issue 82, summer 2020 inparkmagazine.com Innovation helps smaller attractions stay competitive Thea Awards Masha and the Bear Dive deep with the projects and The Land of Legends (Turkey) turns to a popular Russian cartoon to people that organize the Theas inspire new themed lands built during the pandemic Stoneface Inc. The Sculpted Rock Artisans CA License 1001362 - AZ License 308722 - UT License 10614867-5501 Animal Exhibits Concrete Theming Water Features Wall Finishes Artificial Rock Work Stamped Concrete Decking w2 ww.stonefaceinc.com 949-370-9880 [email protected] inparkmagazine.com issue 82, summer 2020 Ultimate contrast Meet the press 4 20 Christie Eclipse technology transformed the The IPM team interview one other Hayden Planetarium • by Judith Rubin Popcorn Revenge results Going virtual 5 Walibi Belgium’s Jean-Christophe Parent 24 TEA honors Thea Award recipients with Digital by Anja D’Hondt Case Studies event • by Joe Kleiman Right place, write time On the topic of Theas 6 Screenwriter Bennett Yellin authors a future in 26 Meet Nancy Seruto, Susan Bonds and Wendy themed entertainment • by Martin Palicki Heimann-Nunes • by Clara Rice Experience for hire The Land of Legends meets Masha and the Bear 8 Consultants offer a vision of leadership for LBE 30 A Russian cartoon inspires a new themed land, and themed entertainment • by Martin Palicki built during a pandemic • by Martin Palicki Following the leader Diving into the TEA/AECOM Theme Index 10 Smaller attractions stay competitive through 36 What can a decade of industry evolution tell us innovation • by David Paul Green about the future • by Joe Kleiman Funding, reopening and saving the animals 16 Museums struggle in COVID times • by Joe Kleiman & Judith Rubin COVER: At Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck team & contributors Challenge at Sesame Street Land, SeaWorld PUBLISHER DESIGN Orlando, Cookie Monster and Chef Gonger need Martin Palicki Martin Palicki your help to find all of the special ingredients EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS needed for their custom digital recipes. At the Judith Rubin Anja D’Hondt end of each game, you become the chef and David Paul Green can add any of the game’s 24 ingredients, from NEWS EDITOR Clara Rice anchovies to sugar sprinkles, to your very own Joe Kleiman pizza. Photo courtesy of Beaudry Interactive InPark Magazine (ISSN 1553-1767) is published five times a year by Martin Chronicles Publishing, LLC. 2349 E Ohio Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207, USA. Shipping address: 2349 E Ohio Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207, USA. Phone: +1-262-412-7107. Printing by Johnson Press of America. Contents © 2020 InPark Magazine. All rights reserved. Nothing in the magazine may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the magazine. InPark Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Such material must be accompanied by a self-adressed and stamped envelope to be returned. Postmaster: Send address changes to InPark Magazine 2349 E Ohio Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207, USA. Subscriptions are available annually for $45 per year ($70 international). Opinions expressed in editorial matter are not necessarily those of InPark Magazine or its publishers, Martin Chronicles Publishing, LLC. 3 inparkmagazine.com Meet the press In place of our typical editorials the InPark team checks in to learn more about one another...one question at a time Joe Kleiman, as into overlapping sectors. Various parts of the industry learn InPark Magazine news editor what various other parts of the industry are doing, with reliable information from a reputable, even prestigious source. That Question from Judith Rubin exchange of information supports collaboration, innovation, best practices and growth. In COVID times, it can help the industry ell us about your extracurricular blogging and how it get back to work. complements your InPark role T Martin Palicki The blogging actually started well before I joined InPark. About InPark Magazine publisher fifteen years ago, I owned a website called WorldEnteractive that reported on the digital transition in home entertainment, cinemas, and attractions. My business partner was a university English Question from Joe Kleiman professor and she made sure we followed the AP Style Book and hat inspired you to publish a trade magazine on the that all sources were vetted. At the time, trade shows did not themed entertainment industry? consider most bloggers as legitimate media. I saw many turned W away from the press office at CES, NAB and ShoWest. Honestly, this is the number one question I get at parties. Fun fact: When I was about 10 years-old I wrote a letter to Ron These days, blogging allows me to approach topics (and approach Toomer of Arrow Dynamics asking how I could become a roller them in ways) that may not fit the mission of InPark or other coaster designer. He responded and told me I needed to start trade publications that I’ve written for. I speak in my own voice studying mechanical engineering. I never had the patience for that but always base my opinions on conscientious research. Whether much math and physics, so in college I turned to the operations it’s an homage to Star Trek attractions long past or showing that side and began working for Six Flags Great America. I tried to a major travel agency’s commitment to ending dolphinariums get full-time work there, but ended up pursuing other jobs – conflicts with their owner’s opening of a brand new one, I try though I still kept ties to the park. My degree is in English, so I to write in a style where there’s something to be taken away by figured there had to be some way to tie together my passion and everyone. my education. Thus, InPark was born. My blogging has given me great international connections and Professionally speaking, InPark and I grew and improved the skills to conduct deep research. As a result, I’m able to see together, with a lot of help from friends and colleagues who also patterns others may not. I’ve taken these connections and skills love this industry. The core editorial team of Marty, Judy and Joe and applied them to my work at InPark. Likewise, working with evolved, and InPark took flight. the phenomenal editing team at the magazine, my writing has improved substantially on my blogs over the past decade. Judith Rubin, advertisers InPark Magazine editor Alcorn McBride 9 Lagotronics 25 Question from Martin Palicki Chris Lange 35 ou have an illustrious career with several trade Mycotoo 33 Ypublications, including InPark. Why do you think the industry media is important, particularly now? Oceaneering 15 Polin back cover Professional journalism brings perspective and objectivity to the table. Those are basic to maintaining high editorial standards. Stoneface 2 But we also serve and support a specific industry. That calls for Vekoma 39 specialized information, put into meaningful context - knowing your industry and helping others to know it too. It also calls Visual Terrain 34 for distribution - a breadth of distribution that helps the story reach a useful cross-section of the business community as well David Weiss 35 4 inparkmagazine.com Popcorn Revenge results Walibi Belgium’s Jean-Christophe Parent on the Thea-honored Popcorn Revenge by Anja D’Hondt, Flower & Feet PR alibi Belgium is a TEA Thea Award recipient, with WOutstanding Achievement honors for its Popcorn Revenge interactive dark ride, developed and installed by neighboring dark ride specialist Alterface. With Jean-Christophe Parent, Managing Director of the Belgian park, we look back at the first season and find out why this attraction earned such a prestigious award. Bonjour et bienvenue, Jean-Christophe! Congratulations to you and the entire team! What does the Thea Award signify for Walibi Belgium park? Receiving this award is a wonderful international recognition for our park and proves our renovation strategy pays off. We have worked really hard to upgrade Walibi Belgium and reposition it with new attractions and immersive areas, so it comes as a Jean-Christophe Parent great reward to the entire team. Watching all the happy faces and enthusiasm of visitors leaving Popcorn Revenge during the of visitors on a relatively small area, and it is also an indoor first season, we can confirm it has been worth the investment, attraction, important in a rainy country such as Belgium! We are along with the many other awards and nominations we are still very proud of it. receiving! How did visitors respond to the first Why did you choose to add Popcorn Revenge, instead of a seasons of Popcorn Revenge? more classic thrill ride? Popcorn Revenge has certainly proven its value and entertained We always strive to diversify our attraction offering and appeal to a large audience during the first season. It is mostly popular a wide audience. Popcorn Revenge is very innovative as it leads among families with children between 8 and 14 years, which is us into a new digital dimension with a video game type interface. a key audience for us. As there are so many layers in the story As the first dark ride using the non-linear Erratic technology, it and gameplay not everyone immediately grasps everything. But delivers a unique immersive experience, and the gameplay and the we consider this an advantage as it motivates competitive players order of scenes vary per ride. Popcorn Revenge is a multilayered to come back, while others can just enjoy the ride and storyline game with physical and digital thrills. It appeals to all ages, to play and interaction. Visitors are charmed by the popcorn characters, individually or with friends and family. It has a high repeat factor which they can relate to well-known superhero movie characters.