What’s New at Knott’s Scary Farm & Ticket Giveaway! #ScaryFarmGiveaway

Knott’s Scary Farm & Ticket Giveaway

By Erin

Get ready Southern California! The largest, most haunted experience will be back for the 44th consecutive year, and we’re giving you the chance to win two tickets to Knott’s Scary Farm! Feel all the scares with 10 creepy mazes, five spooky Scare Zones, two live action packed shows, four Skeleton Key Rooms, and a thousand monsters lurking in the fog. Whatever you’re greatest fear is, you can probably find it at Scary Farm.

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Be prepared for 24 horrifying nights, beginning September 22nd to All Hallows’ Eve on October 31st. Four all new nightmarish attractions will debut this season at the world’s largest Halloween event, Knott’s Scary Farm. So what’s new this year?

What’s New?

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Photo Credit: Knott’s

All new Black Ops: Infected

Survive the Zombie Apocalypse in an All-Out War!

Armed with cutting edge laser guns, brave guests will face off against hordes of zombies in the groundbreaking all-new Special Ops: Infected interactive maze. Guests will form small units to battle the zombie apocalypse through blood soaked city streets and an underground sewer system crawling with nearly one hundred ravenous zombies. The high tech innovative experience thrusts guests into the middle of a live-action video game complete with live actors, real time scoring system, kill streak rewards system and interactive targets, including a juggernaut boss zombie. The new attraction is one of the largest mazes ever created in Knott’s Scary Farm history so form your squad and put your zombie apocalypse survival skills to the test in this action packed, one-of-a-kind experience.

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Photo Credit: Knott’s

 The Hanging: Finding Gory.

Just keep swimming, err Just keep Killing according to Gory… 

A must-see live stage show in Calico Square that looks back at the year’s pop culture with some killer comedy. Notorious for its special effects and high-flying stunts, The Hanging® is a no-holds-barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year. A must see parody that you cannot miss!

Nightly showings at 8:00pm, 9:30pm, and 11:00pm on the Calico Mine Stage.

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Photo Credit: Knott’s

FearVR: 5150

Enter the mysterious Meadowbrook Institute and witness the abnormal case of a terrifyingly unusual patient named Katie in the groundbreaking virtual reality horror experience FearVR: 5150. Using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus and strapped to a hospital wheelchair, come face- to-face with the deadly chaos unraveling around you. Disturbingly vivid sights and sounds invade all of your senses. Encounter the darkness that has taken over the medical staff during your fully immersive hospital stay. Patients beware; it is easier to check in than it is to check out….

****FearVR: 5150 requires an additional fee and is not included with park admission or with the Fright Lane with Skeleton Key. FearVR: 5150 is approximately ten minutes long including a pre-show and four minute VR experience. A limited number of reservations will be available on a first-come basis when Knott’s Scary Farm opens each night. Tickets are sold on a per-person individual basis. Advance reservations are not available. Visit the ticket kiosk located outside The Dead of Winter: Revenge of the Wendigo maze in the Boardwalk area to make a reservation.******

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Tim Burton Hand and Foot Print Ceremony & Preview of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children #StayPeculiar

Tim Burton Hand & Foot Print Ceremony

By Erin

 *A Special Thank you goes to 20th Century Fox for hosting us at this event. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.*

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The other week we were in for a very special treat to get to see one of our favorite directors, Tim Burton, be honored at a special hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatres. followed by a screening of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in Los Angeles.

Over the years we have fallen in love with Burton’s many gothic and quirky fantasy films such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Batman  and its first sequel Batman Returns, the sci-fi film Planet of the Apes (2001), the musical adventure film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the fantasy film Alice in Wonderland. To see him being honored and celebrated for all of his achievements was such a special memory to cherish forever.

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It all started with a very emotional speech given by Winona Ryder who was going to introduce her dear friend and filmmaker Tim Burton. In the past they have worked together on films such as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. Little did she know, Burton quietly made his entrance behind her and snuck up behind her to give her a big hug.

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Then Tim Burton took the stage and shared his story and his journey of how he got to where he is today. His love for his work  shined through. Next he had some help getting his hand and footprints set and posed for photos for the media.

timburton11Signing his name in the cement at the hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre!

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Smiling for us all while his handprints set in the cement. 🙂

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Meeting Moana #Moana

Meeting Moana

By Erin

*I attended an early press day as a guest of Disney for purposes of this post. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.*
MOANA village costume designs. Artist: Neysa Bové, Visual Development Artist.

MOANA village costume designs. Artist: Neysa Bové, Visual Development Artist.

The other month we learned all about the creative process of creating the characters for Moana. We met the  members of the team who brought Disney’s adventurous heroine to life, from the initial sketches to costume design to animation – and how both research and the actress bringing Moana to life helped inspire the artists creating her character. Bill Schwab (Art Director, Characters), Amy Smeed (Head of Animation),  Malcon Pierce (Animation Supervisor, Moana) and Neysa Bové (Vis Dev Artist) shared us the story of how Moana was brought to life. The magical characters were all inspired by the people they encountered during their travels to the islands of the Pacific, filmmakers populated their story with a host of dynamic characters. A top-notch voice cast helps bring the characters of Moana to life. I wanted to share a little bit about each of the characters you will meet on this special journey we get to experience with Moana.

MOANA village costume design. Artist: Neysa Bové, Visual Development Artist.

MOANA village costume design. Artist: Neysa Bové, Visual Development Artist.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has another masterpiece in the making, Moana, a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. Moana is a vibrant, tenacious and compassionate 16-year-old who is struggling to find her true self. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder.

Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. So come get ready to sail away on this magnificent journey and meet Moana, her family, friends, and other creatures she meets along the way.

MOANA

MOANA is an adventurous, tenacious and compassionate 16-year-old who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. Along the way, she discovers the one thing she's always sought: her own identity. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and featuring newcomer Auli'I Cravalho as the voice of Moana, Walt Disney Animation Studios' “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” ©2016 Disney.

Moana is an adventurous, curious, tenacious and compassionate 16-year-old who is on a journey to find her true self. While her father, Chief Tui, pressures her to follow in his footsteps and lead their island one day, Moana is drawn to the sea. We get to witness firsthand her love for the sea, and it is magical.  The people of her village are forbidden to go beyond the safety of the reef, yet the open ocean seems to beckon Moana. “It doesn’t seem possible for her to fulfill her heart’s desire and still be true to her people and her culture,” says director Ron Clements. “She descended from navigators, but she doesn’t know it.”

Her island is threatened by a terrible darkness, which causes Moana to break the rules and sets sail on an epic adventure to save her people and find the answers she’s been searching for her whole life. Says director John Musker, “She is inspired to solve the problem of this world that has been haunting them and has made voyaging impossible. If she can face this problem that’s plagued them for a thousand years, perhaps voyaging could resume.”

Moana is a strong hero who sets out to retrieve what her people lost a long time ago. Moana wants to save the world. She’s a powerful role model for today’s audiences, perfect for young girls to look up to.

The perfect voice was found to bring Moana to life. Auli‘i Cravalho was called on to provide the voice of the tenacious teenager. “She has the spirit of Moana,” says Shurer. “We tease her and she teases us right back. There’s a fearlessness, but at the same time genuine warmth. She is a natural talent and a professional—but still a kid at heart.”

MAUI

DWAYNE JOHNSON (HBO’s “Ballers,” “Central Intelligence”) voices MAUI—half god, half mortal, all awesome. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Dwayne Johnson (HBO’s “Ballers,” “Central Intelligence”) voices MAUI. ©2016 Disney.

Maui is a demigod—half god, half mortal, all awesome. Charismatic and funny, he wields a magical fishhook that allows him to shapeshift into all kinds of animals and pull up islands from the sea. Maui was once considered the greatest hero in Oceania. Watch for Maui’s tattoos. His body is covered with tattoos of his extraordinary feats, including a mini-version of himself that acts as Maui’s conscience. The tattoos are animated and really help to tell the story and adds some comedy that is fun to watch. “Maui is responsible for the trouble that threatens Moana’s people,” says Musker. “He’s paying a price for his actions and is somewhat of a lost hero—a shadow of his former self. Moana needs him to right his wrongs and restore what’s been lost.”

Alongside Moana, Maui brings his super strength—as well as his super-sized issues. “He has an all-encompassing drive to succeed that gets him into trouble,” says Clements.

Dwayne Johnson voices Maui. “He’s very connected to his Samoan roots,” says Clements. “Maui is a charismatic character and Dwayne is nothing if not charismatic. He has great comedic timing, nails the action scenes and is so likable. And he can sing.”

Gramma Tala

RACHEL HOUSE (“Whale Rider,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”) voices GRAMMA TALA, Moana’s confidante and best friend, who shares her granddaughter’s special connection to the ocean. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Rachel House (“Whale Rider,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”) voices Gramma Tala, Moana’s confidante and best friend. ©2016 Disney.

Gramma Tala, Moana’s confidante and best friend, shares her granddaughter’s special connection to the ocean. Although her son, Chief Tui, is a no-nonsense leader, Gramma Tala most definitely dances to the beat of her own drum. She feels in her soul that the ocean has big plans for Moana, but she won’t reveal the legendary secrets of their wayfinding ancestors till the time is right.

“Gramma Tala is the keeper of the ancient stories,” says screenwriter Jared Bush. “She knows the history of their people and understands how important it is that Moana holds onto her dreams. But she never gives her the answers. She lets Moana find her way.”

Rachel House is the voice of Gramma Tala.

Chief Tui & Sina

TEMUERA MORRISON (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” “Once Were Warriors,” “Six Days, Seven Nights”) voices Moana’s father, CHIEF TUI, the gregarious and well-respected leader of the people of Motunui Island. NICOLE SCHERZINGER (Grammy®-nominated singer, West End's "Cats") voices Moana’s mother, SINA, who always has her daughter’s back. Playful, sharp and strong-willed, Sina appreciates Moana’s longing to be on the water, but also wants to protect her daughter from the fabled dangers beyond the reef. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Chief Tui & Sina ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

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