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Evans & Sutherland to Demonstrate 8K Digistar 5 Fulldome System at Tech Museum During GSCA 2015 Conference

ABOVE: E&S 8K Digistar 5 at the Science Museum of Virginia, which hosted a GSCA Digital Dome Day in 2014

Holly Springs, NC, USA (August 26, 2015)  Evans & Sutherland has signed on as a partner-level sponsor, the highest level of support, for the upcoming Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) International Conference and Trade Show in San Francisco on September 9-11 and Dome Day at The Tech Museum in San Jose on September 12.

As part of its sponsorship, Evans & Sutherland will demonstrate an 8K digital fulldome system using its Digistar 5 system with Christie 4K projectors during Dome Day at The Tech Museum of Innovation onSaturday, September 12. This will be an excellent opportunity to see a variety of high-resolution material on a state-of-the-art digital dome system that equals or exceed the brightness and resolution of 15/70 film. Evans & Sutherland will install their proprietary auto alignment and blending systems to create a seamless ultra-high resolution image across the dome. Included in the demonstration will be giant screen film content digitally mastered for the dome in both 8K and 4K resolution, along with original digital fulldome content also in 8K and 4K resolution. Additionally, Evans & Sutherland will install a 4K DCI projector to demonstrate a sampling of Hollywood trailers and other scenes on an “insert” window in the front of the dome.

“Evans & Sutherland is a longstanding and valuable supporter of GSCA, and they’re going to considerable lengths to install the temporary digital fulldome system at The Tech for Dome Day,” says GSCA Executive Director Tammy Seldon. “We’re excited to provide our delegates the opportunity to experience Evans & Sutherland’s state-of-the-art system and thrilled to partner with them for this event.”

“Our Digistar 5 system in 8K has garnered incredible success worldwide in premium theaters looking for the breathtaking clarity and brightness that 8K provides. To date, we have replaced 15/70 film systems in three 20+ meter diameter theaters—including the Science Museum of Virginia, where we demonstrated our 8K system in a permanent installation for a special GSCA Digital Dome Demo last October—and have installed a total of eight 8K Digistar 5 systems as the latest additions to our more than 300 theaters around the world. We are honored to have this valuable opportunity to sponsor GSCA and present the state-of-the-art in ultra-high resolution digital dome projection at the conference,” says E&S Vice President and General Manager, Kirk Johnson.

The GSCA International Conference and Trade Show is the largest gathering of educational giant screen and immersive cinema professionals. The 2015 event is being held on September 9-11 at the AMC Metreon IMAX Theater in San Francisco, California, and will feature new films, films in production, projects in development, professional development sessions, a technical session, trade show, and the GSCA Achievement Awards, which honor excellence in giant screen filmmaking, marketing, and education. In addition to the digital screenings, the conference will also include film presentations on the IMAX 15-perf/70mm system. On September 12, delegates travel to the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California, for screenings and sessions in the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater. Conference registration and other event details are available at www.giantscreencinema.com.

Fast & Furious Attraction Gears Up for Universal Orlando While Hulk Coaster Gets More Incredible

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Orlando, FL, USA (Aug. 25, 2015) — One of the most successful film franchises of all time will soon become one of Universal Studios Florida’s most action-packed ride experiences.  Universal Orlando Resort announced today that Fast & Furious: Supercharged will join its incredible lineup of attractions in 2017 – continuing the unprecedented growth of the destination.

Guests will experience a high-octane journey that fuses an original storyline and incredible ride technology with everything that fans love about the films—popular characters, exhilarating environments, nonstop action and, of course, high-speed cars.

Led by film stars Vin Diesel (Dom Toretto), Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty) and Tyrese Gibson (Roman), guests will feel like part of the “Fast family” as they embark on a thrilling new Fast & Furious adventure.  They will be immersed in the underground racing world made famous in the films, explore the headquarters of Toretto and his team and even get to check out some of the supercharged cars they’ve seen on the big screen.  Then, guests will board specially-designed vehicles and take off on an adrenaline-pumping ride with their favorite stars from the films.

Fast & Furious is Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing film franchise of all time.  Since the release of the first film in 2001, the Fast & Furious series has become a cultural phenomenon.  Together, all seven installments have grossed nearly $3.9 billion at the worldwide box office.  The most recent film, Furious 7, was released in April and became the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time, with more than $1.5 billion in global box office.  In addition, Universal Studios Hollywood introduced its own Fast & Furious—Supercharged this summer, which serves as the grand finale to its world famous Studio Tour.

Fast & Furious: Supercharged will replace Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue and Disaster: A Major Motion Picture Starring You! at Universal Studios Florida.  Disaster will close on September 8, 2015 and Beetlejuice will close later this year to make way for the new attraction.

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Additionally, Universal Orlando Resort has announced that the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure will also close on September 8, 2015 for enhancements to the storyline and overall effects and the addition of new ride vehicles.

UPDATED WITH CEDAR POINT’S NEW COASTER! Cedar Fair Parks Announce 2016 Projects

[Htab][tab title=”Canada’s Wonderland”]Canada’s Wonderland is taking guests to new heights for 2016 with the addition of two new rides that will capture the imagination of both families, and thrill-seekers, as they take flight in an interactive flying experience.

Canada's Wonderland Announces Exciting new line-up of rides

Skyhawk, the first ride of its kind in North America, will take riders to a new level of adventure when the park opens for its 35th season in 2016. Riders will take control of their own cockpit, showcasing their flying abilities as they maneuver through 360 degree turns, and challenge themselves to engage in multiple inversions at 135 feet (41m) in the air.

Canada's Wonderland Announces Exciting new line-up of rides

Flying Eagles will thrill little pilots and quickly become a family favourite for parents and children alike. These two-person planes will glide 28 feet (8.5m) above the ground and allow each rider to control their flight and ride experience.

“We are always looking to enhance the guest experience with new and exciting attractions. With the introduction of Skyhawk and Flying Eagles, thrill-seekers of all ages will enjoy the flying sensation on these interactive rides that are truly unique to our Park.” Norm Pirtovshek, General Manager, Canada’s Wonderland.[/tab] [tab title=”NEW! Cedar Point”]Valravn_FirstDive_1

Cedar Point will change the Lake Erie skyline once again with over 3,400 feet of thrill ride innovation when it introduces Valravn (val-rey-vuhn), the world’s tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster, in 2016. Valravn is the regal king of birds, swooping in to conquer all other dive coasters on the planet with its powerful and intense maneuvers, massive structure and immense ride vehicles. Valravn will become the 18th coaster to take reign at “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World” and will claim its rightful place among other record-breaking roller coasters at Cedar Point.

Riders on Valravn are carried more than 20 stories up to the top of the coaster’s 223-foot-tall first hill. Once there, the train is held perilously over the edge of the first drop for approximately four seconds, giving anxious guests unparalleled views of the park before free-falling a record 214 feet at a completely vertical, 90-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 75 mph.

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Valravn then flips its passengers upside-down through a 165-foot-tall Immelmann, a fighter jet-like maneuver that takes the train into a half loop, then a half roll before traveling in the opposite direction. The train then approaches another drop zone – but there’s no stopping this time as riders plunge 125 feet down at a near 90-degree angle once again, twisting and turning upside-down two more times, once through a dive loop and then through a 270-degree roll before completing its epic journey over 3,415 feet of tarnished copper and silver steel track.

Valravn will shatter 10 WORLD RECORDS when it debuts next summer, including:

  1. Tallest dive coaster (223 feet)
  2. Fastest dive coaster (75 mph)
  3. Longest dive coaster (3,415 feet)
  4. Most inversions on a dive coaster (3)
  5. Longest drop on a dive coaster (214 feet)
  6. Highest inversion on a dive coaster (165 feet)
  7. Most roller coasters taller than 200 feet at one amusement park (5)
  8. Most rides at one amusement park (72)
  9. Most steel roller coaster track at one amusement park (52,125 feet/9.9 miles)
  10. Most roller coaster track at one amusement park (60,110 feet/11.4 miles)

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Valravn is also the signature 100th roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard in Monthey of Switzerland, and will feature ride vehicles never before seen on a dive coaster. Riders will sit eight-across on one of three, 24-passenger floorless trains, featuring tiered seating as well as comfortable over-the-shoulder restraints with interlocking seatbelts, much like those on the park’s GateKeeper wing coaster. Valravn can accommodate approximately 1,200 riders per hour and guests must be 54 inches or taller to ride.

Cedar Point is also making history as the first amusement park ever to utilize 3D virtual reality to introduce a new roller coaster. Guests can experience Valravn in 360-degree virtual reality by downloading the Cedar Point VR app onto their smart phones and inserting them into the Valravn VR Viewer. The app is now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. To take full advantage of the virtual reality simulation, Valravn VR Viewers can be purchased by visiting cedarpoint.com/Valravn.

“The introduction of Valravn is a first for the amusement park industry on many fronts, including the exciting virtual reality experience,” stated Jason McClure, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “For the first time ever, guests are able to take an immersive ride on Valravn before it opens next summer – and the actual experience will be unmatched with the tallest lift hill, fastest speed, longest track and most inversions on a dive coaster, right here at Cedar Point, The Roller Coaster Capital of the World.”[/tab][tab title=”NEW! Carowinds”]

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Carowinds has unveiled plans to bring a fresh and exciting Carolina coastal experience to guests with a huge waterpark expansion in 2016. The transformation is part of the park’s commitment to celebrate Carowinds’ heritage as the place where the Carolinas come together, creating an “aquatic playground” with thrilling new attractions, new amenities and a new coastal name – Carolina Harbor.

Carolina Harbor waterpark will be included with park admission and will offer guests relaxing moments of tranquility and refreshing thrills by the “shores.”  The addition is the latest phase in a $50 million plus multi-year expansion at Carowinds, an effort kicked off by building the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster, Fury 325, as well as new park food offerings which are regionally relevant.

“We listened to our guests and have made a promise to bring them more family-friendly attractions,” said Mike Fehnel, Carowinds vice president and general manager. “And we’re happy to be delivering on our promise with the addition of Carolina Harbor – a guaranteed ultimate waterpark experience. Carowinds is growing by leaps and bounds and continues to put us on the map as the premier entertainment destination of the Carolinas.”Carolina Harbor will feature a combination of thrills, relaxation and family fun, including twice the number of water slides than the current Boomerang Bay.Carolina Harbor will feature many of the park’s current popular waterpark attractions, while introducing a variety of new ones:58809225-fd15-4dc7-94a5-4d979b85181e.HR

Blackbeard’s Revenge is a thrilling new six story tall water slide complex that features three exhilarating attractions and a total of six thrilling slides:

–Pirate’s Plank will send guests plummeting down a nearly vertical free fall where the floor drops out from underneath.

–Cannonball Drop will twist and turn riders through an enclosed chute with four intense 360-degree turns.

–Captain’s Curse shoots guests down a series of intense drops and turns.

A new two-acre family area will include many new activities to enjoy together:

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Seaside Splashworks, a multi-level children’s water spray ground, will feature over 80 countless play elements including a giant 423-gallon tipping bucket.

Kiddy Hawk Cove and Myrtle Turtle Beach are two areas specifically geared with the little squirts in mind. These toddler areas will include jets of water spraying up from the ground surrounded by a charming garden atmosphere.

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Surf Club Harbor will be our newest wave pool, creating up to six foot waves in 12 different wave patterns, mimicking the high surf of the Atlantic Ocean.

Carolina Harbor will also feature many new amenities:

New Entrance – A separately gated entrance convenient for guests who wish to enter the waterpark only.

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New RestaurantsHarbor House a new restaurant featuring two 2,400-square foot outdoor seating patios. The restaurant will serve various Carolina favorites including BBQ and seafood. Schooners will be a full-service bar.

Sand Volleyball Courts – New professional style sand volleyball courts will allow both casual and competitive play.

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Additional Plush Cabanas and Seating – Over 40 new cabanas will be added at both wave pools and the new family area. An additional 1,100 lounging chairs will also be available for guests to enjoy some fun in the sun.

Upgraded Facilities – Current family changing areas will be upgraded. New restroom facilities and a bath house will be built.

Carowinds has recently been named one of the nation’s top amusement parks by the Travel Channel and Fodor’s Travel, and TripAdvisor’s family travel site has named it one of the country’s 10 Best Amusement Parks for Families.[/tab][tab title=”Kings Dominion”]

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Get ready to defy gravity on Kings Dominion’s new ride, Delirium. The thrill ride will be located in the Candy Apple Grove section of the park and is set to open in the spring of 2016.

Delirium is a powerful, spinning pendulum on which 40 riders will be strapped into their seats, facing outward on a giant ring. As their feet dangle, they begin slowly swinging back and forth while the ring starts to rotate. The ride quickly gains momentum and before they know it, riders are getting swirling views of the park. On Delirium, guests soar to a height of 115 feet at a maximum arc angle of 120 degrees.

Delirium will delight thrill seekers of all ages as they fly through the air, experiencing gravity defying hang time.

“Thrills come in all different sizes here at Kings Dominion and the addition of Delirium reflects our commitment to providing exciting experiences for our guests,” says Pat Jones, Vice President and General Manager of Kings Dominion. “We pride ourselves on being home to a variety of rides and attractions that offer something for all generations to enjoy. Delirium will make a great addition to our park.”[/tab][tab title=”Kings Island”]
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Kings Island announced on August 19th a major expansion to its Soak City Waterpark for the 2016 season with the addition of Tropical Plunge, a complex of six different water slide experiences towering nearly seven stories.

Three of the slides on the 65-foot tall complex will start with guests climbing inside an Aqua-Launch chamber where they will wait anxiously for the floor to drop out from underneath their feet, sending them into a high-speed, almost vertical free fall through a series of flat loops and S-curves in a translucent flume.

Tropical Plunge also features a slide that will send riders twisting and spiraling through an enclosed chute featuring four intense 360-degree loops across 449 feet of slide before they’re released out into a pool of water and dueling 337-foot long tube slides that zip riders through an enchanting series of drops and turns.

“This will be a high-adrenaline attraction that will increase the thrill factor for our park guests,” Kings Island’s Vice President and General Manager Greg Scheid said. “They have been asking for new and more thrilling waterpark attractions they are able to enjoy with family members and we think this answers their feedback plus brings another element of FUN to the overall experience of Kings Island.”

Tropical Plunge will expand the size of Kings Island’s waterpark to 35 acres. Once the attraction has been built, Soak City Waterpark will have a total of 36 slides; two wave pools; two coves; a lagoon and an action river plus children’s play areas among its more than 50 water activities.

Construction on Tropical Plunge is expected to begin this fall and will be ready by Memorial Day 2016, the start of the waterpark’s 27th season.

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In addition to the new water slide complex, in conjunction with the City of Mason’s renovation of Kings Island Drive, a grander more welcoming park entrance with 13 new entrance lanes will be built on the north end of the parking lot, creating a much-improved traffic flow. The new entrance will replace the current north and south toll plazas.[/tab][tab title=”Knott’s Berry Farm”]
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In 2016, Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town will celebrate 75 years of creating lasting memories for countless generations. In preparation for Ghost Town’s Anniversary Celebration, GhostRider, the longest, tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast, will close on September 8 for a comprehensive restoration.

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The massive coaster features plunging drops, harrowing turns, and 4,533 ft. of wooden track. Hitting speeds of over 50 miles per hour, and looming 118 ft. over the historic Ghost Town, GhostRider even races outside of the Park, towering over Beach Boulevard. Screamin’ Swing will permanently close on September 8 in preparation for Ghost Town’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2016.

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In November, Knott’s will share more plans about how the park will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town.[/tab][tab title=”Worlds of Fun”]
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Families can glide, fly and launch into 2016 at Worlds of Fun with the addition of five new family rides coming to Planet Snoopy next season:

  • Woodstock Gliders – Young guests control their own flight with movable stationary wings.
  • Flying Ace – Get your aviator glasses ready for a high-flying adventure with Snoopy
  • Snoopy Space Buggies – Defy gravity and bounce to the moon and back
  • Linus Launcher – Experience the sensation of weightlessness through flight with feet dangling
  • Snoopy Junction – All aboard! Snoopy the conductor leads kids on a railroad adventure

“Thrills come in all sizes,” says vice president and general manager Frank Wilburn. “It’s important that we continue to create the best family environment for our guests and what better place to do that than right here at Planet Snoopy where we create memories that last a lifetime.”

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Planet Snoopy was added to Worlds of Fun in 2011 and will now feature 21 family style rides at Kansas City’s favorite amusement park. Little ones can take a trip on monster trucks, take to the skies on a forty-foot balloon ride, or hop in a new spinning tug-boat for the whole family. Sing and dance with Peanuts Party in the Park, a show with a special musical appearance by Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the whole Peanuts gang live in Planet Snoopy Plaza.[/tab]
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SG Studios Delivers Optimus Prime and Batman Sculptures to Shanghai

Roseville, CA, USA — SG Studios, a full service fabrication studio, is pleased to announce the successful delivery of Optimus Prime and Batman figures with accompanying scenery to Shanghai, China, where they will be featured in an international traveling exhibition.  The Optimus Prime sculpture measures 14′ tall, 16′ wide, and 8′ deep, while the Batman sculpture is 12′ tall 8′ wide, and 6′ deep.  Extensive research in color, texture, and background elements having been fully integrated into the final product.

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Scenic elements, such as the integrated fencing, are designed to both add a decorative aspect and deter visitors from climbing on the sculptures.  Each sculpture was completed in a fire rated sculpted epoxy. Internal rebar frames allows both to be easily separated into smaller component parts for transport and simple reassemble at the next location.

MacGillivray Freeman Enters Television Production with 8-part Travel Channel Series

Laguna Beach, CA, USA (August 21, 2015) – For the first time ever, MacGillivray Freeman Films, a leading independent producer and distributor of films for IMAX and giant-screen theaters, has expanded into the world of television production with an 8-part half-hour series, ‘America. The Beautiful.’  The series premiered August 9 on Travel Channel.

Narrated by Academy Award winner Robert Redford, ‘America. The Beautiful.’ features America’s most beloved national parks and wilderness areas and kicks off the 100-year anniversary celebration of the U.S. National Park Service that will culminate next year.  ‘America. The Beautiful’ airs every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.ET/PT in back-to-back episodes for four weeks, concluding at the end of August.

MacGillivray Freeman Films brings an IMAX-quality production into the television production realm using 70mm film and high quality 4, 5 and 6K digital footage that is rarely used in non-fiction television, ensuring that high-quality image-capture and the integrity of the image is preserved on smaller screens. This new direction for the Company comes after a successful launch of more than 10 hours of original digital programing for its One World One Ocean campaign, the largest multi-platform ocean awareness campaign of its kind.

Greg MacGillivray, Oscar-nominated producer/director, shares, “The powerful visual storytelling of MacGillivray Freeman Films is perfectly suited to 4K television with its pristine, high-quality image.  We use the most cutting-edge 3D, digital and IMAX technologies available. Now that distributors of broadcast, cable, satellite and streaming media are exploring higher resolution formats, it feels like the most organic next step for our company.”

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MacGillivray Freeman Films shot ‘America. The Beautiful.’ simultaneously while shooting their next film for IMAX and giant screen theaters, National Parks Adventure,’ also narrated by Robert Redford and presented by Expedia, Inc. in association with Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, with support from the Giant Dome Theater Consortium.  The 3D film is scheduled for global release on February 12, 2016 to coincide with the National Park Service’s 2016 centennial celebration.  These two multi-media documentaries serve as part of MacGillivray Freeman’s National Parks awareness project meant to reinvigorate the interest and preservation of America’s parks and treasured landscapes.

MacGillivray Freeman Films has hired Grady Candler, a seasoned documentary filmmaker and Executive Producer on ‘America.The Beautiful.’ to drive the efforts behind this new division of the company.  Candler has worked in film and TV production for more than two decades and has produced a wide-range of non-fiction films, series and specials for companies such as Disney, Paramount, NBC, CBS, National Geographic and Discovery.

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“We are thrilled to have Grady Candler on board,” says MacGillivray Freeman Films President and Producer, Shaun MacGillivray. “His passion for environmental and nature-focused projects align with our company’s mission of producing high-quality entertainment experiences in extraordinary locations that enrich people’s lives and inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world.”

“This is an exciting time for MacGillivray Freeman Films as we continue to grow our vision and expand into multiple mediums of storytelling,” shares Grady Candler. “Our goal is to produce high-quality programming that continues the MacGillivray Freeman tradition of creating compelling imagery and unique stories that have driven the incredible success of their IMAX films.”

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For more than 50 years, MacGillivray Freeman Films has been making documentary films, starting with surf documentaries in the mid-60s transitioning to IMAX films in the mid-70s and now having made 38 IMAX films and blockbuster documentaries such as Everest and The Living Sea. The company has become known industry-wide for their artistry and successful blend of education and entertainment as well as their celebration of science and the natural world shot in the highest-quality filmmaking technologies.  The Company is the first documentary filmmaking company to gross $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales.

In addition to ‘National Parks Adventure,’ the company is developing a number of television series and a new giant-screen film, Dream Big: Engineering Wonders of the World about the world’s most fascinating engineering marvels and what it took to build them.

Wyatt Design Group Completes Master Plan for New Vietnamese Themed Resort

ABOVE: Larry Wyatt – Wyatt Design Group (right) with Pam Westerman – ITPS Project Manager (left) and Brani Hetzel – Hetzel Design (center).

Pasadena, CA, USA (August 20, 2015) — Wyatt Design Group (WDG) has just completed a master planning and art direction for a new theme park and leisure destination in picturesque Ha Long Bay, in Northern Vietnam.  Set to open in late 2015 with phases rolling out through 2016, this world-class venue will feature rides and entertainment, a public beach, resort hotels, a marina, a world showcase international village, a giant 115-meter wheel, and a breathtaking 1.5 kilometer free-span gondola ride across Ha Long Bay.

Themed with influences from local Vietnamese historical culture and heritage, this 345-acre oceanfront to mountaintop destination will include a theme park, water park, family entertainment center, event pavilions, Japanese gardens, an aquarium, dolphin show arena, a giant Ferris wheel, a wax museum, a Vietnamese-themed fishing village with shopping and dining, a world showcase international village, and a double deck gondola cable car ride, all adjacent to resorts and hotels, and with a stunning view of UNESCO world heritage site Ha Long Bay.

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WDG’s role was that of master planner and art director of all elements of the project working under the leadership of leisure consulting company International Theme Park Services (ITPS), the Project Manager who also provided programming, attraction selection, rides technical data, operational planning assistance, and attraction budgeting. The client, JSC Sun Group of Vietnam, was very thorough in providing the design team tours of several historic and heritage sites and locations in the region to incorporate as much authentic local culture, legends, and myths in the project as possible.  Under the direction of ITPS, the WDG design team was responsible for story development, environmental theming, attraction content, area development design, and art direction of all elements from Blue Sky Concept through Schematic Design.  WDG enlisted the support and talent of Hetzel Design to provide Architectural Design, 3D modeling, and countless stunning digital illustrations.

“We very much appreciated the opportunity to work with ITPS and Sun Group on this outstanding project at Ha Long Bay.  This was our first experience in Vietnam, and our client could not have been more thoughtful and kind throughout the process.  We also had fantastic support from one of our frequent collaborators and long time friends, Hetzel Design.  Sun Group envisioned a diverse program for this extraordinary site with dramatic views of this stunning World Heritage site. The pace was frantic—they were literally driving piles as we were delivering our final design package, but Dennis Speigel, Pam Westerman and the team at ITPS provided strong project leadership in programming, operations, and overall project management that kept things on track.  It was a fantastic experience and we look forward to new adventures with ITPS and Sun Group in the near future,” remarked Larry Wyatt, Principal of Wyatt Design Group.

Added Dennis Speigel, President of ITPS, “All of us at ITPS very much enjoyed our working relationship with Larry Wyatt and his team, as well as the Hetzel Design team, on this highly unique project.  Yes, the pace was frantic, but our talented team once again delivered a world-class project.”

Ryan Hindinger Named Director of Sales Logistics at A.C.T. Lighting

Los Angeles, CA, USA (August 21, 2015) – A.C.T Lighting, Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of Ryan Hindinger to the new position of Director of Sales Logistics.  Hindinger began his career in sales with A.C.T Lighting in 2007; he’s a 2006 graduate of Loyola College in Maryland with a B.A. in English Literature and Theater.

In his new position Hindinger will coordinate A.C.T Lighting’s industry-leading sales and quotations teams to support key accounts and dealers from the company’s offices in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.

“Ryan’s promotion is a formal recognition of his efforts to uphold A.C.T’s values throughout his tenure here,” says Brian Dowd, VP of Sales at A.C.T Lighting.  “Ryan has developed strong relationships with our customers since he joined us; we look forward to watching this continue as we grow and expand our customer base, product offerings and sales team.”

Hindinger adds, “A.C.T Lighting has an unparalleled model for being more partner than mere vendor; providing a professional level of service and support for high performance products and those who demand them. It’s a thrill to be carrying this philosophy forward with the incredible team at A.C.T and the growing array of awarding winning technologies we support.”

IMAX Digital Laser Projector to be Demonstrated During GSCA Technical Session

ABOVE: IMAX laser projection system at Airbus IMAX Theater, National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center.  Courtesy Smithsonian Institution.

Holly Springs, NC, USA (August 21, 2015) — The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is pleased to announce that delegates of the upcoming GSCA International Conference and Trade Show in San Francisco will be treated to a demonstration of IMAX’s next-generation digital laser projection system’s capabilities during the conference technical session on Friday, September 11, at the AMC Metreon IMAX Theatre. Digital new films and films in production will also be screened for attendees on IMAX’s laser system throughout the conference.

“This year’s introduction of IMAX with laser is a milestone in giant screen cinema technology, and we are pleased to be able to showcase it,” says GSCA Executive Director Tammy Seldon. “Thanks to the AMC Metreon’s decision to install the system now, our delegates will be among the first to see it.”

The GSCA International Conference and Trade Show is the largest gathering of educational giant screen and immersive cinema professionals. The 2015 event is being held on September 9-11 at the AMC Metreon IMAX Theatre in San Francisco, California, and will feature new films, films in production, projects in development, professional development sessions, a technical session, trade show, and the GSCA Achievement Awards, which honor excellence in giant screen filmmaking, marketing, and education. In addition to the digital screenings, the conference will also include film presentations on IMAX’s 15-perf/70mm projection system. On September 12, delegates travel to the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California, for screenings and sessions in the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theatre. Conference registration and other event details are available at www.giantscreencinema.com.

WhiteWater Triples the Thrills with World’s First Triple Fusion Waterslide

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Richmond, BC, Canada (August 18, 2015) — For the first time ever, WhiteWater has combined three head-rushing thrills to create the ultimate recipe for fun. Hasunuma Water Garden in Japan will be home to the very first triple Fusion Waterslide in the world. The unique combination of the Constrictor + Rattler + Boomerango will send guests into high-banking turns, crazy oscillations, down scream-inducing drops and into gravity-defying wall climbs, all in one ride.

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“We spent months working back and forth trying to fit the impossibly large into an impossibly small space. After pouring through endless CAD files and iterative designs with our client, we flew to Japan to ensure the glove fit. We spent hours on-site visualizing every detail of the world’s first triple Fusion Waterslide from meticulous measurements to rider viewpoints”, commented Emily Colombo, Slide Path Designer, WhiteWater.

The new waterslide is being introduced to celebrate the waterpark’s 40th anniversary, where WhiteWater manufactured and supplied a yellow and red Constrictor alongside a translucent Flatline Loop in 2013.

Hasunuma Water Garden - Triple Fusion Waterslide (2)

Not only is this waterslide the first combination of its kind in the world, it’s the first to introduce AquaLucent rings into a flume of this size. The 84’ flume will be filled with dancing colors as the sun pours through the colorful rings creating a mesmerizing effect that will dazzle riders.

Don Eash Promoted to Executive VP and COO of Gateway Ticketing Systems

Gilbertsville, PA, USA (August 18, 2015) – Gateway Ticketing Systems is pleased to announce the promotion of Don Eash to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Eash, who joined the Company in 2014 as the Director of Operations, brings with him more than two decades of industry experience in strategic IT leadership, systems implementation and technology support.

Don Eash - Universal Parks IT Sr. Director, eCommerce and Admissions,  Universal Parks & Resorts Executive Portrait

Don joined the Gateway family from Universal Orlando where he was the Senior Director of Information Technology. While at Universal, he provided hands-on leadership, was responsible for continuous improvement, and led the development and execution of IT strategy supporting all online and onsite sales and guest-facing solutions. Before joining Universal Orlando, Don held management positions at both WellSpan Health in York, PA and Walt Disney World in Orlando. Of his new role at Gateway, he says: “I am privileged to work alongside some the industry’s top
talent and am honored to have the opportunity to serve them in this new capacity.”

Gateway President and CEO, Michael Andre, looks forward to working with Don in his new role: “During his tenure with Gateway, Don has strengthened the operational foundation of the company supporting our growth and new initiatives to provide world-class customer support. His expertise with both Gateway’s Galaxy Product Suite and industry operations, including customer satisfaction and dedication to quality of service and customer relationships, is essential to fostering our corporate culture and future initiatives. His positive influence has been tremendous for our employees and our customers. I look forward to continued innovation and growth with Don at the helm of our operations group and as a member of our executive team.”