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Alien vs Predator Chestbursts out of the Screen and Into the Reality of Halloween Horror Nights

[quote]The introduction of AVP into the immensely popular ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ is further proof of the indelible mark this incredibly powerful franchise has left on fans and the horror genre itself.” — Greg Lombardo, VP Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products[/quote]

Orlando, FL and Universal City, CA, USA /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood are putting “Halloween Horror Nights'” guests in the middle of an epic and primal war between the universe’s most deadly species in an all-new maze inspired by the cult sci-fi franchise AVP: Alien vs. Predator, beginningFriday, September 19, 2014.

AVP: Alien vs. Predator is a sci-fi horror franchise that brings together the two iconic species spawned from two blockbuster films, Alien and Predator, to create a “terrifying crossover of eponymous monsters in a raging battle against mankind struggling to survive amid the chaos that ensues from these two vengeful creatures.”  To mark the 35th anniversary celebration of Alien, and the 10th anniversary of AVP: Alien vs. Predator, “HalloweenHorror Nights” guests and fans of these celebrated films will have a chance to live the horror of these diabolical beasts as they come face to face with the terror of Aliens and Predators.

“Bringing AVP to life in a new maze is a perfect way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the film as well as mark the 35th anniversary of Alien, the film that started it all, and etched in our collective psyche the meaning of modern terror,” said Greg Lombardo, vice president of global live and location based entertainment at Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products. “We’re thrilled to be working with Universal Studios to create mazes in Orlando and Hollywood that will bring fans face-to-face with the horrifying and iconic characters of AVP. The technology being leveraged will surely be a new benchmark and provide a uniquely terrifying and visceral encounter that puts guests right in the middle of an epic extraterrestrial battle for survival.”

In Universal Orlando’s maze, guests will find themselves thrust right into the middle of the primordial battle between the Aliens and Predators as they visit one of Weyland-Yutani’s secret facilities to assist with a situation that has surfaced. Communication has been lost with a bio-weapons research facility in Central America which houses many divisions dealing in extra-terrestrial technologies, specifically the Alien Xenomorph species. Pieces of transmissions were received detailing that the facility has become compromised and another alien species called Yautja – commonly known as Predators – are hunting both the Xenomorphs and any human presence found. Guests will have to navigate through the labyrinth of destruction within the facility as they struggle to survive the ancient feud between these two deadly species.

The terrifying new “AVP:  Alien vs Predator” maze at Universal Studios Hollywood will answer the proverbial question asked by mankind since the beginning of time:  Are we alone in this dark, vast universe?  “AVP:  Alien vs. Predator” will once and for all shed light on the answer when it brings to life the violent creatures cohabitating our world as it pits two rival alien species in a fight to the death with Earth as their battleground.  This menacing maze will uncover a dangerous alien spaceship carrying a race of hunter aliens known as Predators and a threatening new alien life form that uses human hosts to propagate its species.  After crash landing in a remote section of America and escaping to the countryside, the alien and predator become hunter and prey with guests caught in the crossfire.”

“When attempting to bring two of the most iconic creatures ever put on film to ‘Halloween Horror Nights,’ you need to rely on everything you’ve learned up to this point” said Michael Aiello, Director of Entertainment – Creative Development, Universal Orlando Resort.  “We’re employing our full arsenal of tricks and techniques in translating the AVP: Alien vs. Predator brand into an authentic and horrific maze experience. Puppetry, elaborate costumes and unique environments have all been created in close collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox. Our guests are going to be thrown head first into this epic battle where only the strong will survive. This is truly going to be an out-of-this-world maze experience that the fans have been waiting for.”

“‘AVP:  Alien vs. Predator’ is by far the most technically complicated and ambitious maze we’ve ever created for ‘Halloween Horror Nights,'” said John Murdy, Creative Director for Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.”  “It’s a monumental undertaking to recreate these massive, iconic characters for a live event.  Fortunately, we have the expert assistance of Academy Award-winning make-up artists, Tom Woodruff and Alec Gillis from Amalgamated Dynamic Inc. (ADI), the special effects geniuses behind the original creatures for the AVP film franchise.  Tom and Alec and the ADI team are excited about our maze and have graciously allowed us to cast from their original molds so that our maze will be absolutely authentic to the movies.”

Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” events have a more than 20-year history of creating incredibly entertaining, horrifying Halloween experiences that are consistently rated the nation’s best. The events on each coast feature highly-themed, disturbingly real, haunted mazes based on everything from films to nightmares – and streets filled with hundreds of specially trained “scareactors.” Other announced “Halloween Horror Nights” experiences include, “The Walking Dead:  The End of the Line,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Face Off: In the Flesh” and “The Purge: Anarchy.”

To learn more about this all-new “Halloween Horror Nights” maze, click here:  “AVP: Alien vs. Predator.”

TAA Names Christian Angenvoort as General Manager of TAA Middle East and VP Business Design for Asia and India

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Madrid, Spain — Christian Angenvoort, former VP Marketing & Sales at TAA for the past seven years, has been named General Manager TAA Middle East and VP Business Development for the Asian and Indian Market.

He will be responsible for establishing TAA Middle East in Dubai and being close to the market to continue TAA’s expansion.  The Middle East, with its many projects, will be a new key market for the company.  Garmisch Consulting Group, a TAA Design and Development company, is already providing services to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

Angenvoort has extensive experience in business development and building new markets as well as networking.  TAA, a global exhibitor, has been active at the Asian Attractions Show the post four years and will strongly expand its activities in this market as well.

www.taaindustries.com

 

New Management in Place at Carowinds

Charlotte, NC, USA /PRNewswire/ — Carowinds, the premier entertainment destination of the Carolinas, is in the midst of a significant multi-year expansion. As previously announced, Cedar Fair will invest more than $50 million at Carowinds  for new rides and attractions, new and upgraded food locations and general infrastructure improvements. The cornerstone of these expansion plans will be announced by the park on Thursday, August 21.

In anticipation of these long-term plans, Carowinds has also announced changes in its executive team. Mike Fehnel has been appointed to the position of Vice President and General Manager of Carowinds and will oversee all aspects of Carowinds operations and its planned expansion. Fehnel replaces Bart Kinzel, who has resigned. In addition, Gary Chadwick has been promoted to the position of Vice President, Resale. He will report to Fehnel and oversee all aspects of in-park revenue.

“We’ve made a strong commitment to the Charlotte market,” says Richard Zimmerman, Cedar Fair Chief Operating Officer. “These changes position Carowinds to meet and exceed the expectations that accompany the investment Cedar Fair is making in the park and provide our guests with a ‘Best Day of Summer’ experience each and every time they visit.”

Fehnel comes to Carowinds with more than 20 years of experience at its sister property, Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he most recently held the position of Vice President and General Manager.  Over the years, Fehnel served in a variety of leadership roles throughout Games, Merchandise, and Food and Beverage. Chadwick was promoted to his position after serving for many years as Director of Merchandise and Games at Carowinds.

www.carowinds.com

Sony Pictures Imageworks Showcasing Work and Recruiting New Talent at SIGGRAPH 2014

Culver City, CA, USA — Sony Pictures Imageworks will be an active participant at SIGGRAPH 2014, the 41st International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, which is being held August 10th – 14th, in Vancouver.

SIGGRAPH 2014 highlights from our Academy Award®-winning visual effects company, which recently centralized its production headquarters in Vancouver, will include the following: 

–Senior Visual Effects Supervisor Jerome Chen, Animation Director David Schaub and Digital Effects Supervisor David Smith will conduct a production session titled Unmask the Secrets Behind “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” on Wednesday, August 13th, from 10:45am – 12:15pm, in West Ballroom AB.

–Principal Algorithmic Engineer Daniel Sheerin will host a talk titled Creature Feature: Procedural Tentacle Bundles in “Edge of Tomorrow,”onTuesday, August 12th, from 9:00am – 10:30am, in West Building, Rooms 211-214.

–FX Animation Supervisor Steve Avoujageli will give a booth presentation titled SideFX: Creating the FX for “Edge of Tomorrow,” on Tuesday, August 12th, from 3:00pm – 3:30 pm, Wednesday, August 13th, from 1:30pm – 2:00pm and Thursday, August 14th, from 2:00pm – 2:30pm, in West Building, Exhibit Hall, Booth #901.

–Pipeline Supervisor John Hood will give a talk titled Got Crowds? CrAM: Artist-Friendly Crowds on “Edge of Tomorrow,” on Sunday, August 10th, from 2:00pm – 3:30pm, in East Building, Hall A.

–During the SIGGRAPH Job Fair, at the Sony Pictures Imageworks booth (West Building, Exhibit Hall B, Booths 19 and 20), recruiters will be activity recruiting for all disciplines, including: animators, lighting TD’s and a number of software development potions – Tuesday, August 12th, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, Wednesday, August 13th 9:30 am- 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 14th from 9:30am – 3:30pm.

Imageworks will also participate in the Vancouver Studio Crawl social event on Wednesday, August 13th, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at its current Vancouver location where artists will be able to meet with some of our top talent and executives.

CLICK TO ENLARGE FULL SCHEDULE:

Siggraph 2014 Calendar of Events_FINAL

 

Wanda Investing $1.2 Billion in Beverly Hills Project Including Company’s LA Office Overseeing Entertainment Ventures

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Beijing, China (August 8, 2014) –Wanda Group announces that it has won the bid for a plot of land located at 9900 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Wanda plans to invest USD 1.2 billion to construct a mixed-use development. Wanda successfully beat out more than ten bidders from Asia and North America for the project.

The project site is located in a prime luxury residential area, only ten minutes walking distance from Rodeo Drive, recognized as one of the world’s leading luxury retail destinations. The site is also five minutes drive from world famous UCLA University and ten minutes drive from Hollywood. Directly adjacent to the property is the Los Angeles Country Club, an exquisite 36-hole private golf course that is one of the most high profile golfing destinations throughout the city.  To the west of the site lies the famous El Rodeo School, with Beverly Hills High School situated to the east. Surrounding the site are a number of leading international hotel brands such as the Peninsula and Waldorf Astoria.

The location is widely regarded as the premier development site for luxury property throughout all of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles project will serve as the Wanda Group’s first important step into Hollywood. The company will set up a Los Angeles office, which will handle entertainment sector investments while the company’s New York office will be responsible for commercial sector investments. The Los Angeles office will be able to leverage on Hollywood’s solid film industry resources to support the Group’s Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis and Qingdao International Film Festival projects in China. The office will also be the base for investment in local film production companies or global theatrical releases.

The Los Angeles project is expected to aid in China’s entry into Hollywood’s film industry and generally promote Chinese culture abroad.

www.wanda-group.com

South Carolina State Museum Set to Open STEM-Oriented Windows to New Worlds

[quote]Our new facility is building opportunity – opportunity for students to thrive, opportunity for our economy to grow and opportunity for our guests to be entertained in new ways.” — Willie Calloway, executive director, South Carolina State Museum[/quote]

Columbia, SC, USA —  The South Carolina State Museum is about to be brighter than ever as it opens a one-of-a-kind facility on Saturday, Aug. 16 in the state’s capital offering the only observatory of its kind in the nation, one of the largest planetariums in the Southeast and the only permanent 4D theater in the state. For the first time in the nation, all three of these innovative elements, plus a multidisciplinary museum focusing on art, history, natural history and science/technology, will be housed under one roof.

The long awaited 75,000 square foot renovation and expansion project, known as Windows to New Worlds, will position the State Museum on the cutting edge of education, particularly in the critical areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and will create a large boost in the local and statewide economy.Visitors traveling from more than 50-miles to the museum after the opening are expected to contribute more than $19 million to the state’s economy with spending on hotels, food and beverage and other travel-related activities.

“What we have built represents a quantum leap forward for South Carolina in the areas of cultural tourism, recreation and, especially, education,” said Willie Calloway, executive director, South Carolina State Museum. “

The new additions include:

Boeing Observatory The new 2,500 square foot observatory will play a central role in the museum’s new distance learning initiatives. For the first time in the nation, remote access of a vintage telescope will be provided free-of-charge to every classroom across an entire state. The observatory houses a fully digitized 1926 Alvan Clark 12 3/8-inch refracting telescope and fully equipped classroom.

The Robert B. Ariail Collection of Historical Astronomy Adjacent to the observatory is a new 6,000 square foot telescope gallery that features an expansive collection of antique astronomical instruments dating back to 1730. This incredibly rare collection has been praised by the Antique Telescope Society as the best public collection of early American Telescopes in world. The collection includes the oldest surviving American-made observatory instrument, which is a 5.6-inch Henry Fitz made in 1849 for Erskine College in Due West, S.C.

BlueCross BlueShield Planetarium One of the largest planetariums in the Southeast, this massive 55-foot dome planetarium and theater will take guests on journeys to the deepest reaches of space through educational and entertaining astronomy shows, non-space films dealing with art, history or natural history and laser light shows set to music of the Beatles, Pink Floyd, U2 and more. A permanent NASA gallery will be located in the planetarium lobby with interactive capabilities and artifacts from South Carolina astronauts.

Rev. Dr. Solomon Jackson, Jr. 4D Theater The only permanent theater of its kind in South Carolina, the 4D theater couples high definition 3D digital projection films with physical features to provide multisensory, interactive experiences for guests. Physical features, including water sprayers, ankle ticklers, air blasters, scents, snow, bubble and smoke effects, strobe lights and vibrating seats, are synchronized to the images
displayed on the screen.

New Lobby After decades of being covered up and underutilized, the museum is bringing back to life the 1894 mill building and showing its original architectural features and character in the new public lobby. A glass entrance that extends outside of the front mill building will welcome guests as they walk under 36,000 pounds of steel telescope legs that support the telescope in the fourth floor observatory. Three of
the museum’s partners, Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, South Carolina Educational Television and the South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department have unique exhibit spaces in the new lobby, allowing guests to explore and learn about the great things happening across South Carolina.

New Store and Café The Cotton Mill Exchange museum store is in a larger 4,000 square foot space in the front lobby, enhancing the shopping experience and featuring additional retail merchandise that represent every corner of South Carolina. A new admissions desk designed to resemble vintage textile machines is located next to the store and the new grand staircase leading to the Mezzanine. The newly renovated Crescent Café will be located on the second floor Mezzanine, offering guests the opportunity to take a break for something delicious to eat and drink.

A special grand opening celebration will take place from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16. To kick off the day, there will be a ribbon cutting and model rockets launched by students attending the Challenger Learning Center in Columbia, S.C. The day will be packed full of activities, including the opening of a new art exhibition, Building a Universe, which features original works focusing on space and the universe, live music representing popular South Carolina genres (bluegrass, blues, beach and gospel) and other family-friendly programming. The first 100 people
will receive free general admission and other free tickets and great discounts to the museum for an entire year.

The celebration will take place at the museum, located at 301 Gervais St., Columbia, S.C. 29201.

www.museum.state.sc.us

Building Design + Construction Releases 2014 List of Top 300 Architecture Firms

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Building Design + Construction has released its 2014 list of the largest architectural firms in the United States.

Following are the top 90 firms.

PHOTO: Marriott Beijing by VOA Associates

 

Rank Company 2013 Architecture Revenue ($)
1 Gensler $883,221,189
2 Perkins+will $356,360,000
3 NBBJ $196,784,000
4 Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates $177,715,000
5 Callison $160,912,398
6 Perkins Eastman $155,000,000
7 ZGF Architects $128,101,136
8 Populous $111,754,000
9 Corgan $95,097,372
10 MulvannyG2 Architecture $73,200,000
11 HMC Architects $71,587,223
12 WATG | Wimberly Interiors $69,252,000
13 VOA Associates $54,693,845
14 Solomon Cordwell Buenz $54,400,000
15 Ennead Architects $47,315,000
16 LS3P $47,020,104
17 Fentress Architects $46,671,008
18 WHR Architects $41,166,427
19 FXFOWLE Architects $39,400,000
20 Shepley Bulfinch $39,330,000
21 Moseley Architects $38,654,238
22 Cooper Carry $37,691,489
23 Beyer Blinder Belle $37,347,095
24 Payette $37,270,285
25 Kirksey $33,697,650
26 FRCH Design Worldwide $33,664,000
27 Cuningham Group Architecture $33,510,605
28 Architects Orange $33,026,246
29 Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture $31,430,000
30 Beck Group, The $30,637,254
31 WDG Architecture $30,512,000
32 CO Architects $29,957,300
33 GBBN Architects $29,636,500
34 Ziegler Cooper $29,310,545
35 Davis Brody Bond $29,239,321
36 Niles Bolton Associates $29,159,186
37 Cambridge Seven Associates $28,740,000
38 MBH Architects $28,476,000
39 Vocon $26,294,719
40 Good Fulton & Farrell $24,600,000
41 Array Architects $24,500,000
42 Eppstein Uhen Architects $24,028,348
43 P+R Architects $23,852,305
44 FGM Architects $23,504,255
45 OZ Architecture $23,400,000
46 Hord Coplan Macht $22,666,160
47 NAC|Architecture $22,083,096
48 LMN Architects $21,849,400
49 FKP Architects $21,300,000
50 Wilson Architects $21,200,000
51 Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates $21,090,975
52 Francis Cauffman $21,036,087
53 Jerde Partnership, The $21,000,000
54 RNL $20,274,000
55 Goettsch Partners $20,120,000
56 Ratio Architects $18,107,680
57 Mithun $18,005,000
58 NTD Architecture $17,528,000
59 Hoefer Wysocki Architecture $17,200,000
60 Hnedak Bobo Group $16,978,000
61 Carrier Johnson + Culture $16,868,791
62 RBB Architects $16,735,500
63 Harvard Jolly Architecture $15,267,896
64 Swanke Hayden Connell Architects $14,543,000
65 Legat Architects $14,310,000
66 Quattrocchi Kwok Architects $13,500,000
67 Anderson Mikos Architects $13,162,000
68 H+L Architecture $12,968,373
69 Taylor Design $11,900,000
70 BLDD Architects $11,800,000
71 Slaterpaull Architects $11,055,479
72 BLTa $10,700,000
73 Ascension Group Architects $10,200,000
74 IBI Group ▪ Gruzen Samton $10,000,000
75 LBL Architects $9,600,000
76 DesignGroup $8,798,070
77 Ashley McGraw Architects $8,347,773
78 SEI Design Group $7,802,000
79 DLA Architects $7,681,590
80 Montroy Andersen DeMarco $6,530,000
81 EDI International $6,319,329
82 H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture $6,118,067
83 HMFH Architects $6,032,607
84 FitzGerald Associates Architects $6,022,176
85 ai Design Group $5,319,321
86 GWWO $5,244,705
87 Massa Montalto Architects $4,538,000
88 Schrader Group Architecture $4,165,238
89 Commonwealth Architects $4,045,116
90 API $3,800,000

 

WhiteWater Participates in World’s Largest Swimming Lesson

Richmond, BC, Canada — Swimming is a life-saving skill for children and a vital tool to prevent drowning, the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children ages 1-14. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) was created to serve as a platform to help local community aquatic facilities and the many different national, regional and state-wide water safety and drowning prevention organizations work together to tell this important story on a local and national level.

The nation’s top water safety and training organizations joined forces to present WLSL to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning.

This summer, over 35,700 people in 18+ countries participated in a record breaking world-wide swimming lesson. On June 20, 2014, WLSL beat their own Guinness World Record by more than 10% over last year’s attendance numbers and had over 600 host locations. The event aims to build awareness on the importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4, yet many kids do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.

The initiative was inspired by the month of May being National Safety Month and the industry coming together for a united cause. WhiteWater, Champion Sponsor of the WLSL, is proud to support the cause and wants to share gratitude towards all the host locations, participants and fellow sponsors who contributed to the success of the event.

On June 20th, at 8AM Pacific Standard Time, Newton Wave Pool in British Columbia, Canada kicked off their first round of swimming lessons. An original WhiteWater attraction, the Newton Wave Pool was installed over 25 years ago. Over 350 individuals registered at the Newton Wave Pool and learned some swimming basics, like floating on your back, treading water and the front stroke.

The event has grown nearly ten-fold from 4,000 attendees in 2010 to over 35,000 attendees world-wide this year.

www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org

Busch Gardens Tampa Celebrates Elephants August 9

Tampa, FL, USA — World Elephant Day celebrates the care and protection of the world’s largest land mammal. The SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has granted more than $10 million to more than 700 projects around the world, including funding 10 elephant conservation projects in Asia and Africa in 2013 and 2014.

In recognition of World Elephant Day, guests are invited to join a celebration at Busch Gardens Tampa on Aug. 9. Guests will get a firsthand look into Busch Gardens’ animal care with behind-the-scenes tours, trainer talks, interactive displays and an exclusive chance to dine with elephants.

World Elephant Day festivities include:

Trainer Talks and More at the Animal Care Center
The state-of-the-art Animal Care Center will be the hub for World Elephant Day activities with interactive displays and trainer talks from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The animal care team will share and demonstrate how they care for elephants, and guests will have an opportunity to help create enrichment activities.

An Evening with the Elephants
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., guests can join trainers for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, including an up-close look at Busch Gardens’ elephants and indulging in appetizers and specialty drinks while trainers share stories about elephant conservation and caring for these magnificent animals. The evening is limited to guests 13 years of age and older. Busch Gardens admission is required but not included.

www.buschgardenstampa.com

USITT Offering New Training Sessions in Lubbock and Nashville

Syracuse, NY, USA — USITT has created a new series of training sessions on the latest sound, lighting and design products to assist those those working and learning in specific areas.

USITT Presents is a collaboration between USITT and its organizational members to provide product- and technique-specific trainings for USITT members and colleagues in designated areas of the country. USITT is the leader in entertainment industry training, providing opportunities in every facet of the industry; from costume, props and and scenic design, to rigging, lighting and audio.

USITT is joining forces with industry leaders such as Creative Conners, Nemetschek Vectorworks, Meyer Sound, Sapsis Rigging and High End Systems/Studio Gear to provide specialized training on their products in one- or two-day sessions around the country, throughout the year.

Schedule of USITT Presents

Meyer Sound
Nashville, Tenn.
Tuesday August 12, 2014
9am-5pm
Makeup/Airbrushing Design and Techniques

CLICK TO REGISTER

 
Texas Tech. University
Lubbock, TX.
Saturday September 20th, 2014
Morning or Afternoon Session available

CLICK TO REGISTER