A vampire convention was recently hosted in Los Angeles, and there was no way Vamp Jenn was going to miss it! Ve Neill’s Vampire Weekend was dedicated to the undead and took place at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank, California. To my knowledge, this was the first year the event took place, and I’m excited to give you a look inside.
Ve Neill, the event creator and organizer, is a multi-award-winning makeup artist. She has been nominated and won several Academy Awards. She’s best known for her work on films such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, The Lost Boys and Pirates of the Caribbean. I had no idea she had been involved with makeup on so many Tim Burton movies! Her Vampire Weekend highlighted horror and special effects makeup.
The convention was held over a span of three days, from Friday to Saturday. The weekend was packed with panels, makeup demos and celebrity guest appearances. While I would’ve loved to have witnessed the entire gala, Sunday was the only day I attended. I’ve noticed that activities and agendas on the Sunday of a convention tend to be lighter. The bulk of the action typically happens on Saturdays. That was the case for this event.
The majority of panels took place on Friday and Saturday. These included Women with a Bite, Horror Tri-VE-a, Vampire Culture, Sleep All Day, Slay All Night: The Lost Boys, and others. There was also a vampire ball on Saturday night. There was plenty I missed, but I still managed to soak up enough vampiric energy on the third and final day.
I arrived just in time to catch the Face Off Reunion panel. Face Off was a reality TV competition series that aired on the SyFy channel and featured special effects makeup artists. I have to admit that I didn’t watch the show, but I was aware of it. Ve Neill was one of the judges on the series.
The discussion reunited her with some of her fellow judges and past contestants. It was interesting hearing from the former cast about how the series affected the trajectory of their careers in the makeup industry. Most have gone on to work on major film productions and win or be nominated for awards.
What I found most fascinating was when Ve Neill opened up about her experience working on Beetlejuice. Someone in the audience asked the panel if there was ever a time when they knew they were creating an iconic character. Ve responded that she never had that epiphany while working on a project. However, now she’s discovering how much her creations resonate with people.
She gave a little behind-the-scenes glimpse of transforming Michael Keaton into Beetlejuice. She brainstormed a bit with Keaton and Tim Burton, but the look essentially came together due to her resourcefulness and creativity. She revealed that she used a pair of prosthetic lips to shape his nose! She explained that it amazes her how there are so many Beetlejuice fans out there that enjoy dressing up like “the ghost with the most.”
Let’s talk about her influence on iconic film characters. She gave us Johnny Depp’s appearance as Edward Scissorhands. His style is a big hit with the goths (me included). Her work on Danny DeVito as the Penguin in Batman Returns is legendary. When I think of the Penguin, that’s who I think of. And regarding vampires, she’s made a significant contribution for her work on The Lost Boys. The movie is a classic when it comes to vampire pop culture.
After the Face Off panel, it was time to scope out the rest of the convention. There was a mini museum set up in the foyer displaying props and various memorabilia from a few horror and sci-fi films. I was immediately drawn to a table that included the fang prosthetics of Wesley Snipes in Blade and Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire. There was also the Dracula’s Armour costume that Gary Oldman donned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It looked so regal. However, the Vampira setup stole the show for me. It was a tribute to the original glamour ghoul and first horror TV host, Maila Nurmi. She’s a vamp icon!
A wide range of vendors were situated inside the venue’s Academy Ballroom. Ve Neill had a table selling some of her makeup brush sets. There were authors marketing their vampire and horror novels. Vampire Vineyards was also present showcasing their array of wines. There were also quite a few spooky small businesses that I’ve seen at other events.
I love wearing necklaces, and a vendor by the name of Weird Sistas had several on display. I purchased a rosary neck piece that featured an oval-shaped red pendant with bats. It gave all the vampire feels. I also snagged a pair of bat-winged shaped sunglasses and a bag of Chocolate Tragedy from Coffein Coffee Co.
Live makeup demos were taking place with a few models gradually being turned into vampires. Celebrity signings and photo ops also happened in this area. Special guests included Kristin Bauer from True Blood, Billy Wirth from The Lost Boys, Linda Blair from The Exorcist, and Daniel Roebuck from Rob Zombie’s The Munsters, just to name a few.
Overall, I had a fangtastic time. Compared to a horror con like Midsummer Scream, this event was much smaller and more intimate. It was pretty easy to navigate without feeling overwhelmed. I believe Ve Neill plans to make this an annual event, so if it takes place next year, I’m going to attend on a Saturday. I’m looking forward to seeing how Ve Neill’s Vampire Weekend develops in the future. Until then, I’ll be returning to my coffin.
Vamp Jenn's Corner 
You say it is small but it still looks big. I have admit I have not seen Beetlejuice yet but I saw lost Lost Boys when I was young and I recently rewatched it. I saw Blade and a couple of other movies you mention. Make up artists are indeed very important to the success of movies.
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Makeup artists really do play a big part when it comes to creating that movie magic. This event really opened my eyes up to that. Thanks for reading!
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