MediaMation, Inc. VP/CTO Dan Jamele was among the six panelists participating in the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) February event, “Behind The Scenes at The Marvel Experience, ” in Del Mar, outside San Diego, CA.
MediaMation, Inc. (MMI), a veteran interactive attractions company providing show control, technical and creative solutions for turnkey 4D Motion EFX Theatres for cinema exhibitors, as well as for major theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums and other themed environments throughout the globe, was tapped by L.A.-based attraction producers Production Resources Group (PRG) and Hero Ventures LLC to provide 144 of MediaMation’s MX4D™ Motion EFX seats and technology to the “grand finale” giant dome theatre presentation in the estimated $30M high-profile travelling attraction.
Enhanced with MX4D™ motion technology, The Marvel Experience theatre seats “pitch, roll and heave, ” emit air blasts, vibrate seat transducers, and contain other special EFX which correspond to the superhero action on the screen, thus simulating “flying, ” “explosions, ” “punches” and more to create an immersive audience experience.
Following a VIP tour of The Marvel Experience attraction itself, the TEA panel explored various creative, technical, operational and financial aspects of this sophisticated venture for an insider industry crowd. Besides Jamele, other participants on the TEA panel included: Mike Bundlie, Producer/Partner, Hero Ventures; George Wiktor, Director of Attractions Management, GW Group; Patti Drum, Lexington Design + Fabrication; Scott Carpenter, Technical Director; Rob Olds, tour manager.
The Marvel Experience previewed in Phoenix, AZ in December 2014 with its “official” opening January 2015 in Dallas, TX. Featuring “The Hulk, ” “She-Hulk, ” “Iron Man, ” “Thor, ” “Captain America” and other superhero characters created by Marvel Comics, now owned by Disney, it moves from city to city in major U.S. markets. Designed with a portable dome complex over two acres in size, the attraction highlights the aforementioned MX4D™ motion simulator theatre and EFX by MediaMation, as well as interactive “hyper reality” experiences, 360º 3D projected animation, motion comics, virtual-reality and holographic simulations from other entities.
Observed Jamele regarding MMI’s technical MX4D™ contributions to The Marvel Experience; “Obviously, MediaMation was thrilled to be part of a themed attraction featuring beloved Marvel characters that are so popular with kids around the world. While creating the largest mobile 4D Motion EFX attraction in the world was highly challenging, we are pleased that our MX4D™ Motion EFX seats were regarded so highly by the attraction producers that our technology became a critical part of the final immersive attraction in The Marvel Experience.”
Hero Ventures announced The Marvel Experience recently completed an extended run in Del Mar, CA and plans to announce future U.S. tour dates for the spring and summer in the coming weeks. Plans also call for future international expansion and rollouts shortly thereafter.
Image: MediaMation VP/CTO Dan Jamele (fifth from left) sits on a panel discussing the "behind-the-scenes" making of the popular new travelling attraction, "The Marvel Experience, " at the recent Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) event in San Diego. MediaMation supplied the MX4D™ seats and technology for the attraction’s grand finale theatre presentation. Also pictured from left: Mike Bundlie, Producer/Partner, Hero Ventures; George Wiktor, Director of Attractions Management, GW Group; Patti Drum, Lexington; Scott Carpenter, Technical Director; Dan Jamele, MediaMation; Rob Olds, tour manager.
