Valencia, California, October 24, 2017- The third new haunt at Knott’s Scary Farm this year is Trick-or-Treat: Lights Out. Armed with only a seemingly faulty flashlight, a stout heart, and a love of horror, unsuspecting trick-or-treaters enter the haunted home of the Green Witch and plunge into terrors amid total darkness.
 
This year’s Trick or Treat maze features new, state-of-the-art effects and high-impact scares. A flashlight may seem like small comfort in such a setting, but wait—this isn’t just any flashlight. This is a Torch Technology powered flashlight- a specially made, programmable, IR (infrared)-controlled flashlight; the flashlights both receive and transmit IR, allowing each guest’s experience in the maze to change based on where they point the beam of light.
 
The combination of a top-tier maze, total darkness, and the flashlight are what make Trick or Treat the expedition into horror that it is. The haunt offers a mélange of fear, anxiety, shock, horror, and a rising sense of urgency to find one’s way out.

Knott’s Scary Farm’s Trick or Treat maze debuted in 2012 and is the oldest maze at Knott’s Scary Farm. Ken Parks, Vice President of Entertainment, and Jon Cooke, Entertainment Designer at Knott’s, sat down earlier this year to consider whether to discontinue the maze. “It’s a fan favorite,” said Jon, “and we didn’t want to give it up. So we started looking at what we could do to change it up. That’s when we came across Gantom’s Torch Technology.” The maze opened this season as ‘Trick or Treat: Lights Out.’

The Guest Experience
“It puts the guests into a spot where they’re a character in the attraction,” Cooke Commented. We’re just seeing the beginning of being able to use technology to create these larger, immersive environments,” said Parks. “We’ll be leaning into technology but not losing what made us famous, which is a simple, tactical scare.”

Philip Hernandez, Director of Marketing at Gantom Lighting & Controls, talked about his experience working on Trick or Treat: Lights Out: "Working on this project with the creative team at Knott's has been a dream come true for me, coming from the themed entertainment and Halloween space. Contributing to an experience like this is something I've dreamt about since I was running my home haunt in high school. At Gantom our passion is creating compact technology for creative professionals to use in magical experiences. This is what we live for!"

Behind Torch Technology
Gan explained how the Torch Technology powered flashlight works. “What we’re doing is taking decades-old IR technology that’s in everybody’s remote control and we’re incorporating it into various forms of interaction. What you see at Knott’s is only one iteration of that, one manifestation of a guest walking through a scene and being able to trigger effects. Torch technology is a communication technology among multiple points, multiple people, and people and scenery.

“The Torch isn’t limited to any form factor. We happened to make the flashlight form factor because it was the best fit, thematically, for a haunted house setting. We can incorporate it into virtually anything.”

About Gantom Lighting & Controls
Gantom, formerly Darklight, was founded in the Spring of 2010 as a manufacturer of special-effects lighting equipment catering to the themed attraction industry. The company specializes in illumination of low-light and space-constrained environments where traditional theatrical luminaries aren’t suitable. Its award-winning products are the “secret weapons” of many lighting designers and industry experts and have been installed around the world in a wide range of applications including theme parks, museums, bars and clubs, and haunted venues attractions.

​For more information, contact Philip Hernandez at 575-639-0511 or [email protected]

LOS ANGELES, CA (Thursday, October 12) – Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con and Time Inc.’s (NYSE: TIME) ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (EW), the official media partner of the 2017 edition of L.A. Comic Con, announced today that Dwayne Johnson will make a special appearance at the convention. On Saturday, October 28, Johnson will appear on behalf of his upcoming film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which hits theatres  December 20. The 3-day pop culture extravaganza runs from  October 27-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 
 
As the Official Media Partner, EW is collaborating with L.A. Comic Con to enhance and elevate talent participation and programming for the over 100,000 attendees expected for this year’s 3-day mega-convention.  EW will feature all the fun and excitement of the Convention in the magazine as well as on EW.com.  And to top it all off, each and every badge holder will receive a one-year subscription to America’s leading pop culture magazine, with a total combined audience of 26 million consumers.
 
Badges are available now at http://StanLeesLAComicCon.com.
 
2017 marks the 7th year for Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con, which has grown into one of the largest gatherings of stars and creative talent in comic book, publishing, gaming, film, broadcast, cable and streaming entertainment. 
 
About Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con:
Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con is Los Angeles’ biggest and best large-scale, multi-media pop culture convention. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con assembles the most exciting and innovative in comics, video games, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and all things pop-culture. With a mission to provide celebrity, creator and talent access that is unequalled in comic conventions, Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con features unique panels, autograph sessions and photo-ops that give fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to truly interact with their favorite creators and major players in the entertainment industry.  Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con is a partnership of Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, Cassandra Peterson, and Comikaze Entertainment, Inc.  Visit  http://www.stanleeslacomiccon.com/.
 
ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY is your all-access pass to Hollywood’s most creative minds and most fascinating stars. The magazine was launched by Time Inc. in 1990 and is America’s leading consumer publication in the entertainment category, with a guaranteed circulation rate base of 1.5 million and a combined audience of almost 28 million loyal, engaged fans.  Each day, EW.com publishes a myriad of featured stories, news articles, TV-recaps, original videos, film reviews and photo galleries. The PEOPLE/ENTERTAINMENT WEEKKLY Digital Network continues to rank as the #1 site in its competitive set with close to 100 million monthly unique visitors. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY is the first to know about the best in entertainment. With sharp insight, unparalleled access and a trusted voice, EW keeps readers plugged into pop culture. This is where the buzz begins.

America’s Biggest Designer Toy Convention Returns to Pasadena For 12th
Year After Record-Breaking Success in 2016

​CONVENTION DATES
November 11 - 12, 2017
PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER
300 E. Green Street, Pasadena CA 90404
www.designercon.com

October 2, 2017 | Los Angeles, CA – Presented by 3D Retro Toys and Crewest, DesignerCon (aka
DCON) is the west coast’s premier convention for fans, collectors and creators of cutting-edge
collectible art and design. On November 11-12, DCON will return for its 12th year to the Pasadena
Convention Center with over 400 artists and vendors selling limited edition designer toys, original art
works, apparel items and more!

Last year, over 25,000 people attended DCON to buy art and related merchandise from renowned artists
and brands such as Paul Frank, Coop, the SuckLord, Jeff Soto, DKE Toys, Han Cholo, Ragnar, Kid
Robot and hundreds more creators. In 2016, DesignerCon founder Ben Goretsky also partnered with
Crewest Studio to produce the first annual DCON Panel Discussions and Official Party.
This November, DesignerCon will be bigger and better than ever, demonstrating again why DCON is the
most anticipated annual event in the designer toy world, featuring the work of creators from Japan, Hong
Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Canada, different parts of South America and the rest of the globe.
DCON 2017 will have more world-class artists and vendors than ever before, more panel discussions
hosted by Crewest artist and media personality Mark Brickey, and another killer party with DJ Z-Trip
presented by Crewest.

For the first time ever, DesignerCon is partnering with global streetwear brand The Hundreds to release
the official t-shirt. The convention is also commissioning renowned Crewest artist kaNO to create
exclusive original artwork for DCON tickets and badges, and legendary artist Tara McPherson will be
creating exclusive and original art for the official DCON program / magazine.

More artist collaborations along with panel guests and discussion topics will be announced soon.

About DesignerCon

Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and
designer goods with urban, underground and pop art! DCon is over 90,000 sq. ft. and features over 400
vendors, art & custom shows, live demonstrations, and much more! The show coordinators strive to
provide a fun, safe, comfortable environment for fans, artists, and vendors to meet. Join us every
November at the Pasadena Convention Center for a weekend of fun, toys, and art!
www.designercon.com

Founded in 2006 by Ben Goretsky, DesignerCon brings together artists, manufacturers, distributors, and
retailers in the designer toy / vinyl collectibles market and has grown over the last 12 years to
incorporate everything in the design world including apparel, plush, printing, sculpture, designer toys,
and both fine and urban art. The steady growth DesignerCon has enjoyed correlates with its popularity in
today’s art nerd, geek culture; collectors and designer toy lovers alike wait through the night for new
releases, pre-orders for new artist collaboration apparel are sold out within minutes, and artists use the
convention as an opportunity to announce exclusive releases and collaborations.

About 3D Retro

3DRetro is a producer and retailer of some of the best colectible, art figurines in the low-brow artworld.
Since 2003 3DRetro has been serving the collectors community in providing the best the industry has to
offer. 3DRetro works with some of the most amazing artists in the "low-brow" art world to produce
amazing "art-toy" collectibles. We also work with other popular large producers from all over the world
to bring our customers the latest and greatest in out world. Founded in 2003 as an online store, 3DRetro
has worked with suppliers from around the world to put the best collectible figures in our store. In 2014
3DRetro opened its very open retail store in Glendale, CA to allow customer to see these amazing
collectibles in person. In 2009 3DRetro started producing our own line of collecible figures with such
popular artists as Brandon Ragnar, Jim Mahfood, Nathan Hamill, Gary Baseman, Brandi Milne, Bob
Dob... to just name a few. Every year we are proud to work with more and more artist from our
community and bring the collectors amazing limited edition collectible figures. Retailers may carry our
products by contacting our distributor DKE Toys directly.

About Crewest Studio

Crewest Studio exists for people who are driven by culture. We advocate for the fundamental importance
of creativity, art and design in the world, make creative culture more accessible and help artists promote
and monetize their talents in novel ways. At our core, we are a creative communications company. We
believe entertaining, informing and educating people about art and design can make the world a better,
more creative place. An artist-led company, we develop, produce and distribute authentic, contemporary
and culturally-relevant lifestyle media experiences. Our focus is on the culture, process and business of
the visual arts. For all who enjoy creativity, we create emotional connections with stories, films, podcasts,
events, products and services. And, we curate them in one convenient place for all to enjoy --
crewest.com

Largest Interactive and Immersive Haunted Attraction in the World
 
Opens Friday, October 13, 2017

LONG BEACH, Calif., (Oct. 2, 2017) – The Queen Mary, dubbed one of the top 10 most haunted places on Earth by Time Magazine, is pleased to unveil the newly-intensified and re-inspired Ghost and Legends, opening to the public on Friday, October 13. Offered year-round, thrill seekers and scare enthusiasts are invited to board the haunted RMS Queen Mary to test their fears in the world’s largest interactive and fully immersive haunted attraction. Experience the spirit legends of the Queen Mary first-hand with all-new special effects, cutting-edge technology and, of course, the chance to encounter paranormal activity for a one-of-a-kind, spine-chilling, fun time.
 
“The new Ghosts and Legends offers guests an entirely different level of the traditional haunted experience. We crafted terrifying original stories and characters based the ship's well-known paranormal tales and hot-spots onboard the Queen Mary to create a truly thrilling, immersive, and unique encounter,” said Brian Luallen, Director of Entertainment Events, The Queen Mary.
 
The reimagined Ghost and Legends elevates scares with innovative interactive technology and special effects including a tesla coil firing 3.4 million volt bolts of lightning at a frightfully intimate distance, massive water effects, fog projections with state of the art CGI specters, and a hand-held ghost tracking  tablet given to select attendees for the tour. To further enhance the frights, tour groups will also be given a flashlight to guide their way through the dimly lit attraction. Thrill-seekers beware - the flashlights will be controlled by the twisted minds of the Ghost and Legends producers!
 
Ghost and Legends haunted experience aboard the Queen Mary will open on Friday, October 13 at 11 a.m. The year-round attraction will be open daily and runs every 30 minutes starting at 11 a.m., accommodating up to 30 guests per experience. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and are available at http://www.queenmary.com/tickets/. For more information, including hours or to purchase tickets online, please visit queenmary.com