HHN XX: Conference Call Aug. 26th

Earlier today, we had the opportunity to join Universal’s TJ Mannarino (Director of Art & Design for Entertainment), Patrick Braillard (Show Director of Entertainment) and Mike Aiello (show director of entertainment) in a conference call discussing Halloween Horror Nights XX. We hung up the phone and some fun facts that we’d like to share with you.

I don’t want to go into a long transcription of the entire conference call, so I thought I would sift through my notes and give you some useful bullet points that were discussed during the call regarding this year’s event. The following is a paraphrase and/or direct quotes from the call:

Goals for HHN XX

• HHN XX’s main purpose is to pave the way for future HHN events
• To pay homage to all the previous events which have brought HHN XX to us today while introducing more terrifying new characters
• Find the haunted houses, scarezones and characters that will be the future Psychoscareapys, Body collectors of the future, icons like Jack, etc.
• Take HHN XX back to the beginning where it started with original characters and to start the process of beginning originality again

Fear

• More to be revealed about the Fear character within the next few weeks. We will learn more about how he links back to HHN events
• The goal of Fear was to have it be an all-encompassing character that would visually stand out from the other icons and would have a presence of control over the other characters
• Fear has always been consistent and has always been at the event
• Fear has now been brought to life and has been given a persona with this event
• We will be able to “See it, Feel it and Taste it (in the shot glasses)!”
• The advertising campaign with Fear’s mouth is a play on the phrase Being Consumed By Fear
• When you look back at past events (purposeful or not), there is something that links each event to something else. That common thing is Fear.
• Icon relationships with fear: Jack instills fear. The Caretaker examines fear. The Storyteller speaks fear. The Director captures fear. The Usher shows us the way to fear.

The Lantern

• It is a part of who Fear is.
• Mike: “The Lantern is Fear and the Fear is the Lantern.”
• It represents the past 20 years
• It represents the fear that has been building for the past 20 years.
• It represents many of the visuals that you will see when you go to HHN XX.
• It is a physical embodiment of the fear that’s been building for the past 20 years.

Paying Homage to the Past

• There will be two major attractions that will pay homage to the past: one House and one Scarezone
• Past characters will be seen in both areas.

Changes

• They are changing up flare for the event and the houses and are saying goodbye to some of the houses… at least for a few years.
• No Rocky Horror Picture show at least for the next 2 years. Mike: “Could it come back in 2 years? Yes.”

New Special Effects

• Lots of experimental special effects technology will be used this year.
• Open flames will be incorporated. This is something that has never been used before within the houses.
• The Legendary Truth house will have new gags and effects that have never been used before.

Legendary Truth House

• Idea/Content was created 2 years ago, but due to the inability to use certain gags and time restraints for R&D, it was put on the shelf; until now.
• Mike: “It is a haunted maze which truly is a haunted maze.” They want to give guests a truly haunted experience.
• New gags never seen before will be used in this house in order to give the illusion of real paranormal encounters.

The Family Tree

• As the creation of the event progressed, it kinda fell off the table.
• Trees don’t have any significance in the event this year aside from the root-like attributes on the lantern and Fear himself.

Miscellaneous Points

• This year will be more intense with more fear, scares and gore.
• There will be one comedic toned house. “But it’s not the house you think it is.”
• Bill and Ted will always be at HHN.
• Cindy finally has her own house – the Orphanage
• “Best time to experience the event is on a non-peak night.”
• “No creature is off limits as far as what you may see in the streets or in the houses.” Que: “Does that include Bloody Mary?” TJ:”I stand by my statement”
• Several different opportunities that guests can choose from to stay entertained in the queue area for the haunted houses. “It will be much more expansive than in the past.”
• We may see some intellectual property characters (i.e Wolfman) in some of the houses. But they want to start the process of showing off their original creations such as Jack and the Storyteller.
• It is Mike’s last year working on Bill and Ted.
• Bill and Ted will have the same structure and include pop culture references. This year’s story concept for Bill and Ted: Bill and Ted may face possible replacement (in the story) and they will find themselves in an odd predicament.
• Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood are completely different. The only thing that is slightly similar is the Bill and Ted show (the script is sent to Hollywood, that’s it).

Well, I hope these points answered some questions that you may have previously had in regards to the event.