini-books, Halloween Masks, Cards, posters, fold-&-print projects, gameboards, trading cards, ANYTHING made on paper that you want to share with the world that can be printed and assembled/displayed by the viewer.
Actual physical artwork delivered must be no larger than 8 1/2 x 11" (must be sent earlier for digital prep)
Digital files must be same measurements (for easy printing) sent as Illustrator, Photoshop or hi-res jpg file at 180 dpi or larger.
Downloadable Music Files or other goodies:
Examples from 2008 Gothtober can be found in days 6 and 30
(Example in the 2005 Calendar is Day 2- this piece also has a Quicktime movie in it)
CD-quality recordings of tunes or spoken word you've made that you want people to have for listening! Home-made gothtober sound effects, 1 minute of evil laughter, dippy country song about pumpkins, plunking the guitar and yodeling about goblins...etc.
Please no files larger than 7 megs, unless you're willing to chip in some dough for our bandwidth costs.
If you don't know how to compress your sound (or don't possess the technology), I can help you, but please plan to be working with me early on this.
Anything Else We Haven't Thought of:
(Example in the 2005 Calendar is day 11)
The most unique day we've had is a "mystery bike ride" that anyone can take from anywhere in the world. If you come up with something new, HOORAY! Tell me what it is, and we'll see if we can do it!
contacting us
Do you have more questions/concerns? e-mail us at