#57 • volume 11, issue 2 • 2015 www.inparkmagazine.com 16 The Goddard Files: From Cirque to China 22 53 Wuyishan’s A photo journey through Fountain of Dreams Asia’s new waterparks © 2014 GARY GODDARD ENTERTAINMENT #57 • volume 11, issue 2 East + West = Success 6 The Producers Group helps build Asia’s great new theme parks and visitor attractions • by Judith Rubin Go “Glocal” on Your Next Project 11 The “Glocal” (Global + Local) way to do business • by Norman J. Kahn Asia Discovers Digistar 12 Evans & Sutherland serves Asian markets with unique dome projection • by Joe Kleiman The Goddard Files 16 From Cirque to China, the Goddard Group keeps on going • by Judith Rubin & Martin Palicki Fountain of Dreams 22 A waterfall spectacular lights up the night in Wuyishan • by Martin Palicki Content and Context 30 VOA takes storytelling expertise to Asia• by Jonathan F. Douglas Asia Parks Snapshot 32 Key players and projects in the expanding Asian leisure markets • by Janice Li, Edward Shaw and Christian Aaen One System to Run it All 39 FUNA’s integrated audio system for Chimelong Ocean Kingdom brings autonomy to world’s longest theme park parade route • by Joe Kleiman Kaka’s Great Adventure 46 Chimelong Ocean Kingdom unveils huge new 5D theater • by Rebecca Lam Sliding into Asia 53 A photo journey through Asia’s new waterpark attractions staff & contributors advertisers EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS Alcorn McBride 37 Martin Palicki Christian Aaen Alterface Projects 5 Jonathan F. Douglas DNP Photo Imaging 59 CO-EDITOR Norman J. Kahn Judith Rubin Rebecca Lam Edwards Technologies 29 Janice Li Evans & Sutherland 9 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Edward Shaw Freestyle Slides 7 Joe Kleiman Paul Williams Kim Rily FUNA 58 Mitch Rily DESIGN The Goddard Group 2 mcp, llc Holovis 24 InPark Magazine (ISSN 1553-1767) is published Such material must be accompanied by a self- IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo 52 five times a year by Martin Chronicles adressed and stamped envelope to be returned. Publishing, LLC. 2349 E Ohio Ave. Milwaukee, Kraftwerk Living Technologies 51 WI 53207. Shipping address: 2349 E Ohio Ave. Postmaster: Send address changes to InPark Magazine 2349 E Ohio Ave. Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI 53207. Phone: 262-412-7107. nWave 40 Printing by Short Run Printing 53207. Subscriptions are available annually for $40 per year ($55 international). Contents © 2015 InPark Magazine. All rights PGAV Destinations 45 reserved. Nothing in the magazine may be Opinions expressed in editorial matter are not reproduced or used in any manner without the necessarily those of InPark Magazine or its Polin Waterparks back cover prior written permission of the magazine. InPark publishers, Martin Chronicles Publishing, LLC. Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited The Producers Group 15 manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. TEA 55 Technifex 38 COVER: Concept art for Cirque du Soleil’s new park planned for Mexico Triotech 28 showcases the park’s nighttime appeal. The Goddard Group is developing designs for the project. Full story on p 16. Cover credit: The Goddard Group VOA 41 WhiteWater West 10 Zebec 49 Take nothing An international for granted media outlet for an international industry Martin Palicki, Judith Rubin, IPM editor IPM co-editor ragons mean different things to different ou might already know InPark Magazine. Dpeople. While talking with ECA2’s Jean- YWe’ve been publishing for 10 years. Or you Christophe Canizares for an article in this issue might be reading your first issue of InPark right on “Fountain of Dreams” he mentioned how his now at the Asian Attractions Expo in Hong Kong. company had to redesign a dragon character in the show. InPark goes where the industry goes and covers what’s important. We look at theme parks, The Western world, and Europe in particular water parks, museums, zoos and aquariums, with its rich fairy tale heritage, views dragons destination resorts, casinos, spectaculars, world as fiery, evil creatures. But when the creative expos, technology, specialty cinema and much team presented early ideas for the show to more. their client, they learned that Chinese dragons are benevolent, auspicious creatures, more My colleague Martin Palicki, publisher and associated with water than fire. editor-in-chief of InPark, has a special fondness for the parks, the rides and slides, technologies Stories don’t exist in vacuums; they live in a and operations, and a penchant for traveling. place somewhere between the author and the My focus is in theatrical technology, specialty audience. Authors have an intended meaning, cinema, world expos, fabrication and but the meaning interpreted by the audience architecture. We enjoy bringing you a fresh and may be completely different, because that meaningful examination of the workings of this audience frames the message in their own unique storytelling industry. context. This issue of InPark (#57) is our most Context is derived from a lot of sources, most comprehensive exploration of projects and of which an author can’t control. But one major industry growth in Asia. East and West are finding reliable contextual component is culture. Some meaningful and creative ways to collaborate and say culture informs context, but I believe culture build the industry’s great new entertainment IS context. To understand an audience, one must and cultural experiences. As that collaboration understand the culture that surrounds them. takes place, the culture and leadership of the industry are shifting in exciting and historic ways. Successful storytellers learn about cultural differences during the process and adapt to We hope that you will rely on InPark Magazine satisfy those cultural demands. It takes time, as an important resource – to help you gather and it takes a lot of listening and observing. information, develop a fuller industry perspective As operators around the world turn to our and position your own business. industry to help craft moving and meaningful entertainment experiences, we have to InPark News Editor Joe Kleiman remember to pay attention to the cultural ([email protected]) corresponds context; and to never take anything we think we for IPM online and in print, specializing know for granted. in design and technology for attractions, museums and giant screen cinema. He lives in Sacramento with his dog, Bucky. 4 www.inparkmagazine.com READY FOR THE MOST (INTER)ACTION-PACKED RIDE? MEET US AT IAAPA AAE HONG KONG BOOTH B244 JUSTICE LEAGUE: TM & © DC Comics. (s15) JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle for Metropolis Alterface Projects is proud to provide the interaction system on SixFlags’ new state-of-the-art dark rides designed by Sally Corporation, featuring stunning 3D, special effects and motion-based vehicles. Opening 2015 in SixFlags St Louis & SixFlags Over Texas. INTERACTIVE ATTRACTIONS UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES Alterface Projects HQ - Europe Alterface Projects - USA Alterface Projects - Asia [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] + 32 485 620 390 + 1 417 973 0301 + 86-10-64391088 www.alterface-projects.com n article in the February 3 Los Angeles Times spotlights East + West = ASouthern California theme park companies that have gained business due to rapid growth of the attractions Success industry in Asia, especially China. One of the companies featured in the article is The Producers Group (TPG). Company co-CEOs Bob Chambers The Producers Group helps build and Edward Marks have been active in Asia for the past 11 years, with an impressive portfolio of successful projects, Asia’s great new theme parks many of which opened over the past five years, and and visitor attractions several more set to open in the next two years, including high-profile properties in Shanghai and Beijing. TPG expanded significantly in the first quarter of 2015, with by Judith Rubin a new office in Shanghai, and a new, bigger location in Los Angeles. This is in addition to TPG’s existing office in Beijing where regional director Patrick Zhou Li is headquartered. “If you’re going to work in China, you have to be in China,” Edward Marks says Marks. The new Shanghai office, in the prestigious Jing’An district on the Puxi side of town, is headed by Brian Paiva, a business development powerhouse newly on board with TPG after several years as a senior executive with FUNA International. Bob Chambers Why are Southern California theme park companies and Asian entertainment developers such a good match? Paiva Brian Paiva explains that, “the theme park industry in the US has led the way since Disneyland opened in the 1950s. Western expertise and experience complement Eastern resources. Patrick Zhou Li 6 www.inparkmagazine.com The Chinese are already well equipped to manufacture. But “TPG embraces local resources and local talent,” says Brian Paiva. we bring them skillsets in planning, production, scheduling, “I haven’t seen anybody else do it to the extent that they do. budgeting, creative, project management, IP development, They do their best to source everything locally, starting in that operational services, and safety consulting.” town or that city and if need be, extending out to that province or that region. They’ll go to a vendor and train them to help learn Marks stresses that TPG is not a design firm and points to the needed processes – and everybody wins then, because local the company’s middle name as key to their success. They’re vendors now have skills and products and services they didn’t producers. They get things done. What has served the company have before, jobs are created and it has a ripple effect on the well in Asia are the ability to take on unique, one-off projects, local economy. Developers appreciate that.” often of massive scale, and to realistically address the broad scope of work - including budget, schedule, installation and Paiva’s experience developing business in Asia for a variety of construction as well as creative and design.