World Expos: US participation officially confirmed for Yeosu 2012
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| Rendering: www.pavilion2012.org |
IPM is very happy to bring you this story of US participation confirmed and moving forward for Yeosu Expo 2012. The creative team includes Andrew Snowhite, Robert Ward and The Hettema Group.
Related: Interview with Robert Ward about the USA Pavilion for Yeosu 2012
From the US Dept of State, 13 October 2011:
“Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the United States will participate in the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea during a State Luncheon at the U.S. Department of State in honor of Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak. Participation in this Expo demonstrates U.S. commitment to strengthening U.S. – ROK relations and engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and deepens our friendly ties with the people of the Republic of Korea.
“The Secretary noted that the United States is pleased to be participating in the 2012 Expo Yeosu Korea, which will officially open May 12 and run through August 12, 2012. Several million visitors are expected to attend and 108 countries and international organizations are expected to participate.
“Following the State Luncheon, Secretary Clinton was joined by Vice President Joseph Biden, Jr., Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak, Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Han Duk-soo, Assistant Secretary Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell, and USA Pavilion 2012 Chief Spokesperson Philippe Cousteau, Jr. to celebrate the announcement of U.S. participation in the Expo 2012 Yeosu, at the Department of State.
“Secretary Clinton thanked the corporate sponsors of USA Pavilion 2012, which is a public-private partnership, for their generous donations. Corporate sponsors include: Chevron; Citi; Boeing; Corning Incorporated; Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors America; Lockheed Martin; Samsung Electronics America, Inc.; GE; and Becton Dickinson.
“The U.S. Department of State is partnering with Cousteau, noted explorer, environmentalist, and social entrepreneur, to manage USA Pavilion 2012 which will showcase the United States’ deep connection to and dependence on the oceans, and the diversity, spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and commitment to sustainable development of the American people.”
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| Robert Ward |
The management team of USA Pavilion 2012 combines a range of experiences from the nonprofit and commercial arenas with a world famous legacy of exploration and environmental stewardship. Members of the creative team headed by Andrew Snowhite include Robert Ward and The Hettema Group.
For more information about the USA Pavilion 2012, visit www.pavilion2012.org.
New Polar Land opening 2012 at LEGOLAND® Billund will integrate drop roller coaster with live penguin display
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| Photo: LEGOLAND Billund |
Polar Land is the name of the completely new area in LEGOLAND® Billund, opening in 2012.
The poles meet in the new 12,500 square metre Polar Land area. Here guests can take a ride in the Polar X-plorer, which is the first roller coaster to combine a 5-metre-drop with a visit into the world of penguins.
Moreover, the area holds a penguin display, a restaurant and the existing Power Builder, which will be transformed into a flight simulator. The 75 mil. DKK expansion is said to be the largest expansion in the history of LEGOLAND Billund.
A ‘crazy ride’
The new area has been developed by the LEGOLAND Park’s own designer Tom Christiansen, who says, “New young polar researchers can expect quite a ride in the Polar X-plorer. The coaster has a top speed of 65 km/h and leads guests through an ice-waterfall, past impressive polar animals built of LEGO® bricks, into a giant mountain, just to crash through the ice in a 5-metre-drop. Then speed decreases, allowing guests to enjoy the view of live penguins.” Christiansen is looking very much forward to testing the finished ride himself.
LEGOLAND asserts that this is the first drop roller coaster to combine the experience with a zoological element and that Polar X-plorer will be the fastest roller coaster in LEGOLAND Billund and will take guests 20 metres up in the air.
New residents in LEGOLAND
The penguin display will be a central part of the new area. It will house 15 Gentoo penguins, which are easily recognized by their distinct donkey-like sound. From a special amphi theatre guests can experience talks and feeding of the penguins by professional communicators.
LEGOLAND Biologist Lars Nørholm Jensen says, “The Gentoo penguins are very active animals, who love to swim. We have arranged the display so it’s similar to their natural habitat. The display is soundproofed and the windows are darkened from the inside to prevent the penguins from getting stressed during our high season, when the park is filled with happy guests.”
Dine with the penguins
A new polar-themed restaurant will be built next to the penguin area. The restaurant can seat 350 dining guests, who can view the penguin display and almost actually dine with the penguins.
The area will be located in the far corner of the park replacing the existing Event Area. The expected opening date of the new area will be May 2012, about one month after the seasonal opening of the park.
SeaWorld Orlando shares rumors and "eyewitness" video about Kraken coaster
Idea Monkey brings mobile gaming experience to Los Angeles for Halloween: "Living Dead" zombie apocalypse
Los Angeles based company Idea Monkey announced a novel location-based mobile phone gaming experience just in time for Halloween. Living Dead Uprising combines cutting edge technology with classic horror and real time improvisation to create a unique and immersive experience for Angelenos this Halloween season.
The cult classic Night of the Living Dead caused a sensation when it premiered 43 years ago. The low-budget movie stunned audiences with its grisly vision of a zombie apocalypse. Living Dead Uprising resurrects the classic film by engaging a modern audience in an interactive game that is part scavenger hunt, part trivia game and part physical challenge, all driven by updated clips from the original film optimized for the smartphone format.
In Living Dead Uprising, players assume the role of zombies taking over the neighborhood. Players are encouraged to check-in via a mobile phone application to a series of locations in the Los Feliz neighborhood. Each location offers a unique challenge to be solved by the players. Players earn badges and points for completing challenges which can be redeemed for prizes at a private after-party hosted at 1739 Public House in Los Feliz. The Living Dead Uprising experience begins with an updated version of the original theatrical trailer for Night of the Living Dead which players can view by scanning QR codes found on flyers throughout Los Angeles or by visiting http://wwww.livingdeaduprising.com.
Living Dead Uprising will take place in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, October 20, 2011 and Thursday, October 27, 2011 from 6pm to 11pm. Players will check in to begin the game at 1739 Public House and complete the game with an after party hosted at the same venue. Tickets are $10 and $18 (with two drink tickets). This is a 21+ event.
Idea Monkey created Living Dead Uprising using the SCVNGR mobile phone gaming platform. Idea Monkey can install and run the game in multiple locations and cities.
Idea Monkey promises a unique and memorable experience to the players of Living Dead Uprising. “Our participants are both players in a game and players in a play,” said Idea Monkey CEO Mark Hayward. “They are entertained not just by watching, but by taking part in a story unfolding in shared time and space.”
First wind-powered amusement park game now at Pacific Park
How hard does a guest have to swing a mallet to ring the bell? The answer is literally blowing in the wind with the world’s first wind-powered amusement park game, the High Striker at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.
The 25-feet-tall High Striker features a silver-plated bell that sounds each time a guest is strong enough to strike the pallet with a mallet that sends the puck racing to the top.
The win is signified by the wind that’s generated from the 600-watt wind turbine that’s affixed to the top of the adjacent building and rises 45 feet in the air. The three fiberglass wind turbine blades have a cut-in speed of approximately 4.5 miles per hour, which matches the minimum average wind velocity year-round on the Santa Monica Pier.
The power generated from the wind turbine is captured, converted into usable power and stored in a specially designed, self-contained power storage unit adjacent to the High Striker.
All components of the High Striker are now completely wind-powered including the chaser lights with more than 100 bulbs, multiple spotlights and sound system.
Xantrex Technology Inc. manufactures the PowerHub. Sunforce Products Inc. manufactures the wind turbine.
“The adaptation of the High Striker to wind power is another step forward in meeting our goal to lead the industry and the City of Santa Monica in green initiatives,” says Jeff Klocke, director of marketing and sales at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “We have long showcased the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel as an innovative environmental effort. The High Striker is a further testament to the Park’s commitment to sustainability.”
In 2010 Pacific Park was awarded Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural Environment at the 15th annual Sustainable Quality Awards presented by the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Sustainable Works.
The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel featuring 160,000 energy-efficient LED lights that present dynamic, custom, computer-generated lighting entertainment each evening. The eco-friendly, enhanced LED lighting provides 75 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional incandescent bulbs.
In addition to the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel and energy-efficient LED lights, Pacific Park continues to identify additional greening initiatives including the replacement of all light fixtures in the Park, discontinued use of bottled water and providing employees with reusable bottles and mugs, and upgrading cleaning supplies to environmentally friendly products.
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 18 midway games and an oceanfront food plaza. Signature rides include the Pacific Wheel, the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel; The West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above the Santa Monica Bay; and Inkie’s Air Lift Balloon Ride, the high-flying, family-share kids ride. For additional information and hours of operation, call 310-260-8744, or visit www.pacpark.com.
New joint venture formed: The Producers Group
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| Click this caption to see video of The Crane Dance |
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| Bob Chambers |
Bob Chambers and Edward Marks are pleased to announce the development of their new joint venture, The Producers Group. Joining Bob and Edward is Don Burgess to round out the team.
“I am both proud and excited to be associated with talented individuals such as Edward Marks and Don Burgess,” commented Bob Chambers, Executive Producer & Co- CEO, The Producers Group.
“Bob and I wanted to retain the ideals that brought projects to us in the past – Getting The Job Done, period. We are experts in international projects. We have the resources and know how to produce projects overseas,” stated, Edward Marks, Executive Producer & Co-CEO, TPG.
Chambers and Marks each have over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Between the two of them, their client portfolio includes industry giants, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Company, Busch Entertainment Corp., Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid, Six Flags and Paramount Parks and Marvel Theme Park in Dubai. A recent high-profile success for Chambers and Marks is the Jeremy Railton-designed Crane Dance spectacular, “world’s largest animatronic” at Resorts World Sentosa.
The principals of the Producers Group are proud to have been on THEA award winning projects including, The Simpsons Ride; Terminator 2 – 3D; Beyond All Boundaries at the World War II Museum; Ashes and Snow at the Nomadic Museum; Men in Black Ride; Revenge of the Mummy Ride, Fear Factor Live and New York – New York Hotel & Casino.
The Producers Group is pleased to have Don Burgess on board as a producer. Don brings his expertise in the field of project management.
Don Burgess has conceived and produced thousands of live productions over a twenty-five year career that includes work on many continents in every imaginable venue. His reputation for building production teams while at the same time understanding, prioritizing and implementing fiscal responsibility has made him a respected and sought after entertainment producer.
The Producers Group is a unique, creative, and experienced group of entertainment professionals, who have successfully worked together to provide services for entertainment projects around the world. Their combined theme park experience totals over half a century of experience, with the development and production of hundreds of attractions, casino and museum projects.
For more information on The Producers Group, please visit www.Producers-Group.com
Toverland Adds Management Staff
In order to facilitate further growth and expansion of Toverland, a new managing board member has been appointed: Mr. Pieter Cornelis PhD, director of ‘strategy and development’, starting the 12th of October. He will focus on the development and execution of plans for the park in the coming years. Caroline Maessen, CEO, will still be responsible for the current park and organization.
This year, Toverland celebrated its 10-year anniversary. In that decade, the park has grown year after year, and now receives more than half a million visitors annually. Jean Gelissen is the owner of the theme park, and creative father of the successful concept: “More and more families find their way to our park, and have an amazing day 365 days a year, in any kind of weather. This year we are expecting yet another wonderful number of visitors”. Besides an indoor area with dozens of attractions, the park also boasts numerous outdoor attractions, among which the highest and fastest wooden rollercoaster in the Benelux.
Theme park veteran Pieter Cornelis (45) is a known face in the attractions world. In May 2011, he received a PhD from the universities of Tilburg and Tarragona, for his research into the effects of investments in European theme parks. Earlier, Cornelis was Head of Research at Efteling, and university lecturer in Leisure Studies. Within Toverland, he will also be responsible for marketing, communication, sales, entertainment, and Imagineering.
InPark Visits The Little Mermaid at Disney California Adventure
The clam shell vehicle loading area looks out directly onto the midway and is an appealing “sell” for the ride.
In the “Under the Sea” scene, Ariel dances while her hair, impressively animated, floats above her head as though submerged.
It’s hard not to tap your toe to the music, or even sing along a bit. The technology may be fairly “standard” but the emotional connection most people have to the music (and the story) is pretty intense.
Ursula is pretty intense herself.
Some people have complained that Ursula’s scene is too scary for some children, but I didn’t find it anymore threatening than any other Disney dark ride villain. It also is short and sandwiched between more upbeat scenes.
The ride is short and moves quickly through the story of The Little Mermaid, but the narrative is easy to follow and has some memorable moments.
Proving once again that hi definition digital projection is here to stay, fireworks that might at one time have been created with fiber optics are now realistically projected into the scene.
Naturally, there is a happy ending for The Little Mermaid, and the delightful journey comes to an end.
PLASA: At LDI 2011 show, renowned theatre consultant Richard Pilbrow will sign his book, "A Theatre Project"
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| Photo: PLASA |
Following a successful book launch in August and signings at the PLASA offices in New York and the PLASA 2011 show in London, respected lighting designer and theatre consultant Richard Pilbrow will sign copies of his memoir, A Theatre Project, at the LDI 2011 show in Orlando, FL. Signings will be held on Friday, October 28 from 4-5pm and Saturday, October 29 from 2-3pm, both at the PLASA booth, #1145
The signing follows Pilbrow’s recent acceptance of the Knight of Illumination Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual Knight of Illumination Awards during the PLASA Show on September 11 in London. The awards—organized by STLD (Society of Television Lighting and Design), ALD (Association of Lighting Designers), and Clay Paky Spa—provide “public recognition for outstanding achievement in Lighting Design by UK-based Lighting Designers.”
A Theatre Project—written with David Collison, edited by David Barbour, and published by PLASA Media—is the story of an upstart company, Theatre Projects Consultants, Inc., in the world of British Theatre. The company helped shape the stage lighting design profession we know today and went on to become the world’s leading theatre design consultancy.
Pilbrow’s book is a tale of the rise, fall, and re-emergence of an artistically motivated enterprise in the theatre. It covers six decades that revolutionized stage lighting, sound, and theatre technology, and transformed the shape of theatre space around the world.
A Theatre Project is now available to order online, along with a video discussion with Pilbrow and photos of previous signings, at http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/pilbrow2011.html.
