From the archives: InPark Issue 44

INTRODUCTION BY JOE KLEIMAN, INPARK NEWS EDITOR

August 2018 — Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to take an advance tour of Two Bit Circus, the new micro-amusement park opening in September in Downtown Los Angeles. It’s equal parts socialization, gamification, virtual reality, old school arcade, and maker fair. The creative minds behind Two Bit Circus are masters of problem solving, exploring how to take the conventional, such as bar trivia or escape rooms, and by giving them unconventional twists, create a completely new experience.

Problem solving is also a key attribute of The Producers Group, the subject of Issue 44’s cover article from 2012. Inside, you’ll discover how they succeeded in producing two unconventional shows for Sentosa, each with its own unique issues.

Also in issue 44, Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA) examines trends in the Asian waterpark market, leading lighting designers share the skills of their craft, Arielle Rassel tells us about her time as a Disney intern, I return from the 2012 GSCA conference with an update on the state of giant screen cinema, and we take a look at Mousetrappe’s work on Iceploration at Busch Gardens Tampa.

At the end of each article are links to newer InPark pieces related to that company or topic. This is because themed entertainment design is a progressive industry, ever changing and ever expanding, with both veterans like The Producers Group and newcomers like Two Bit Circus striving to create new stories and unique experiences for audiences around the world. This look at the past is just the first of many. Every week or two, we’ll be reintroducing one of our issues from the archives and linking it to current trends in themed entertainment design.

FROM 2012: ISSUE 44 EDITORIAL BY MARTIN PALICKI, INPARK PUBLISHER

The times, they are a-changing. With recent reports of Newsweek ceasing print publication, the future of the magazine business may look questionable. While consumer-oriented magazines operate differently than trade publications, the way we all process and consume information is changing. The rush to go digital is inevitable, but the smart publishers are managing to find a sweet spot somewhere in the middle.

InPark is leading the way in this area. As one of the first publications in the industry to offer an iPad version of the magazine, we now have multiple channels for you to get information from.

Our print edition is still available, and especially popular at trade shows like IAAPA, WWA, AAM and the Asian Attractions Show. We offer digital versions in multiple formats, including a virtual issue. There’s also our weekly email of top news stories, our news blog, editor’s feature blog, Facebook page, LinkedIn group, twitter feed, YouTube channel and more. And nearly all of it is free to access.

As a trade publication, we are here to support your industry, increase your business, be spokespeople to mainstream media, and provide you with insight, news and trends that help make your job easier.

We depend on the support of our advertisers, so please remember to patronize them. Without them, we aren’t able to accomplish all of the above.

So thank you for continuing to read InPark, thank you to our advertisers, and to everyone in the industry who helps to contribute to everyone’s success.

Have a profitable IAAPA, and be sure to stop by the InPark booth at #1850. I will be in the booth all day Tuesday and Friday and would love to meet you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

east meets wet waterparks reach out to asia • by Edward Shaw, et al.

building the unseen The Producers Group talks about project production • by Judith Rubin

shedding some light a lighting designer roundtable • edited by Judith Rubin & Mark Andrew

disney printerncess a journey from Disney princess to Disney intern • by Arielle Rassel

can you DIGSS it? giant screen looks for standards in digital projection • by Joe Kleiman

projection killed the video star Busch Gardens Tampa paints the ice with projectors • by Martin Palicki