Passion is one of the best parts about people who work in the themed entertainment industry. This drive to create incredible experiences is inspiring and so unique because of all the different pathways that can combine talented people together to create something spectacular; this episode is a perfect example of that.
Doug starts off by with catching up with Season Pass favorite, Rick West! Primarily discussing this year’s Midsummer Scream Halloween festival. It is so impressive, the amount of intense programming that Rick and his team pull together for such a few days. This is made for all who love that magical date of October 31st. Love a good scary movie? Want to build your own haunted attraction? Do you just want to hangout with others who appreciate your love for anything terrifying? There is probably something for you with panels, classes, walkthroughs, and even more! Go to http://midsummerscream.org/ for more information.
The core of this latest edition of the Season Pass Podcast is all about Rethink Leisure and Entertainment. Doug sits down to chat with Don Roberts (Former Senior Art Director-Rethink/Former Walt Disney Imagineer), Stefan Lawrence (Creative Director-Rethink), Kevin Kalbfeld (Show Designer-Rethink), and Rick West (Project Story Writer-Rethink/Founder of Theme Park Adventure/Creative Director-Midsummer Scream). Each of them share their own journey to this incredible organization who has worked on projects such as 20th Century Fox Studios Dubai and the Fan2Sea Comic Con Cruise.
My favorite parts of this episode are the personal stories that each of them have about what lead them to this point. You can tell that each of these creators has an interesting perspective on themed entertainment. They tell relatable stories about how they are living out their dreams, which I think applies to not only theme park designers but to everyone who is trying to do what they love. Their care for their craft and the history of the industry really shines through in this episode.
For you Disney fans out there, this is a must listen to episode. There are some amazing stories told about the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye and Haunted Mansion attractions. They discuss the legendary Ice Machine within the depths of the Indiana Jones building. A myth? A reality? Tune in to find out the truth. Also, discover the identity of one of the Haunted Mansion’s 999 happy haunts! Here’s a hint: the story behind this ghostly apparition will be music to your ears.
Well, that’s all I have for now. As always the links to this episode are below. Stay tuned! There so many stories to share and great content from events such as Midsummer Scream coming up quickly. Until next time, enjoy!
– DoctorDreamer