While video games are interactive in nature and have specific challenges when it comes to storytelling, Matthew Luhn, a story consultant who spent 20 years at Pixar, shared some useful tips drawn from his experience working in linear media.
If you are headed to Walt Disney World® Resort this August, be sure to check out the Disney Springs™ Grand Opening Celebration, where you can shop at over 50 spectacular new stores (including some of the biggest, hottest brands around), indulge at more than 10 fresh new eateries and enjoy exhilarating daily entertainment!
Plus, don’t forget that on any given night, there are more than 20 different entertainment acts performing throughout the four Disney Springs neighborhoods. And every afternoon, the Marketplace Fountain gives Guests young and old the chance to splash the day away during the Beat the Heat DJ Party.
With even more live entertainment for summer, special décor, sales at many retailers, and fun warm weather-inspired enhancements, now is the perfect time for you to discover Disney Springs.
US Olympic Team sprinter LaShawn Merritt, who prepared for the Rio 2016 Games at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, is off to a medaling start after his third-place finish in the men’s 400-meter final on Sunday.
Merritt secured the bronze medal with a time of 43.85 seconds, crossing the finish line after Grenada’s Kirani James (43.76), who had won gold in the event at the London 2012 Games, and South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, who ran a blistering 43.03-second race to win gold and set a new world record.
Former American sprinter Michael Johnson’s previous world record (43.18 seconds) had stood since 1999.
While Merritt fell short of his gold-medal goals for the 400-meter, he still has two more chances to earn medals for Team USA, with the men’s 200-meter and 4×400-meter relay.
Merritt, who regularly trains at Disney with other world-class sprinters under former US Olympic track coach Brooks Johnson, qualified for this year’s Olympic team after having missed the London Olympic Games in 2012 due to injury. At the 2008 Beijing Games, the veteran sprinter won the gold medal in the 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay.
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) today announced that it is acquiring a 33% stake in BAMTech, a leading technology services and video streaming company previously formed by Major League Baseball (MLB). As part of the transaction, BAMTech was separated from MLB’s broader digital business, MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM).
Under the terms of the transaction, Disney will pay $1 billion in two installments, now and in January 2017, and has the option to acquire majority ownership in the coming years.
Disney’s investment in BAMTech – already a global leader in direct-to-consumer streaming services, data analytics and commerce management with nearly 7.5 million total paid subscribers to its clients’ OTT products – will provide capital to accelerate growth of its proprietary video-delivery platform, deliver greater flexibility to clients and develop new technologies and capabilities.
As part of the transaction, BAMTech will become a key partner for Disney in the delivery and support of streaming video and other digital products from Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN, as well as future digital initiatives across the Company.
“Our investment in BAMTech gives us the technology infrastructure we need to quickly scale and monetize our streaming capabilities at ESPN and across our company,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We look forward to working closely with BAMTech as we explore new ways to deliver the unmatched content of The Walt Disney Company across a variety of platforms.”
Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. stated, “Every day the powerful partnership of technology and content becomes more important to consumers. We are excited to get to work with Disney and our longtime partners at ESPN in the important and ever-changing area of content distribution.”
BAMTech will also collaborate with ESPN to launch and distribute a new ESPN-branded multi-sport subscription streaming service in the future. The direct-to-consumer service will feature content provided by both BAMTech and ESPN, and include live regional, national and international sporting events.
Current content on ESPN’s linear networks will not appear on the new subscription streaming service. More details about the new service will be announced in the months ahead.
“Bringing a multi-sport service directly to fans is an exciting opportunity that capitalizes on BAMTech’s premier digital distribution platform and continues ESPN’s heritage of embracing technology to create new ways to connect fans with sports,” said John Skipper, ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks. “As WatchESPN continues to grow and add value to the multichannel video subscription, this new service will be an outstanding complement.”
Following Disney’s acquisition of a stake in BAMTech, the National Hockey League received a minority interest in BAMTech, as the result of a previous agreement.
Walt Disney’s Pete’s Dragon is not going to be the Mouse House’s biggest hit of the year. With a $21.5 million opening weekend, the arguable best case scenario is that the live-action adaptation of the 1977 animation/live-action hybrid is going to leg it like Planes back in 2013 or The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement back in 2004…
The roster of talent and panels continues to grow for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presented by Ethan Allen | Disney, taking place November 19 and 20, 2016 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. AVATAR creators James Cameron (writer, director, producer) and Jon Landau (producer) will join Imagineer Joe Rohde for Pandora – The World of AVATAR, a presentation where they will unveil new details about the immersive, 12-acre land coming soon to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition, the event will include a conversation with Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Plus, Moana screenwriter Jared Bush (co-writer/co-director Zootopia) will be on hand to provide guests an exclusive advance look at the making of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest animated feature.
Cameron, Landau, and Chapek join previously announced Disney Legends Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter; Walt Disney Imagineers Rohde, Chris Merritt, Jason Grandt, and Wyatt Winter; producer Don Hahn (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast); and Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline. The event, exclusively for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, celebrates landmarks of the past, present, and future, from the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean to the planet of Pandora.
The Walt Disney Archives will present a special exhibit created exclusively for the event: Walt’s Great Adventures, featuring photographs, props, and models that showcase Walt Disney’s personal voyages, including his trip to South America in 1941, as well as some of his most memorable creations for television, film, and theme parks, such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Additionally, during the weekend, guests will be among the first to see the new Ethan Allen | Disney home furnishing line in person.
Additional D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presentations announced include:
The weekend event will take place in the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tickets, currently on sale, are $190 each for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members. Tickets are also available to D23 General Members for $250 per ticket. All guests will receive a special gift created exclusively for the event, and attendees are guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations. Mickey’s of Glendale, the famed Walt Disney Imagineering store, returns with a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise as well as limited-edition pins, apparel, and collectibles themed to the event.
Further details about the program and tickets for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures presented by Ethan Allen | Disney can be found atD23.com/Events. Additional details about the schedule will be shared in the coming months.
Events and talent are subject to change.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.comand at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
Even as Walt Disney (DIS) reported positive results last week for its latest fiscal quarter, support for its stock on Wall Street has been wavering lately. Disney shares have been on the ropes since last year when they hit a 52-week high of more than $120 a share. The stock is currently trading just under $97.
ROSEMONT, Ill., August 12, 2016 – Q&A sessions with Star Wars star Carrie Fisher, Back to the Future standouts Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson, X-Files headliners David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, and William B. Davis, and “Daredevil’s” Charlie Cox, Rosario Dawson, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, and Elodie Yung, costume contests, comics-themed sessions, screenings, gaming and more are among the programming highlights at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, Thursday through Sunday, August 18-21, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission.
Some highlights of the more than 150 panels scheduled include:
Interactive Q&As with Back to the Future standouts Fox, Lloyd and Thompson (Saturday, 1 p.m.); “X-Files” stars Duchovny, Anderson, Pileggi, and Davis (Saturday, 2 p.m.), “Daredevil’s” headliners Cox, Dawson, Woll, Henson and Yung (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.)
Solo Q&A sessions with Fisher (Sunday, 12:30 p.m.); “Ash vs Evil Dead’s” Bruce Campbell (Saturday, 3 p.m.); “Heroes” Milo Ventimiglia (Friday, 3 p.m.); “Arrow’s” Colin Donnell (Saturday, 11 a.m.); “iZombie’s” Rose McIver (Saturday, noon); The Karate Kid’s Macchio (Sunday, noon); Boondock Saints stars Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco (Friday, 6 p.m.); Clerks’ Jason Mewes (Friday, 6 p.m.); Bill & Ted’s William Sadler (Friday, 4 p.m.); “The Librarians’” Christian Kane (Sunday, 11 a.m.); and Power Rangers Megaforce Andrew Gray (Saturday, 2 p.m.)
“In the Ring” with WWE® Superstars Becky Lynch™ (Friday, 2 p.m.), Seth Rollins™ (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.), Dean Ambrose™ (Friday, 4 p.m.), Bayley™ (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.), and The Bella Twins™ (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.)
Learn everything about Back to the Future with Michael Klastorin , author of “Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History” (Friday, 4 p.m.)
Celebrate 40 years of the (Wizard World) Chicago Comic Con with Mike Gold, George Hagenauer, Larry Charet, and Maggie Thompson (Friday, 3:30 p.m.)
Sessions featuring superstar creators “Spider-Man’s” Danny Fingeroth, “Gargoyles’” Greg Weisman, “The Red Hook’s” Dean Haspiel, and “Dream Thief’s” Jai Nitz (Saturday, 6 p.m.), “SNL’s” J.J. Sedelmaier (Friday, 3 p.m.); and many others
Live painting demo with world-renowned ambidextrous artist Rob Prior (Thursday, 6 p.m./Saturday, 2 p.m.)
Cosplay instruction with Wizard World’s cosplay pro Brit Bliss (Saturday, 3 p.m.), and Mogchelle (Friday, 5 p.m.)
World famous Wizard World Costume Contest for adults (Saturday, 6 p.m., with pre-show concert by Critical Hit) and kids (Sunday, 3 p.m.)
Gaming tournaments featured: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Tekken 7, Street Fighter V (For more info, visit http://wizardworldgaming.com/)
Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.
A full list of Wizard World Chicago programming is available at http://wizardworld.com/
Wizard World Chicago is 13th in the 2016 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD). For more on the event, visit http://wizd.me/ChicagoPR.
Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” star Oakes Fegley (left) rides Expedition Everest coaster with his brother Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The actor visited Walt Disney World ahead of film’s nationwide opening on August 12. (Chloe Rice, photographer)
HORTICULTURE
Bloomin’ Beauty . . . Nearly 12 percent of Walt Disney World property — an area equivalent to nearly 3,000 football fields — is devoted to gardens and maintained landscapes. That’s 4,000 acres worth of beauty.
Well Grounded . . . Each year a horticulture staff plants 3 million bedding plants and annuals, and maintains millions of other plants including more than 4 million shrubs, 13,000 roses and more than 200 topiary.
A “Family” Tree . . . The “Liberty Oak,” which is the focal point of the Liberty Square area in Magic Kingdom, is the proud parent of more than 500 young trees. They all started out as acorns harvested from the majestic oak.
Mow Miles Per Year . . . 450,000 mowing miles, to be exact — that’s what it takes to maintain 2,000 acres of turf. For the record, those mower miles are the equivalent of 18 trips around Earth at the equator.
– See more at: http://wdwnews.com/fact-sheets/2014/10/31/walt-disney-world-fun-facts/#sthash.Kh49SCBV.dpuf
