Special Effects and 3-D films are having a profound effect on the American film and theme park industry. In just about every major theme park, you will find at least one 4-D show that manipulates special effects, optical illusions, and sensory stimulations. This week your job will be to create one of these for your own theme park. The film should include some type of sensory experiences, such as touch or smell. The only stipulation is that it cannot be a 4-D ride in similarity to the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman.
In your proposal, be sure to include the name of the attraction, specs, details, and anything else that will help to promote your proposal.
Sorry for the slight delay this time around. All entries must be submitted by June 15th at midnight, website time
The theatre is basically a planetarium utilizing 3D projection. The screen is the domed ceiling, with the seats reclined and arranged circularly around the theatre. Before the show, while guests start making their way into the planetarium, the night sky is projected on the dome and an employee talks about a constellation or two and answers any general astronomy questions.
The film opens with an overview of the basics of general relativity, black holes and how they form, allowing for some stunning visuals of an imploding star. Some history on the subject, from Einstein to Hawking, is also presented. The narrator then posits one of the most interesting questions in physics today. That is, whether information about the stuff swallowed up by a black hole is lost forever. To help answer this question, three probes have been sent to the black hole Cygnus X1. The probe Hawking is to be sent into the black hole, sending data back for as long as possible to the probe Preskill which will remain just outside of harm’s way beyond the event horizon. Luckily for us, Preskill and Hawking have been outfitted with stereoscopic cameras to present their data in glorious 3D.
The documentary continues as we switch to the Preskill camera. Clouds of glowing, superheated gas orbit an unnerving black sphere. Jets of radiation spew perpendicular to the cloud. And in the distance a star is being sucked in.
The view pans to the Hawking probe as it reverses its thrusters and heads toward the black hole.
“Switching to Hawking-cam”
The probe barrels through swirling gas and dust. The huge static charges yield massive lightning. The narrator explains that as the probe approaches the black hole, the extreme curvature of space causes time to pass much more slowly for the probe. The probe rotates to show Preskill, the orbiting star and the rest of the universe zooming by. We switch to Preskill’s view to see Hawking very much appearing at a stand-still, with its thrusters seemingly ejecting one ion at a time.
Back to the Hawking-cam, the narrator explains that now the tidal differences in the gravitational forces acting on the probe are increasing; the stronger gravity on the side of the probe nearest the black hole is stretching it out. We witness this spaghettification of Hawking as the antennas in the camera’s field of view stretch away from us. Eventually, the probe begins to break up and finally we see only static.
“Well, there you have it,” the employee begins as the lights in the planetarium come up halfway. Columns of numbers fly across the screen. “That’s some great data for the astrophysicists to go over. I can’t wait to read the paper in a few years. Now, are there any-”
“That’s it!?!” calls an angry voice from a dark corner of the planetarium. “I didn’t come all the way out to Cygnus to watch some robot have all the fun. I wanna see the black hole!”
The employee says, “Computer: window mode.” The lights again dim and the screen shows us to be in space, on an observation module attached to a space station. A shuttle craft floats by. The black hole from the film dominates the sky, although it is a little farther away now. “As you can see, sir,” the employee continues, “there are plenty of opportunities for observation on the Schwarzschild.”
“No no no no. Do you know how many credits this trip cost me? Do you know how old my wife is gonna look when I get home? I want to go inside the black hole!”
“Sir, if you had paid attention to the documentary...”
We hear the angry patron walk out in a huff. A voice calls “Hey, you can’t come in here buddy!” Then a smack, and a door slams. A moment of silence is broken when we hear engines roar to life and every seat in the theater shakes. A siren sounds, red lights flash and the captain comes on the screen.
“Observation deck: what is going on in there?”
Our guide is speechless. The angry patron speaks up. “We are getting a closer look.”
“You have put this entire space station at risk!” the captain screams. “Helmsman, turn us back around now!”
From the bridge, in the background we hear “Captain, we’re falling too close. I’ve reversed all engines but we are still being sucked into the black hole.”
“Do something!” our guide pleads.
A series of muffled explosions is heard. The siren and lights stop.
“Did that do it?” our captain asks.
“Aye. Observation deck jettisoned. Main station pulling away now, Captain.”
“Well then,” the captain says, “it appears you’ve gotten your wish. Enjoy the ride. Oh, and make sure to transmit all data on your way in.”
The captain disappears from the screen as we watch ourselves fall into the black hole. We pass through the gas cloud and lightning strikes the observation deck. The smell of ozone fills the air. The theater flips upside down as it passes over the black hole and we pass through the radiation jet. The brightness is almost blinding and heat blasts the faces of the guests. We pass by Preskill and begin to see the window stretch as it is apparent we are being torn apart by the black hole. The theater creaks and groans until eventually the window is stretched so thin it becomes black. After a moment in the dark our guide calls, “okay...welcome to the singularity. Any questions?” and the lights come up.
PRE SHOW
The queue area starts outside a mock Castle, similar to that of Nockmaar in the film. Although the show itself only ends at the Castle, the theme is aesthetically pleasing.
Once the guests are inside, they are greeted by a Talking Goat and Rook (Homage to the forms of Raziel in the movie). The Goat, who calls himself Capricos is on a Platform above the guests whilst the Rook, named Chariot will interact with the Cast Member in the room, who will ask Questions about the Magician Willow and a brief recap of the movie, just so unfamiliar guests will be able to identify with the characters on screen. The room is decorated like a large village hall, complete with candles on the table, long benches that guests can sit on during the pre show.
The room is also filled with replica props from the film, including Willow's wand and the cage that held Madmartigan.
The CM will ask the characters questions and with a combination of preprogrammed responses and the same technology used in Universal for the Donkey meet and greet, Capricos and Chariot will make jokes at their expense and talk to the guests. The pre show should last about 11 minutes, during which time, the guests are told they are visiting the village of the Nelwyns to celebrate the coming of Age of Wulfric, Willow's apprentice.
As Chariot and Capricos invite them into the village (they see themselves as The Guardians of the village) doors open below the characters and Guests are given their 3D glasses and take their seats.
THEATER
The theater is brightly lit to start with a campfire on stage, the screen shows the village and even know, The Nelwyns can be seen moving around the scene so guests can use their glasses right away, the ceiling is also a 3D screen and shows the Sun and clouds rolling across the sky. Hi quality smoke machines in the ceiling blow 'Clouds' across the ceiling.
SHOW
A Daikini appears on stage and welcomes everyone to the village. Willow and his apprentice will be out shortly but first, these celebrations are always better at night. Suddenly the ceiling turns to night, stars twinkle and a moon shines a spotlight on the Daikini. He introduces himself/herself as Jazreal, a Daikini, who came to the village a long time ago to see Willow and never left. Behind him, on the screen in full 3D glory, Willow appears in a puff of smoke and flash of purple with appropriate effects.
Willow bids everyone welcome and apologises for his lateness but Wulfric has been missing, it appears that a message came for Willow, and Wulfric has taken in upon himself to deal with the problem. Madmartigan and Sorsha join him and say it is time. Willow apologises and invites you to watch his journey via magic. He warns you though, His magic is strong and what he sees, you will see, what he can smell, you will smell. The Daikini passes wind and a nasty smell fills the theater. Willow decides that now would be a good time to leave.
As the three leave the village, Nelwyns wish them luck and urge them to bring Wulfric back safely, Willow, Sorsha and Madmartigan leave the village and advise you that the new General of Nockmaar, Vlaar, has found a necromancer able to open a portal that will allow Queen Bavmorda to return. Right now, the balance of power is shifting and Willow uses his wand to show a vision of Nockmaar. The Hounds have returned and people are fleeing. We see Wulfric entering the Castle, wand at the ready. Suddenly The vision goes black and the whole theater is plunged into darkness. Wind blows through and the temperature drops suddenly. The Seats shake and Willow cries that an Earthquake has been caused by the Necromancer who has lured Wulfric to Nockmaar so that he can use the Magic of the Nelwyns to complete the spell. Not only this but he has sent Vlaar and his army to intercept the trio.
As the moon finally breaks the darkness, Actors are on stage and start looking around the theater for a short cut. Suddenly the screen shows a fog rolling in that starts to fill the theater and Horses hooves can be heard. The screen shows a whirlwind of dust and dirt in 3D whilst smoke starts to disappear, then Boot steps can be heard and Vlaar appears on the screen. He addresses Willow and vows if he turns back and abandons his quest, then he and Bavmorda will spare his village. Willow refuses and tries to banish him with a spell, but sadly this goes wrong and all he succeeds in doing is turning Vlaars horse into a Giant Dog. Laughing Vlaar produces a wand of his own and reveals he is the Necromancer and that with Wulfrics wand he is unstoppable. As he laughs, Madmartigan charges him and the two have a sword fight on the screen with each of them throwing rocks which appear to fly through the audience.
Sorsha begs Willow to so something and he tries to think of a spell to help. First he tries to make a fireball but instead he shoots flowers at the Dog, who sneezes and covers the guests with water, then he tries to freeze Vlaar but instead he misses and freezes Madmartigan. Seeing his opponent turn into a statue, Vlaar vanishes and his laugh echoes as red flash signals his vanishing taking Madmartigan with him.
As Sorsha and Willow try to figure out how to fight Vlaar, Hounds can be heard snarling and seen on the screen. Willow uses his wand and manages to scare them away by making the Giant Dog bark at them. Willow and Sorsha then decide its best to fly to Nockmaar and Willow calls upon his magic to help them fly to Nockmaar. The seats will rock and slightly sway as we fly.
Once we arrive at Nockmaar, Willow and Sorsha trick their way past the guards by Sorsha pretending to have had a change of heart upon hearing about her Mothers return. Once they are inside, Willow decides to find the throne room, assuming that is where they will find Vlaar, Sorsha reminds him that the tower is always where the bad guys hang out. After reaching the tower, Sorsha sees the statue of Madmartigan and to her surprise, Elora is also there as a statue. Vlaar stands grinning as he announces the ritual is almost complete. With a wave of his hand he binds Sorsha and Willow in place. Willow and Sorsha struggle, the seats move but they are unable to free themselves from their bonds. Unseen by Vlaar, using a similar sleight of hand, Wulfric manages to grab his wand from Vlaars belt, he uses it to free Willow and unfreeze Madmartigan and Elora. Vlaar is enraged and once again a fight takes place, this time with Magic, Lights flash, smoke puffs and finally the tower can take no more, the room shakes, as the Tower crumbles, Willow and Wulfric get everyone out and use their magic to transport them all to the forest where they are greeted by The Fairy Queen. Once again, The actors are on stage and the Fairy queen smiles as she tells Willow once again he has managed to save the day, Wulfric in turn is addressed and is told he is destined to be a fine Sorcerer in the same vein as Raziel and Willow. The Fairy Queen promises to send them home and fireflies are dancing on the screen and on the ceiling as with a wave of her wand we are taken back to Nelwyns village.
Jazreal is back on stage and so the camp fire is back. The Nelwyns on screen are all gathered round as Willow, Wulfric, Madmartigan, Sorsha and Elora recount their adventure. Jazreal says its best we leave them to it, once a Nelwyn starts talking you can never stop them! He bids you farewell as he screen dims and they leave the stage.
Guests enter into the Nelwyn Village Shoppe and can purchase the film Willow on DVD/Blu Ray, toys and other gifts.
The show is filled with plenty of effects, both 3D and physical, I apologise if I did not include every effect but I'm sure you can see where they would be, when I say Smoke, I mean not just on the screen in 3D but also in the theater and so on. 4D shows have become popular, from Captain EO to Shrek, they all follow the basic what happens on the screen is replicated in the theater. I have borrowed ideas from those and from Terminator which merges the show with a Live Action Cast. Interaction between the two is similar to that in Disaster! As I was writing, that was the technology I had in mind for the characters on the screen and especially when Madmartigan and Vlaar have their sword fight.
So, Willow, The Rebirth, coming to Lucasfilm Studios soon!
Location: Imperial Dock
Pitch:
The Sun Never sets on the British Empire… As the head of a naval superpower London became the centre of many trading empires, visiting colonial and foreign ports alike. These helped create London’s modern reputation as a multicultural city, drawing on the sights, smells and tastes of these far away places.
As a new recruit in the Great Empire Trading Company, you’ll have the opportunity to visit some of these places in photorealistic CGI…. But this is of course the age of sail, not the Jet Age, so who knows what problems will occur on the way.
the attraction uses large sized screen, with the film produced in super-high def (4K) resolution. The sights are Digital actors on photorealistic scenes, where possible based on actual pictures/sights but modified to place in correct time period, except for sea scenes which are actually shot at sea. In order to manage the attraction better, 2-3 smaller theatres (around 50 people still) are used rather than one supermassive theatre.
Initial film - Sailing East
Scene 1: The Journey begins
SFX: No additional 4D Effects
The "Crew" are addressed by the Captain who explains in a rather gruff manner that they aren't on some package cruise
Standing on the quarterdeck the captain talks down to the "New Crew Members" explain that they aren't on some pleasure cruise and are here to work. The Captain explains a few ship rules, and outlines the ports of call
Scene 2: Ship life
SFX: Sea spray as the ship plunges once/Saltwater smell
After a bit of forced time compression, time begins to move again around sundown. A helpful crew member advises the crew-mates that their watch is now over, and directs them down to their berth… This isn't no officers stateroom, its a hammock slung in a very cramped, dark deck area. Along the way ships kitchens and other facilities including the "head" (toilet) is shown.
Scene goes dark
Scene 3: Gibraltar - Sightseeing.
As the light comes up, the Crew are assigned Shore leave by the captain. The Helpful crew member suggests that as this is their first time they should climb out to the top of the rock to take in the view. Time compresses the trip to the top, resulting in a slow panoramic shot from the top of the rock. Fade to black
Scene 4: Ship Life
SFX: "Food" is served….
As the shot fades in, the cremates find themselves at their berth (perhaps suggesting the Gibratlar thing was a dream), being roused by the cremate from before. He advises them that its time for food. Ship's Biscuit is then served by a number of staff who walk through the theatre . Luckily for the cremates, this is without any weevils.
Scene 5: The Suez Canal
SFX: Sea salt again blows throughout the theatre
As the crew are given "Busy work" whilst standing on the deck watching as the ship traverses the canal… The Canal is in its just finished state, with crew members reflecting on how great the new canal - A marvel of the modern world - is as its saved months and a very perilous journey. The Crew retire to the bunk.
Scene 6 : Sea scene
SFX: Sea salt again blows throughout the theatre, as does a stiff breeze.
A junior officer informes the crew that they are to learn some basic information on sails. The Camera surreys over to various parts of the rigging as commands are pointed out, with features such as some knots and sails explained
Scene 7: Bombay
SFX: Smells of a very acitve bazar… and a bite to eat.
The captain gain gives the crew shore leave, and a helpful crew member tells our crew they HAVE to try one of the local delicacies… After leading them through streets to a bazar, the crew are offered a taste of Vegetable or Chiken Pakora (which just happens to be on the menu at the next door "Taste of Punjab"…
The scene fades out again, and continues after all have sampled the food
Scene 8:
SFX: Extremely windy when camera heads above decks, more occasional water spray, Saltwater smell. Rocking motion in Cinema
As we fade in, the crew are being awoken by the "Friendly crewmemeber" the ship has hit a storm. The camera heads above decks and the film shows the crew going about important tasks during a storm. During the storm we can also see massive damage being done to the ship. At some point, the perspective seems to slip/fall, and then fades out
Scene 9:
SFX: None.
The crew are awoken again by the friendly crewman, but this time they are awoken in the ships infirmary - not the bunk. He enouracges them to get up and head above decks, When the crew get there, they are greeted with the sight of the ship being in a massive state of disrepair, but limping into a port within the Bay of Bangkok. As the ship gets closer, the Captain calls all hands, states that obviously the ship is going to be in repairs for some time and they may want to seek an alternative berth on another ship. The friendly crewman can be heard to say "Oh just great, how are we going to get home now?" as the film fades out.
Revitalising the attraction
After the attraction begins to lose initial interested, the film can be replaced - or supplemented by a new film showing ports of call for a ship to the "West Indies" These could include.
*French port (Le Harve?)
(Ships Buiscut)
*Bermuda
(Lime Juice and Scurvey)
*Jamaica - Taste of Jamaca
(Hurricane)
*Limp into an American Port (Savannah?)
This show will have all 4-D material with some smells and effects.
As you all may know Jack the Clown is the first of many very scary icons at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Jack the Clown has been around since HHN's tenth year and ever since then he has been scaring guest from all over! Now I won't have you wait to long, shall we get into the FUN?
Queue: The queue will start outside a blood stained circus tent, as you enter the circus tent the fun will begin! As you step inside you will see Jack on a screen in the center of the room. Well, I shouldn't keep you waiting too long, shall we get to the show?
Jack: Well hello all of you puny and stupid humans, welcome to my circus! Today you will experience so many things your human self will not be able to control. I want you to take a look around and see my wonderful display. Look to your left, everyone! As you may see the bodies of myself and the thirteen children I killed back in '20 but hey I'm not just your every day clown, I'm Jack The Clown.
As Jack fades away from the screen, your show is ready to begin!
Preshow: As you step in the theatre it is cold and quiet as can be, you slip into your seat knowing something is going to happen. BAM! Jack appears on the screen introducing you to his show.
Jack: Well hello again, puny humans! I will now be opening my own Pandora's Box that has been closed for many, many years. And today I will unleash all hell by opening my PANDORA'S BOX! My many secrets, lies and hurtful truths were held in. But now they are out in the open for all to experience!
The smells of decomposing bodies, blood and cologne fill your nose, it's disgusting but it gives you a hint of what Jack is up to. The show is ready to go now, are you ready?
Show
Narrator: Jack please don't open THAT! Please, Please Please, I don't think you should do this. JACK NOOOO! Well Jack surely did open Pandora's Box, didn't he? Lets hope it doesn't go too far, wait what am I talking about this is Jack the Clown. IT WILL GO TOO FAR!
Jack: Oh it has just begun, do you smell it? Your OWN FEAR, you don't? Well you will, you see I am here at Halloween Horror Nights: The Park to make your worst fears come to life! Oh you better run all of my accomplices from Shady Brooks are coming, oh wait you can't run! HAHAHA, they're here everyone. As bloodied, battered and bruised Shady Brooks mental patients come out from beyond the screen. You shriek in fear as they come upon you and mumble so many things you can't wrap you head around it. But then it all stops and they go back beyond the screen. You wonder, are they coming out again? What just happened? And then you smell it again, decomposing bodies. Jack pops up on the screen again, this time with a very sinister demand.
Jack: Everyone, everyone, EVERYONE! You must let all of my boxed emotions embrace your body and soul. Pretend that you are me, how bad did I feel when I was murdered or when I murdered someone. I DIDN'T, because I am an evil person. No heart, no soul and a messed up brain! But don't feel bad, because I made myself this way! Now get ready for some smells from deep inside my brain. You can feel a warm air, like a breath on your skin. And then you can feel wind swirling around as well.
Body odor, dead animal and smells take over your nose. By now you want to get out but you know you can't because the doors are locked. Your worst fears have come to life...
Jack: You've crossed the line with me, puny humans. You see I can usually scare a human in two seconds flat. But apparently you all are not phased by me. So I unleash the greatest thing in my box, the truth. Now you all must feel the pain of my truth, oh no wait. I MUST FEEL THE PAIN OF MY TRUTH!
All of the sudden, Jack blows up on the screen, you can feel heat, like the heat of flames. You are relieved, but then you wonder, who did it? The thirteen children that Jack the Clown murdered came up on the screen. They all had matches in their hands.
THE END
DISCLAIMER: While not as much as last week’s, this proposal does contain some similarities to both Honey, I Shrunk the Audience and TDS’ Magic Lamp Theater. I am not re-dressing either of these attractions and making it “new”. Also, I did not cast particular actors for these roles so use your imagination or post a comment for your opinions of who these actors should be.
Queue/Façade: This attraction will be set in the Fantasy Faire area which resembles a medieval travelling fair in the style of the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland. Instead of tournament tents connected by castle walls, these tents will be individual structures ala Storybook Circus. The attraction’s setup is that the kingdom’s greatest magician known as the “Master Sorcerer” has come to perform at the Fantasy Faire as part of his grand comeback tour to restore his former glory.
As guests enter the big top structure, the queue is adorned with posters of the Master Sorcerer’s past performances at various locations which contain some Disney references (Agrabah, Corona (Tangled’s kingdom), the Festival of Fools, etc.) After passing through the big top lobby, the queue passes through the Master Sorcerer’s office and dressing room which features some of his crudely designed props and magical apparatuses including the old “saw the person in half trick” with the “secret” compartments revealed, his supply cabinet of sleight of hand tricks and his Magic for Village Idiots book collection. From the looks of it, the Master Sorcerer is a far cry from his stage name shown in the piles of demands for refunds on his desk as well as his lists of places he has yet to scam with the Fantasy Faire at the top of the list. We also pass by his assistant’s dressing room (a broom closet) which has a very familiar looking birdhouse hanging as well as posters for the kingdom of Camelot.
Pre-Show: The guests enter the pre-show room where the pick up their “illusion glasses” as they witness an introduction from the Master Sorcerer and his assistant in the same style as the Forbidden Journey pre-show. The assistant greets the guests and tells him about his travels with the Master Sorcerer who took him in as his assistant since his parents passed away. In the middle of his talk, the Master Sorcerer interrupts the assistant calling him “kid” (running gag throughout the show until his name is revealed in the end) and boastfully tells the guests that he is pulling out all stops to put himself back in the spotlight. However, the assistant suggests that now might not be the best time for the Master Sorcerer’s comeback performance due to a weird feeling he has that the show might go wrong. The Master Sorcerer disregards his assistant’s advice and goes on with the show. Because the Master Sorcerer’s tricks have never been performed before, he created the guest’s “illusion glasses” which will help ordinary commoners like them erase the line between mere illusions and true magic. As the Master Sorcerer leaves to take the stage, the assistant shrugs his shoulders towards the audience as the theater doors open.
Theater: The theater is set in a big-top style tent with rows of benches with seat dividers (like It’s Tough to be a Bug) and the main screen is behind a curtain. This circular setup also enhances the fact that the screen is curved to give the illusion that they are watching live actors instead of a movie. Additionally, the main film will run at a higher frame rate than other 3D films to support the aforementioned illusion.
Show:
Scene 1: The curtain rises as the assistant comes out an introduces the Master Sorcerer dressed in a wizard’s hat and cape who appears with a cloud of smoke (4D effect) and a trapdoor which backfires on him as he falls below the stage. Angrily, the Master Sorcerer climbs out of the trapdoor and out onto the main stage.
Scene 2: For the Master Sorcerer’s first trick, he boasts that he can make objects multiply which he can use to his advantage to end world hunger. He brings out his multiplication chamber as the sorcerer attempts to put a loaf of bread into the chamber and multiply it by the thousands (Yes, I know this is similar to HISTA. In fact the assistant says “Haven’t I seen someone else do that trick?”). As the sorcerer says his magic words, the trick fails to work as he tries banging it multiple times before ripping the chamber from the wall it was attached to and causes an avalanche of bread to cascade down the stage and into the audience (4D effects: smell of bread and “leg ticklers”). As the bread stops rolling down, the assistant remarks that the bread he used in the trick was stolen before the Master Sorcerer locks his assistant in the trapdoor beneath the stage.
Scene 3: After apologizing for the “technical difficulties”, the Master Sorcerer then proclaims that he is so powerful that nature bows before him. Here, he attempts to control the weather by performing a spell that will create a tornado, a blizzard and an earthquake at the same time. Like the last trick, things go wrong for the Master Sorcerer and the illusion is spoiled as we see that the tornado was just a big fan (4D effects: breeze), the blizzard was just a block of ice at a grindstone (4D effect: drop in temperature) and the earthquake was just a bunch of hydraulics under the stage and the benches.
Scene 4: Now, the “Master” Sorcerer is getting really desperate for success. As the “audience” begins to boo him (pre-recorded) and throw rotten tomatoes (in which the Master Sorcerer throws back), the Master Sorcerer has one last trick up his sleeve that will surely make the audience leave satisfied. As he begins a strange incantation, he calls forth a dragon which (all film) rises out of the stage as a giant, hokey mannequin with a flame thrower (4D effect: hot blasts of air) which causes the stage to burn (real fire in front of the screen). In the course of this mayhem, the assistant comes out on stage and causes all this mayhem to stop (ala Yen Sid) which surprises the Master Sorcerer. He thanks the assistant for saving him before the assistant reveals his true name: Merlin. Merlin then takes the Master Sorcerer’s hat before showing off his true magical as all the magic tricks the Master Sorcerer failed to do before (bread, weather, dragon) all appear again culminating in an AA dragon head descending from the ceiling which eats the Master Sorcerer. After the Master Sorcerer’s demise, Merlin then tells the audience that the Master Sorcerer should have listened to his premonition and apologizes for the bad performance. The curtain falls and the guests exit the tent out into the fair.
Origins of our Planet is a 4-D show in Uncharted Adventures' "Early Earth". The show is a thrilling and educational journey where guests are responsible for helping to reveal the secret of how the Earth was created.
Technical Aspects - The ride will use a large screen with 4K projection technology to produce the sharpest and most immersive image. The theater can seat 290 guests, with 20 seats available to guests who do not want to experience the moving seats. Many special effects will be used throughout the show, in order to enhance the experience.
Facade and Queue - Guests will approach a cave on the base of a large, bare mountain which also houses another attraction in "Early Earth". The mountain serves as the main focal point for "Early Earth", and is located next to the park's main water feature. Guests enter a large and dark cave and proceed to wind through the cave's seemingly endless tunnels. All around guests throughout the queue are pools of hot and boiling magma and steam vents. Stalactites hang above guest's heads. Guests move through the queue and will eventually be stopped by a Team Member, who will direct guests into the pre-show room.
Pre-Show - Guests enter a large cave, where the walls shimmer and glisten from moisture and the sediments within the rock. All around guests are metallic remnants of some destroyed machine. In the back center of the cave is an Audio-Animatronic old man dressed in tattered and worn clothing. A small fire illuminates the man and the walls around him. Guests are ushered into the cave until it is filled. The cave darkens, leaving the fire as the only light; illuminating the old man.
Old Man - "Thank goodness someone has arrived! I've been trapped in here for 10 days now... Ah yes, you're probably wondering how I got here. Well, look around the room. These are the pathetic remnants of my once great time traveling machine. I come from the year 3000, and was set on seeing the creation of the Earth. This mountain that we are in is said to hold the secrets of the creation of the Earth, something no human has seen before. Sadly, the time travel system aged me beyond belief, and if I leave the presence of my machine, I will surely die. But luckily you're here... Errr, how did you get to this time period by the way? Agh, never-mind. I now need you to uncover the mysteries of the Earth! Deeper into this cave you will find the secrets of the creation of the Earth. Take these specially designed glasses. You will be able to record and document what you see with them, and I can also act as a vocal guide for you through these technologically advanced glasses. Now go, and see what this special cave has in store for us!"
A door opens and a Team Member ushers guests into the theater. Three different extinct steam vents hold the 3-D glasses for guests to grab. Guests enter the massive show room and are directed by a Team Member down the appropriate aisles. The room carries on the theming of the queue and is one massive cave. Giant stalactites hang from the ceiling and the walls and ceiling are all made of rock. Steam vents line the walls and occasionally release bursts of steam as the guests continue to be sat. The lighting in the room dims once all guests are sat, and the wall in front of guests begins to shake, and a crack in the middle of the wall releases a large amount of steam. The wall begins to split into two, revealing a massive screen.
Main Show - A massive, white glowing sphere is in the center of the screen; suspended in space. The sphere is spinning rapidly.
Old Man (Narrator) - "That is the Earth in it's earliest form; a bunch of particles of gases which are drawn together and compressed. I cannot believe that I am seeing this!"
Finally, the ball of white hot gases cools down. The ball of gas slows down from spinning and the color changed from white to yellow to red to not giving off any light at all. The ball of gas contracts, getting smaller and the gases changed to liquid as they cool. Heavier materials drew to the center of the Earth. As the Earth began cooling more, a solid crust formed over the over the liquid material. As the crust cooled, it got wrinkled and burst open in spots. Massive cracks rapidly begin to form in the crust.
Old Man (Narrator) - "I cannot believe it! We just watched the change from pure gas to liquid to solid, but on the scale of, well, the Earth... Woah, woah!"
We begin to zoom in fast towards the Earth, before crashing on the barren surface. The seats in the theater shake violently. The camera slowly repositions itself, and begins shaking again, as more cracks begin to form on the rocky surface. Fragments of rock are thrown into the guest's faces.
Old Man (Narrator) - "It appears we are not mere observers of the formation of the Earth anymore... We are part of it! Look out!"
A massive crack in the surface forms a little too close, and the seats begin to shake violently again. Soon, all is still and guests are left with a view of a stark and barren planet. The seats begin to shake again and the camera pans down into the dark depths of the nearest crack in the crust.
Old Man (Narrator) - "What the --- Woah, look out!"
We fall backwards as a massive amount of steam emerges from the depths. A mist effect sprays the guests. All around the planet steam is shown being blasted into the atmosphere out of the cracks in the surface. The physical steam vents in the show room simultaneously omit steam at the same time as on the screen.
Old Man (Narrator) - "Water... Water! The water was trapped under the crust and was formed when the Earth was cooled. Now it's been released... Look up!"
The camera turns upwards and dense clouds blanket the sky. A single rain drop falls into the guest's faces. More rain begins to fall, until it is a torrential downpour. Guests will get wet during this scene, but not too wet. The seats begin to shake again as we run for cover under a large rocky structure.
Old Man (Narrator) - "Look! The rain is evaporating the second it hits the surface. It's because the planet is too hot at the moment. When the surface cools down, the water will stay and we will have our lakes, rivers and oceans."
We watch as the rain relentlessly keeps evaporating. Soon, the surface begins flooding.
Old Man (Narrator) - "Uh oh! Here we go! Time to get to higher ground!"
The seats and screen begin to shake as we climb to the top of the rocky structure we were once under, leaving us exposed in the rain. The camera turns slowly as we are given a great view of the planet in it's earliest stages. Soon the rain stops and the whole surface is covered with water.
Old Man (Narrator) - "Would you look at that? The whole surface is one big ocean. Oh wait, look over there!"
The camera jolts to the left and we see land rising up in the distance. Then, we begin to rise and the camera pans downwards to show that land is rising up underneath us. Soon, we are surrounded by a desolate rocky surface.
Old Man (Narrator) - "Extreme heat and pressure are pushing some of the land back up! These are our feature continents and major land features. Now all that needs to happen is the tectonic..."
The whole room, seats and screen begin to shake violently. We are in an earthquake. The camera darts to the right and we see a massive jagged structure begin to rise out of the flat surface. Bits of rock are thrown right at the guests.
Old Man (Narrator) - "Duck!"
The camera bolts downwards to the ground, leaving the screen enveloped in darkness. Soon, the camera slowly moves upright and reveals a beautiful view of a mountain range stretching to the horizon and a massive lake. The land is still desolate and barren, but many familiar features of our Earth have been born. In the distance is a large thunderstorm.
Old Man (Narrator) - "It's absolutely stunning. Of course, it's no where near what we know today. The land will continue to shift, to form our continents. The Earth will begin to develop life, starting with the most simplest of life forms. But this was the creation of Earth... What truly started it all. Thank you for helping me delve deeper into the caves of this mysterious mountain so it could all be revealed..."
The two massive rock walls move together again, concealing the screen and signifying the end of the show. A Team Member then directs guests out of the theater and directly into Uncharted Adventures' "Early Earth".
MARS ATTACKS !
In 1962 the Topps trading card company released a line of cards painted by science-fiction artist Wallace Woods which became an instant hit with kids of the era and a source of controversy amongst parents groups for their over the top violence and implied sexual themes. Over the years, these trading cards have become legendary and become highly prized collectors items which have, in turn, inspired comic books and a 1996 film adaptation directed by Tim Burton.
Now, these infamous pieces of pop culture comes to life at SCREAM! Park with the addition of a new 4-D film experience known simply as MARS ATTACKS!
Guests will enter this attraction through a façade of the United Nations building general assembly hall in New York which will have a banner draped across that reads “WELCOME MARTIAN AMBASSADOR”. As you enter the preshow waiting area that is themed to the interior of the U.N. you are greeted by a live actor portraying the leader of the United Nations that thanks us for attending this very special meeting of worlds for the first time between the people of Earth and the Ambassador of the Martian race. We are shown a very tongue in cheek video presentation that was sent to Earth from the Martians showing ways that our two worlds can work together to achieve harmony, brotherhood and lasting peace. We see images of Martian and humans hanging out at the beach, around the BBQ and even inter-marrying and having very strange looking human babies with bug eyes and bulging brain indented heads playing with martian tech toy ray guns.
Upon entering the theater you are given a pair of safety goggles (3D glasses) to protect ourselves from any potential cosmic rays that the Martians may inadvertently bring with them.
Once all audience members are seated, the live actor UN leader strides onstage as we can see on the screen the entire UN general assembly seated as the floor begins to rumble (the floor beneath our seats is fitted with motion capability in the style of Honey I Shrunk the Audience) which must mean that the Martian spacecraft has landed. With a puff of smoke from the stage an Animatronic Martian ambassador walks (using the Benjamin Franklin animatronic walking technology from American Advenure in EPCOT) behind the podium and begins to address the assembly. He speaks in Martian “ack, ack, ack” language which is then interpreted as “We come in peace to your world humans, we Martians have long been watching your planet and frankly, we like it. In fact we’ll take it!”
At this point the screen gets filled with Martian warriors packing Ray guns and start firing into the crowd, disintegrating first the UN leader that disappears into a fiery corpse and then decimating the rest of the general assembly members. They then fire at the audience with fire effects, smoke and laser effects emanating from the theater walls.
At this point, the ground starts rumbling again and the ceiling is torn off(actually being a screen as well) revealing a larger 3D screen which now encompasses us in the style of an Imax theater. The ceiling, it reveals has been torn off by a 80 foot tall Martian walker vehicle with clamp hands that snap at us and then carry our theater across Manhattan. With every step of the giant Martian automaton, the theater floor bucks and bounces, as electric sparks from the exposed wires in the ceiling spark.
We knock over buildings, crash through skyscrapers and see the sky fill with Martian flying saucers which are blasting the city with disintegration rays and fire cannons. We then head into the Central Park Zoo where another Martian ship blasts the zoo with an expansion ray that morphs the animals into giant version of themselves. Giant penguins, snakes and praying mantises scamper around eating passerbys and poke their heads into the theater. Finally a giant hippo sniffs at us, sprays us with a snort of water and momentarily swallows the theater, before deciding that we’re less than yummy and spits us back out again.
At this point a military battalion fires on the martians and us leading to more fireworks on screen and in the theater. Large shells are hurled in our direction which detonate with explosions in the back of the theater. The martians then zap the army’s panzer tank unit with a shrink ray which turns them into tanks no bigger than hot wheels cars which a martian picks up and eats, cackling like a maniac as he does it.
It is then that an army of Martian warriors turn their attention to us, 100 strong with ray guns aimed right at us. They cackle madly and prepare to fire on us…..BUT…just as they raise their guns for the final blow a herd of giant elephants, being ridden by an army battalion, stampede the Martian army crushing them into dust. An army general then tells us all to get out of here while the getting is good, the military will mop up the rest of the mess. However, just before the lights of the theater come on a Martian struggles to his feet and shakily raises his giant bazooka style ray gun which jams and explodes in his face sending a cloud of smoke filling up the theater which is lit up with strobe lights. The theater lights finally come on and the audience may now exit the building past animatronic Martians in the exit area being held at gunpoint by soldiers.
1. This attraction is adapted directly from one of my stories. I have attempted to summarize the events as best as possible. If anything appears to be a continuity error, assume that it is explained within the full-length story and that guests will be provided with adequate information in the attraction.
2. As everything in my park is intended to share continuity, characters may be featured in multiple attractions. It is assumed that guests will become familiar with characters as they experience the park, so character descriptions will be considered cumulative throughout proposals.
The Dragon-Human War
Backstory: While dragons and humans can now live in peace with each other, up until very recently that was not possible. Even once the initial alliance talks began, many dragons were not happy with the prospect. A few rebellion groups formed, but they eventually all merged into a single faction. Led by Beastie, a particularly powerful darkness dragon, this group almost destroyed any hope of the alliance, and could have claimed dominion over both worlds had they not been stopped.
Theme: Located in the battlefield section of the park, this attraction is a recreation of the great battle that occurred there. The attraction is presented as magivision technology, allowing viewers to feel as if they are actually there watching events unfold, but is actually a HFR IMAX 3D experience featuring special effects.
Queue: Guests enter the queue, a basic cattle pen outside of a military bunker. A tent-like structure shades visitors, and posters set up in the queue introduce the principal characters of the story. They are:
Smaug: A human who was transformed into a bipedal blue and yellow dragon, Smaug is the head of the alliance task force and one of the primary ambassadors to the human world. Smaug is very skilled in the magical arts and is also exceptionally good at melee combat, in addition to being highly intelligent.
Draco: A bipedal red and yellow dragon who helped Smaug adapt to his new life following the transformation and has been one of his closest friends ever since. Draco is not a huge supporter of the alliance movement, but he is willing to work with Smaug for the good of both species.
King Firedrake: The king of the North American dragons and a major supporter of the alliance movement, Firedrake assigned Smaug to his position following the initial revelation of the dragons. Once very popular, many now believe he is not fit to be king and would like to see him replaced.
Thorn: The head of King Firedrake's security force, Thorn is considered the most powerful magically of the Mythrrium dragons. He was not born on Earth, but rather migrated from Mythrrium and as a result he has some beliefs other dragons don't share. Thorn is black and dark red, and has the unique ability to form shift between bipedal and quadruped forms.
Beastie: The leader of the rebellion group, Beastie is a large black quadruped darkness dragon with a desire for nothing but power. He is arrogant, believing himself to be a better leader than Firedrake, and has considered taking the throne for himself on more than one occasion.
General John Wilson: The man in charge of the military contingent sent to fight off the dragons, John finds himself overwhelmed despite his substantial combat experience. It is only due to an alliance with Smaug that he and his entire force is not eradicated by Beastie and the other rebel dragons.
Raijin: An ancient dragon with a mysterious past, Raijin is neutral and only wishes to see balance maintained. He refuses to fight in any battles, but is willing to lend his knowledge to John and the other human soldiers if it will help them be successful. (Note: This is the same character that was featured in Magical Shack)
When guests reach the entrance to the bunker, they are given a pair of safety glasses and are then invited to proceed inside. If the show has filled to capacity, guests are held at the entrance to the bunker until it is time to enter.
Preshow Room: Guests enter a room filled with various maps, charts, and diagrams. It appears to have been used for planning. Two projection screens are located on the upper part of the far wall, with a yellow line and the words "Stand Back!" on the floor about three feet back from the base. The room is large enough to accommodate approximately six hundred guests. At five minutes before show time, the lights dim, the projectors fire up, and the preshow starts.
Preshow: The preshow consists of a series of still slides with narration by Smaug. The narration goes as follows:
"Today, the world is host to many forms of life. While most are incapable of conscious thought, many species in the animal kingdom have developed this ability, and two, humans and dragons, have attained a high enough level of cognitive function to be considered intelligent species. While we may now share this world without conflict, until very recently that was not the case. After nearly a millennium of life in hiding, King Firedrake of the North American Colonies decided to reveal our existence to the human world. While some believed this to be a necessary step, many dragons disagreed. Slowly, they began to gather into rebellion groups, hoping to overthrow King Firedrake and undo his mistake. None succeeded, but their threat went unchecked. United under the leadership of Beastie, a master of darkness, and armed with information provided by Thorn, the head of King Firedrake's security forces, the rebellion launched a raid on the King's castle. Despite being outnumbered, they had the element of surprise, and with his standing Thorn was able to force his way into Firedrake's private quarters at the top of the tallest tower. There, Thorn murdered the King and claimed the crown for himself. Although Beastie had intended for himself to become King, he was content to serve as Thorn's head adviser until the time was right. Together, the pair unleashed a reign of terror on the human world. Destruction was rampant, as the dragons had only one goal: end the reign of humans as the dominant species on Earth. Eventually, the United States Government decided to act, but their efforts were in vain. A military force led by General John Wilson, a highly experienced commander, was reduced to no more than a thousand men as the result of a single battle against Beastie's forces. But, while Beastie and Thorn had won over the masses, they had not won all. As head of the alliance task force, I was nominated leader of a new resistance, one to fight against Thorn. Those who believed in the alliance and those who didn't wish to have any part in the massive destruction sweeping the country sought us out. I also discovered the remains of John's forces, and despite their differences they were welcomed into our organization with open arms. Eventually, the time came to fight, and we prepared ourselves for the greatest battle of our time..."
As the film ends, doors in the wall under the screens open and guests proceed into the main auditorium.
Main Theater: The main theater is a large room apparently made of concrete and free of decoration. There is seating for approximately six hundred guests, with designated seating for handicapped visitors. An animatronic form of Smaug stands at the front of the theater, welcoming guests and reminding them to fill in all available space. No screen is visible behind him. As the theater fills, Smaug tells guests about Magivision, promoting it as the most realistic viewing experience ever created. He also reminds guests that the presentation may not be suitable for young children, and that if they need to leave for any reason they should use the exit doors to the left. Finally, once everyone is seated, Smaug tells guests to don their safety glasses, as while nothing will cause physical damage the images could cause optical damage without the glasses. The lights then dim, the theater fills with fog, and the score begins as the presentation starts.
Main Show: When the fog clears, there is no sign of Smaug, and the front wall of the theater has turned into a giant curved IMAX screen.
Scene 1: The two groups of combatants are gathered on opposite sides of the valley. On one side, Thorn and Beastie lead a force of several hundred dragons. On the other, Smaug, Draco, and John stand before their army: a hundred or so dragons and around a thousand human soldiers. The commanders from both sides meet in the middle of the battlefield to discuss the terms of the combat: they shall fight until one side surrenders, all their combatants are killed or flee, or their commanders are defeated. In addition, Beastie and Thorn agree to fight on even terms with the human contingent of Smaug's forces, and Thorn says he'll give up the crown if he loses. Once negotiations are settled, the commanders return to their respective forces.
Scene 2: Smaug, Draco, and John go over the plan for the battle: Smaug and Draco will lead groups of dragons from different directions and attempt to slow Thorn's forces. John is to assist the humans in defeating any dragons that get through. Smaug reminds them to avoid using firearms unless necessary, but doesn't specify how they are to fight. All four then take up battle positions. Meanwhile, Beastie speaks to the entirety of his force and tells them to kill everyone and show no mercy. Thorn looks slightly disturbed by this, but doesn't say anything. When Beastie finishes his speech, he, Thorn, and the rest of their forces take flight, beginning the battle.
Scene 3: Smaug and Draco lead their groups into battle, attacking from opposite sides. Combat consists of a combination of aerial grappling and magic attacks, some of which leave the plane of the screen and shoot into the theater. Before long, it becomes apparent that Smaug's forces are outnumbered, and they begin to suffer casualties. Some of Thorn's forces manage to break through and attack the humans. As they charge into battle, the human soldiers all draw plasmablades, energy swords that are capable of slicing through metals and blocking magic attacks. However, despite the initial shock of the dragons, they rally and humans begin to fall as well. Smaug separates himself from the chaos and searches for Beastie, who is ruthlessly killing any who come near him, and Thorn, who appears to be only halfheartedly fighting. Smuag grabs Draco and proposes a switch to "Attack Plan Delta," which Draco agrees to. Draco sounds the message, and all of the remaining dragons on Smaug's side disengage and gather in a triangular formation. With Smaug and Draco at the front, the formation flies straight toward Thorn. The enemy dragons attempt to stop it, but the formation manages to cut through. Smaug ends up reaching Thorn first and grabs him. As the two begin to fall out of the sky, both begin to glow and then they suddenly vanish.
Scene 4: Smaug and Thorn appear above a desolate wasteland and crash to the ground. Thorn quickly gets to his feet and transforms to bipedal form. He asks Smaug why a battle was necessary, but Smaug replies by attacking Thorn with magic. The two fight briefly with magical attacks, but Smaug loses and ends up being frozen in place. Thorn then begins to tell Smaug the truth: Firedrake knew about the attack and asked Thorn to do whatever was necessary to prevent Beastie from becoming king. However, Beastie was able to use dark magic to take control of Thorn, essentially rendering him a puppet. Thorn says that he removed himself and Smaug from the battle so Beastie wouldn't be able to interfere, then unfreezes Smaug. Thorn then tells Smaug that there is a way to defeat Beastie, but Smaug has to trust him.
Scene 5: Raijin flies above the clouds when he is nearly struck by a stray blast of magic. He dives below to see the massive battle going on. Smaug's forces are in disarray, and are faring poorly. Less than thirty of the dragons and only a couple hundred humans are still alive. It is obvious that the battle will soon be decided unless someone intervenes. Raijin flies into the chaos, dodging blasts of fire and magic, all of which shoot from the screen and strike somewhere in the theater. He blasts anyone in his way aside but ignores the rest. Raijin lands at the front of the group of humans and spreads his arms, creating a transparent dome-shaped shield over the entirety of the human soldiers. Beastie notices this from above and dives down, landing in front of Raijin, who doesn't flinch despite being defenseless. Beastie blasts Raijin with green light, apparently killing him, although he is unable to prevent the shield from fully forming. John and six other soldiers rush forward and grab Raijin's body, then John calls out to Draco for assistance.
Scene 6: Smaug and Thorn still stand in the wasteland. Smaug tells Thorn that he does not believe Thorn is the sole cause of recent events, but he still cannot trust him. Thorn tells Smaug to wait, but Smaug takes flight. Thorn transforms into quadruped form and chases him into the clouds, causing the theater to fill with fog. The screen is obscured, but Smaug and Thorn's voices can be heard at various locations around the theater, accompanied by flashes of light from that location. When the fog clears, Smaug appears to be alone among the clouds. However, Thorn suddenly appears behind him. Smaug turns and strikes Thorn with a blast of green light. Thorn freezes and then tumbles out of the sky. Smaug watches him fall, relieved, then suddenly realizes what he has done and dives after Thorn.
Scene 7: Beastie and those under his command attempt to breach the protective dome, but they are unable to, receiving an electrical shock on contact and glancing off its surface. All of the remaining humans and dragons under Smaug's command are gathered underneath it, surrounding Raijin's body. Draco and a couple other dragons examine him, and confirm that he is still alive but just barely. John asks if he can be revived and Draco says they'll try. The dragons then gather in a circle around Raijin. A stream of pure white light shoots from all of them, all the beams converging on Raijin. His body lifts into the air and hovers about ten feet off the ground, but nothing appears to be happening. Suddenly, Raijin wakes up. He slowly floats down to the ground as the spell ends. A moment later, Beastie uses dark magic to shatter the shield and the battle resumes. The dragons are severely weakened by the spell and are easily killed or disabled, while the humans are exhausted and don't stand a chance.
Scene 8: Smaug lands next to Thorn, who lies on the ground. He appears to have broken many bones and his breathing is very labored. Thorn tells Smaug that he has only encountered three others who were able to best him, two of which are now dead, and he hopes the third soon will be. Thorn tells Smaug he must defeat Beastie if there is to be any hope of peace between dragons and humans. Smaug apologizes for what he has done and Thorn chooses Smaug as his heir to the throne before he dies. Smaug lights Thorn's body on fire, then flies off.
Scene 9: The battle is over. The fifty or so remaining humans, including John, have been grouped together before Beastie and a few other dragons. The rest guard the handful of surviving dragons from Smaug's forces, including Draco and Raijin, or walk the battlefield and exterminate the injured. Approximately a hundred of those on Beastie's side have survived. Beastie tells the soldiers that they are going to serve as a public example of what will happen to any who resist his rule, but before he can elaborate on what will be done Smaug arrives. Smaug reveals what Thorn told him about Beastie being the true mastermind of the attacks on the human world. Smaug then reveals that Beastie has corrupted many of those who follow him, and uses a unique spell to free their minds. When Smaug speaks of the destruction that has occurred, many of the dragons are outraged and turn on Beastie, but he subdues many of them with a powerful blast of energy. Furious, Beastie attacks Smaug, but Raijin intercepts him with a spell, causing Beastie to transform into a bipedal form. Beastie grabs a plasmablade and continues the attack, but Smaug draws his own and blocks the strike. The two duel one-on-one in a masterful display of swordsmanship until Smaug manages to disarm Beastie and wound him, at which point his former followers attack and kill him (off-screen). Smaug and his supporters then celebrate their victory as the non-corrupted members of Beastie's force flee the scene.
The lights come back on and the exit doors open. Smaug's voice is thanking the viewers for attending the presentation and reminding them to deposit their safety glasses in the proper receptacles as they exit. Once guests have exited the theater, they pass a display about the aftermath of the battle, stating that Draco became the next king and there has not been a conflict between the dragon and human worlds since. Guests then pass the safety glasses return bins and exit back into the park.
Technical Information:
Location: Battleground
Presentation Format: 48 FPS IMAX 3D
Capacity: Approximately 600 visitors per show
Duration: The main show is 22 minutes, with a 6 minute preshow.
Special Effects: Fog, lights, lasers, and temperature effects (hot and cold air blasts) make it feel as if the action on screen is bleeding into the theater. There is no actual fire for safety reasons, and no water effects. The seats are stationary.
Parental Advisory: As this attraction contains loud noises and intense visual effects, it is not recommended for children under 6. All action that takes place on screen would be considered a high PG rating for epic battle action and violence (similar in intensity to the Chronicles of Narnia films).
Tomorrow's Technology, Today! Presented by Stark Industries
This 4D show inside Stark Expo demonstrates Stark Industries' future technology, today! The show lasts for 7 or 8 minutes. Loud noises, moving seats, and fog are involved in the show. Some of the effects may not be suitable for young kids.
There really isn't a preshow, but there are overhead intercoms detailing the information above. The theater can seat 500 people.
Once the show begins, Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr) comes onto the screen and welcomes us to the Stark Expo.
"Welcome to Stark Expo! I hope you're enjoying all the attractions and presentations! As you heard before you entered the auditorium and like the title says, I will be showing you some of Stark Industries upcoming gadgets and whatnot, and maybe even an Iron Man suit. As you know we make stuff for the military and S.H.I.E.L.D., which includes weapons, missiles, and aircrafts. However, I'm working on something entirely different. Back around the World War II era, my father Howard Stark tried making flying cars, but of course it didn't work. With technology advancing I was able to improve on this and make an all terrain rover. This is still a prototype and I'm working on a name, but it can fly up to 200 feet in the air, go underwater, underground, and has a great shield."
On screen, Tony pulls out the rover to show.
"Now how about we try this bad boy out?"
The rover jumps off of the screen and flies overhead of us. We can feel the wind it's creating.
"Alright, let's take it underground!"
Offscreen, the vehicle goes under ground. From left to right, the chairs vibrate and go up an inch. When it's reach all of the auditorium, it heads back on screen.
"Like I said, it has a great shield. How about we test some bullets on it?"
In front of the screen, two turrets pop up and shoot bullets to the screen. After 10 seconds they go back under the stage.
"That's just one of the great things I have in store. Next, I'd like to show you a new high tech missile I've been working off. The missile is so powerful that it can go through that wall right behind you."
Tony grabs the missile launcher and shoots it to the wall, leaving a giant hole. When it crashes into the wall, our seats will vibrate and fog will fill up the room. A screen will open up to imitate that was a real missile.
"Ouch, we're gonna have to fix that fast. Thanks to my mess up, we're short on time, so we'll have to cap off with my Iron Man presentation now."
Tony proceeds to suit up in the Mark VII.
"JARVIS, commence robot simulation."
AA robots will fill the sides of the room, as Tony uses his hand lasers to fight the robots. This lasts for about 1 minute.
"Now, for the big finale, it's time to fly."
Tony flies around the room for 1 and a half minutes.
"Well, that's our abrupt presentation. At least it didn't malfunction like the one at the mansion (direct reference to Mutant 101). Thanks, and enjoy the rest of the Expo! Now I have to fix this hole."
Theme Park: Exposition Summit: A Literary Park
Location: Adventures on the High Seas & Land
This attraction is based on the series of CYOA books.
Outside of the theater is a large sign placard that resembles an open book. The right side list the author(s) who came up with the concept of "Choose Your Own Adventures", etc. The left side gives the explanation of how a CYOA book works. (These sign placards are basically at the beginning of every attraction in the park)
There is an attendant at the front of the line. There are two lines in which to enter the attraction, left side or right side (Similar to to the start of the line at the Matterhorn).
If guest ask which line, the attendant will tell them "Either one" as they both will eventually connect to the theater (Most guest will likely choose whatever line is shorter, but this is, in keeping with the theme, their first decision)
Guest will enter the building & proceed to the queue area. Above the queue, there are large letters on the wall with their respective definitions.
Choice - The right, power, or opportunity to choose.
Alternative - A choice listed to 1 or 2 possibilities.
Depending on which line they entered, guest may experience a different queue. Each side will be designed as one of Dr. Packard's research labs, each with obvious noticeable differences.
As guest proceed to the theater, the attendant hands out the safety visors (3d glasses) After guest have their glasses they proceed in the theater.
There is a large IMAX screen & a stage at the front of the theater. The theater is divided into 3 sections (Middle, left side, right side) There are large isles separating each section.
Each seat contains a panel on the arm rest with 2 buttons (Red & Blue).
For disabled guest, small remotes will be given out (and there will also be an attendant in the section who will also be able to hold & press buttons for guest who are not able to)
Pre Show: Professor Montgomery (a nod to the original author) walks out on stage & greets the the guest.
"Hello, I'm so glad to be here with you to finally publicly share info on Dr. Packard's (another nod to the original author of CYOA) secret expedition. Because you've spent some time in his research lab, you you know he's been exploring a remote part of the world & he's discovered something incredible......."
As he is speaking, a "research assistant" runs down the isle, yelling.
"Professor Montgomery!" Dr. Packard is in trouble!! Something...something has happened! We need to help him! I have his coordinates!
Professor - I apologize to you all, but there is no time to escort you out safely, as long as you stay in this vessel, you'll be be in no harm. This is now a rescue mission, everyone put on your visors & prepare for flight!!!
The lights go down & the show begins.
The Show: The aircraft begins flying over an undisclosed land, below you can see trees, rivers, etc. A few moments into the flight, audio is heard, stating engine trouble. The seats begin to rumble (like Captain EO) & the craft crashes to the ground. As it crashes, smoke rises from the stage.
The professor is knocked unconscious, & a crew member addresses the guest.
Crew - Everyone, grab the survival packs. They are filled with things we need, we gotta go find help. I have to warn you, it's dangerous out there, every decision we make could mean life or death...now let's go.
The craft door opens & everything we see onscreen is from audience POV. We see a river to the right & a jungle to the left.
The film stops & text with instructions (including visuals) appear on the screen.
Enter the jungle? (Press Red Button)
Take the river? (Press Blue Button)
The decision is based on the majority of the votes. The results will be displayed on the screen (ex. Enter the Jungle - 58 %, Take the River - 42 %).
If audiences choose "jungle", the scene takes guest through a dense jungle. The temperature rises (as opposed to the river where it would get colder) Suddenly a large creature emerges & begins to attack. The seats rumble as the attack begins, & another "choice" appears on the screen.
Use smoke blaster to hide? (Press Red Button) - The crew members will run down each isle simultaneously & turn towards the audience & "spray a heavy "smoke effect" over the theater "concealing them"
Use fire projectile to fight? (Press Blue Button) - The crew will shoot large "flames" toward the screen. Audience will feel the heat & the sound of flames.
And the show proceeds as such. Each series of choices is dependant upon what was chosen before, so depending on what the audience chooses, some questions & scenes may not be experienced during a particular show.
Here are some of the questions. With the exception of the first one, not every question SHOULD be answered randomly. Depending on what happens before, the next answer could benefit you or hinder you.
Enter the jungle? (Press Red)
Take the river? (Press Blue)
Use Smoke Blaster to hide (Press Red)
Use Fire Projectile to fight (Press Blue)
Enter the mysterious temple? (Press Red)
Take the descending cave? (Press Blue)
Rescue Dr. Packard yourself ?(Press Red)
Retreat to secluded village to find help? (Press Blue)
Trust & follow the mysterious stranger (Press Red)
Decline & take the forbidden road? (Press Blue)
Jump off the cliff (Press Red)
Walk across the rickety bridge (Press Blue)
All shows will include certain aspects, regardless of the audience choices, primarily the aerial rescue climax of Dr. Packard.
This stunt will occur above the audience, beginning in the back of the theater. It will be performed by a trained team using secured harnesses (similar to Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark) & will relate to whatever is on the screen at the time.
If it's a waterfall, the rescue is from a waterfall. If it's a volcano, from a volcano, etc.
The final part of the rescue takes place directly in front of the IMAX screen. The harness swings from the center of the house to center stage, in front of the screen, matching &reacting to the scene on the screen.
There are multiple endings of the show & not all of them are good.
If the show ends successfully, triumphant music is heard & a revived Professor Montgomery & Dr. Packard congratulate & thank you, admiring your wise choices.
If it ends unsuccessfully, a grave soundtrack is heard while a crew member tells the audience, Despite Dr. Packard being saved, we are all doomed.....but perhaps someone will write a book about this lost research team.
Alan Hiscutt: I further appreciate your efforts to develop concepts that are not related to Star Wars and Indiana Jones. You are doing a smart thing by staying away from the obvious early on, to decrease any sense of repetitiveness in further challenges. While I do not know too much about the actual Willow film, you made the sequel 3D show a rather compelling and interesting adventure. My only suggestion is to not avoid the main premise of the challenge, as you mentioned some 3D effects. The effects could have easily been taken further.
Chad H: You’ve managed to go from the extreme storytelling, to something of a simpler nature. I think this worked in your favor this week. The concept is rather peculiar, however. I understood that you wanted to portray trading, a viable source of income for many British in the 1700’s. However, I’m not sure whether or not the scenes are particularly exciting at all. Scene 8 sounded like a wonderful starting point, to have the basis of the film be about trading, but then lean into a storm as the source of the major plot development.
Karly Tenney: I understand the element of horror and disgust you are trying to bring to this park, but some parts of this film were executed distastefully. Having smells of blood and decomposing bodies would immediately turn me off from visiting a film. As for the storyline, I’m not sure I even understood what was happening. The film sounded like a large clown head appeared, released mental patients, and filled the room with disgusting odors. I’m sorry, I just did not understand the concept.
Christopher Sturniolo: This week, you have managed to create a new interesting story that could be easily related to The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game. I would love to see this film work as a tie in to the introduction of the game at this theme park. It was a clever idea to perform a magic act style show, and set it in a 3D setting.
Mike Kinshella: The idea presented this week was much more manageable and understandable. I immediately grasped the concept and saw how it related to the mystery of your theme park. You created a very rich and deep storyline where suspense and magic took full flight. Excellent job this week with the proposal.
Bryce McGibeny: I thought the show immediately capitalized on what was missing from last week, the element of excitement. Being in the middle of the creation of the Earth would easily serve as a more exciting attraction, while keeping the element of learning present.
Joseph Catlett: As with a few other proposals this week, you have included a rich storyline starting with the issuing of the 3D glasses…errr safety goggles. You’ve managed to create an element of fear, surrounding it with the Martian storyline that provided a background for excellent 3D effects filled with a plethora of ray guns and space equipment.
AJ Hummel: I’ve enjoyed learning more and more about this universe that you have created every week. The story to this film sounds exciting and intense, allowing people to watch a battlefield unfold before their eyes. I think you have chosen the perfect media to present a story of this caliber, as a ride or live show may not enhance the show as much as 3D film does.
Dominick D: I felt as if I was in a bit of a recap similar to last week, where items were being presented. While seeing these items would be cool, it might be better if these were each represented as a ride or exhibit unto themselves like in Disney’s Innoventions. I think the flight effect was an exceptional finale that proved the reason for this show to be a 3D spectacle.
Jay R: While I’ve heard of this type of concept before being utilized as ride technology, you did a good job of making the series come to life. I think you managed to create a cool show, showcasing some interesting new technology. While I wasn’t completely immersed by the story in your description, I can envision this ride being very realistic in appearance.
Alan Hiscutt- "Willow 4D- The Rebirth" is an extremely ambitious 4D attraction that takes the audience beyond the limits of an attraction and approaches that of an adventure. Most of your audience will be unaware of "Willow" at all, and it would be vital to educate them in the preshow area to the story and characters. I thought your integration of the story's film segments with live actors and physical effects was skillful and would keep the audience entertained and engaged in the story, important in a storyline that most are not familiar with. I was especially impressed how well you thought out the physical details of the theater structure, including audience size and handicapped accessibility. The storyline was complete and well-developed. Great concept, and an attraction that would be an important part of your park.
Chad H.- "The Great Empire Trading Company" would be a fun and unique 4D attraction. Your use of small theatres has benefits and drawbacks. The benefits would be in the scenes below decks, giving the audience the claustrophobic feeling of the tight quarters of the ships, and would make the food easier to serve quickly. It would, however, diminish the impressiveness of the panoramic views from Gibraltar, the vastness of the open ocean, etc. Actually serving food to the audience brings a 4D experience unlike anything else, but opens a whole can of potential problems. You're going to have people who taste the biscuits and/or Pakora and don't like them, and not knowing what to do with it will drop it on the floor. The theaters could become quite nasty quickly, and having to clean the theater after each show could drastically cut into capacity/hour. Very interesting idea, very original, but potentially messy.
Beyond that problem, I thought your overall concept was excellent, involving for the audience, visually engaging and would provide a memorable experience that fits perfectly into your theme park concept.
Karly Tenney- "Jack the Clown: Come Face to Face With the Legend" would be an eerie and potentially quite scary attraction. You utilized a variety of effects to engage the audience, from noxious odors to heat. Where your presentation fell short is in the dialogue and storyline portion. When writing dialogue, it must sound natural, and it didn't do so in your presentation. Also, you can't assume that everyone in the audience knows Jack the Clown's story. I have no idea who the thirteen children are- you must include everyone in your audience in the entire experience or parts of them are going to feel excluded. Your premise has much potential, but needs to be refined and have some sort of storyline integrated into it to engage the audience. If they don't feel like they are involved, they are just going to feel like they are watching an event that they are not a part of.
Christopher Sturniolo- "The Master Sorcerer" . I was fascinated by this attraction from beginning to end. I thought the preshow walk-through was a great introduction to the main attraction, established the characters well and got the audience ready to enjoy the humor of the show. The humor was obvious, well-conceived and actually funny. This attraction would engage the audience, involve them and have them leaving it feeling that they were both entertained and reinvigorated for more experiences in your park. I would perhaps not have the Maser Sorcerer actually be killed, but perhaps be stuck inside the fake dragon as it is revealed to be one last trick of his that backfired. Merlin would not let him actually be killed, just embarrassed to make him learn his lesson about scamming his audiences. That being said, this was an excellent concept, well developed and presented.
Mike Kinshella- "The Sandman's Theater of Mystery". I admit that, when I saw the length of the presentation, I was a bit hesitant. The I started reading it. I was sucked into the remarkable story you created. The details of the show structure were described perfectly, The integration of film, AA and live actors would provide the audience a totally engaging theatre experience. The accompanying photos were the perfect addition to the presentation. I was not familiar with Sandman before this, but you presented this in a way that not knowing who he was in advance would not be a problem at all, and might almost add to the fun of the experience. This was one of the best presentations I have ever seen in any TPA challenge, one to rightfully be proud of.
Bryce McGibeny- "Origins of Our Planet". This was a brave attempt to inject a sense of adventure into a topic that could be a bit unapproachable to most visitors. To be honest, I think that you added an element that was extraneous to the presentation, that of the old man gone back in time. The storyline of him being from the future, his machine being destroyed, and him having to stay near it or dying just didn't work, and frankly seemed contrived. If the machine was destroyed, why does he have to stay near it? It would have worked just as well to have the visitors themselves be time travelers, have them enter a "time machine" and use 4D effects to go back in time to the origins of Earth. Think of the visuals used in the classic sci-fi film "The Time Machine", where the protagonist watches time pass before his eyes.
That being said, the rest of the experience would be exciting, educational and fun, involving the audience and teaching them about our planet's origin while still entertaining them. A very good presentation, slightly derailed by the preshow but still effective.
Joseph Catlett- "Mars Attacks!" is one of my favorite movies, and you captured the silly campiness of the movie in your proposal. It would not be necessary to be familiar with the movie to totally enjoy this experience. You integrated the fun and comedy elements with potentially scary and thrilling experiences to make this an attraction that I would love to see. I must admit that I was surprised to see you defeat the Martians with a herd of elephants and not with the movie's use of a sonic weapon (Slim Whitman singing!) but that is probably a good call- it provided another visual element to the show and mercifully spared the audience from having to hear the Martian-killing yodeling that Slim Whitman is known and reviled for. This was one of your best proposals, showing that you have a solid grasp on humor and how to present it to audiences.
AJ Hummel- "The Dragon-Human War". This would be a thrilling film to experience, perhaps not as personally engaging as some but still a great attraction and a worthy addition to your park. The very nature of the subject matter would make it difficult for the audience to identify too closely with the main characters, since humans are really relegated to supporting roles in this film, but the thrilling actions, the engaging story and special effects would make this a totally enjoyable film experience. I appreciate how you are integrating your characters in attractions throughout the park. The technical details you provided show that you did your homework in this type of proposal. An excellent proposal.
Dominick D.- "Tomorrow's Technology, Today! Presented by Stark Industries". While the visual effects would be fun and entertaining, this proposal lacked any sort of story line that would involve the audience. It seemed to be an excuse for special effects, some of which (shooting at the audience) could potentially be extremely upsetting to some members. There was great potential for this presentation, such as having the rover malfunction and go rogue and requiring Iron Man to come to the rescue and battle it, thus saving the audience (and getting them involved).
You have shown definite growth in your proposals throughout these competitions. Now is not the time to get complacent.
Jay R.- "Choose Your Own Adventure: The Experience". A remarkable proposal, extremely well conceived. The multiple choices available would make this attraction one to be experienced again and again, each time being memorable and engaging to the audience. I especially noticed and appreciated your attention to those handicapped visitors that might need extra assistance- this would let them enjoy the experience as much as everyone else. I felt that the number of choices would keep them audience focused and thoroughly involved throughout the film, and I found the possibility of a bad ending to be rather refreshing and unusual, a realization that not everything ends well in the world. This is one of the most unusual presentations I have read, but in a good way. A VERY good way!
Alan Hiscutt: For a movie that is not very well known, you did a good job of telling the story of Willow to newcomers. The mix of live actors and 3D, like Terminator, was a great idea for a show of this caliber, and everything felt like it was well put together. The story was good, as were the effects. I found it a little strange to make it a sequel, only since Willow isn't well known by any means.
Chad H: Your proposal this time was atmospheric like last time, but the story was much more understandable and enjoyable. The concept was well done, with good effects, but I couldn't help but feel that this would have been executed better as a dark ride or water attraction of some sort.
Karly Tenney: Your ride still had some of the issues from last challenge. You did include a few segments where you described smells and such, but the majority of your post was just dialogue, thereby making it hard to understand. The story was virtually nonexistent, something you had a little bit of last week. Not a bad concept, just not great execution.
Christopher Sturniolo: At first, I was concerned with your fantasy themed park, but I now see that it was a great idea! This entry had a nice story with really cool humor (loved the breaking of the fourth wall!), and it felt more original than your last entry. I thought the AA dragon was a tad unnecessary, but otherwise, the proposal was great.
Mike Kinshella: Just from the logo alone, your show was already terrifying me! The whole entry was fantastic as well. The mix of all different kinds of effects added a lot of variety to the show. The story was well told (although a 10 minute pre-show? Hmm...), and I was intrigued with the tale you told. It PERFECTLY matched your park's atmosphere, and was a fabulous entry.
Bryce McGibeny: I get the very strange feeling that the concept of this show will be mixed between guests. With various religions and beliefs around the world, this is a controversial subject. I also have to agree about the old man from the future, it was a little strangely placed. The show was much more exciting than last week's though, so that was nice.
Joseph Catlett: I am totally digging the use of classic franchises like this! "Mars Attacks!" is a very tongue-in-cheek movie, and it really fit in with both the proposal last week and during the auditions. The storyline matched the B-movie vibe the franchise has, and even though it sort of transformed into explosions galore, I was still invested in it all. The visuals were nice, and matched the tone of the science fiction theme. Great job man!
AJ Hummel: Dragons were the perfect fit for a 3D show of this caliber, but I still feel that this whole world you've created may be a little too in-depth for some. It's a very rich, interesting history, but I just don't think I will have understood everything by the time I leave the park. Story aside, your show had great visual flair. The technology was well thought out, and all the special effects were well thought out.
Dominick D: As you mentioned somewhere, your entry this week was rushed, and it certainly shows. For one, the story was lacking like last weeks. You ditched a story for a demonstration of weapons, which was a little disappointing. As a movie nerd, I also had issues with Robert Downey Jr.'s role in the show. He really lacked the charm and charisma he had in the Iron Man movies. There was no Tony Stark humor or charm, just "Here's this, here's that, ok, done." That's more of a nitpick, but it was still a problem. The visuals seemed nice, especially towards the end with the suits.
Jay R: Wow, Choose Your Adventure is a really good idea for an experience like this! Having guests pick the choices adds variety, and will encourage guests to keep coming back to see the alternative choice(s). The story wasn't perfect, but it got the job done, all with really good visuals throughout the show. One of the more unique entries this week!
The votes are in this week:
1. Mike Kinshella
2. Joseph Catlett
3. Jay R
4. Christopher Sturniolo
5. AJ Hummel
6. Alan Hiscutt
7. Chad H
8. Joseph M
9. Bryce McGibeny
10. Dominick D
11. Karly Tenney
As we all had a unanimous vote for last place, we will not be having a vote this week. Unfortunately, Karly Tenney, you are fired.
In other news, challenge 3 will be posted by tomorrow. I hope you all received the short impromptu email about the challenge.
And finally, here is the finalized challenge list:
Challenge 3: Walkthrough Experience
Challenge 4: Roller Coaster
Challenge 5: Restaurant
Challenge 6: Thrill Ride
Challenge 7: Live Show
Challenge 8: Water Ride
Challenge 9: Hotel (within the theme park)
Challenge 10: Theme Park
