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haunted houses. “Darkness is our friend,” noted former TEA president Nick Farmer of Farmer Attraction Development. Highlighting a series of “cheap and cheerful” effects, he added that big budgets do not always provide the best experience. Indeed, some big theme park productions suffer because sheer throughput limits the scope of the show.
Entertaining Attractions A highlight of the day for many ScareCON delegates was the keynote address from Lynton V Harris of Sudden Impact! Entertainment. After success with Madison Scare Garden in New York, Harris was instrumental in kick-starting the scare attractions industry in the UK by developing a number of landmark productions for the Tussauds Group. Jetting in from Australia to share his experiences with next generation of attraction operators, he highlighted, “We are an entertainment company, not a scare company. Laughter is the number one emotion is a scare attraction.” The key to provoking the right reactions from guests,
believes Harris, is the ability to scare them even with the lights on: “If you can’t scare in daylight, you can’t scare in the dark. You may get a lucky scare, but we need to deliver consistent scare.” He also highlighted several industry clichés including
Freddy Kruger, chainsaw-wielding actors and the temptation to touch guests: “Touching is weak. We need to keep the audience safe we need to keep the actors safe.” Operators should, however, resist pandering to actors’ artistic temperaments, warned Harris in typically forthright Aussie style. The Sudden Impact CEO was later recognised for his outstanding contribution to the industry during the third annual Screamie Awards (see panel, left). The programme closed with a preview of Scream
Zone, an independent movie filmed inside a haunted house at Universal Orlando by director Jon Binkowski. Delegates were then free to take a haunted bus tour or visit attractions including Masks and Pasaje del Terror, venue for the official after show party. ScareCON will return in spring 2010, with a smaller
get-together planned at LIW in Birmingham this September (see Show Guide, p33).
MORE HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS! see page 30
Asian Amusement Expo Kuala Lumpur calling
With a strong education programme, networking events and tours to several leading local attractions, next month's Asian Attractions Expo in Kuala Lumpur promises a packed schedule
The event it also a great chance to catch up over the summer with many of the industry's major suppliers and ride manufacturers, with around 200 exhibitors promised by IAAPA, the show's organiser. The event is co-hosted by the Malaysia Association of Amusement Themepark and Family Attractions (MAATFA) and the Australian Amusement Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA), which has decided to abandon its own get- together in Australia this year in favour of meeting in “KL.” “The record- breaking size
Host venue the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
and scope of Asian Attractions Expo 2010 is further confirmation of the industry's growth in the region,” notes IAAPA chairman Charlie Bray. Invited speakers at the IAAPA Safety Institute, which takes place ahead of the show
on July 13, include Greg Hale of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Jim Seay from Premier Rides, alongside George Ling from the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. The day-long series of sessions is free to AAE participants. Two Leadership Breakfasts are planned, at US$25 each. On July 15, IAAPA
chairman Chip Cleary, also senior vice-president of waterpark operations for Palace Entertainment, will address leadership and its role in operating a successful attraction. Meanwhile on July 16, Malaysia's minister of tourism, Ng Yen Yen, will speak on the attractions industry's contribution to the region. Throughout the week, a handful of other roundtable discussions and seminars will
address subjects including leadership, safety, operations and marketing. A highlight would appear to be “Entertaining the Future” with Lynton D Harris of the Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company on Thursday morning, July 15. As for networking events, Wednesday evening's Opening Reception (July 14) takes
place at Aquaria, a 60,000-square-foot underground aquarium located within the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Later the same night, a Young Professional's Reception will be hosted at 7atenine restaurant. Both functions are free to AAE participants. The following evening, Expo participants are invited to experience Kuala Lumpur's own
Sunway Lagoon. For US$50, guests will enjoy a tropical-themed dinner and waterpark reception. The 88-acre facility also includes a theme park, wildlife park, extreme park and scream park. To wrap up the week's proceedings, IAAPA will host a post-show visit to Genting
Highlands Resort, 45 minutes outside the city. A behind-the-scenes tour will be offered together with dinner and transportation for US$55. Accommodation packages are also available for those wishing to stay over at the First World Hotel. The resort's signature attractions include the Genting Skyway, Flying Coaster, Snow World and a Ripley's Believe It or Not! outlet.
A special London Bus was on hand after the event to provide delegates with a Ghost Tour of the capital
JUNE 2010
Asian Attractions Expo takes place from Wednesday to Friday, July 14 to 16, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), close to the famous Petronas twin towers. Additional information, including the full education programme, can be found at
www.iaapa.org/AsianAttractionsExpo
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