America Haunts Digs Up The Best Haunted Attractions In America Of 2017

Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, of America Haunts — the nation's largest group of creative, high-tech haunted attractions from coast to coast, is also known as the Queen of Haunts. (Photo/Amber Deery Amber) 

America Haunts, the industry leaders that operate the most amazing haunted attractions in America, has dug deep into towns and cities across the nation to bring its 2017 Best of Halloween Attractions list to life.

Bringing the tradition of family-friendly fun, the top haunts have original concepts that touch all your senses. Doing so, visitors intimately experience the creativity around them, rather than walking single file and viewing a scene. Using life-like animatronics, Hollywood-quality sets, hundreds of staffers, elaborate costumes and trained actors, these haunts go the extra creepy mile to give guests the Halloween excitement of their life. It's a pure adrenaline rush!

For example, creepy earthly scents of past or present are infused into the air inside one haunt, while others focus on outdoor formats where guests run into crazy clowns, transforming werewolves, ghosts and other ghouls lurking down every path.

The number one haunt, The Beast in Missouri, is not only mammoth in size but it pioneered the "open format" where guests must face their phobia of getting lost and finding their way out! If you're lucky to escape by the four-story slide, it is a thrill of a lifetime! The question is if…you escape the famous Werewolf Forest!

America Haunts has stringent criteria to earn a spot on its charts and being Monsters at Heart, this board knows what it takes to be the Best! Top attractions - inside haunted houses; outside on dark nature trails or on hayrides to Hell - must be wildest and scariest enough to make the bravest souls cling to friends and family who dare enter with them.

The Best Haunted Attractions List for 2017 from coast to coast:

• Beast (Kansas City)
• Haunted Trail (San Diego)
• 13th Floor (Chicago)
• Headless Horsemen (Ulster Park, NY)
• Fear Farm, (Phoenix)

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About America Haunts

With more than 28 haunted attractions nationwide, America Haunts delivers fear-based entertainment to more than a million thrill seekers annually. America Haunts is featured on the Travel Channel and members recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records. 

The organization is committed to providing technical excellence, stunning set design, Hollywood-quality make-up, costumes and actors. Members enjoy nothing more than delivering, a good old-fashioned scare.

SOURCE: America Haunts

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Chris Evans, Tom Holland And Casts Of "Captain America", "Spider-Man: Homecoming" To Headline New ACE Comic Con At Gila River Arena

ACE Comic Con Arizona poster featuring Chris Evans and Tom Holland

Chris Evans, star of the worldwide hit Captain America movie franchise, and Tom Holland, who portrays Spider-Man in the Marvel hits "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "Captain America: Civil War" are headlining the new ACE Comic Con Arizona at Gila River Arena, Jan. 13-15, 2018.

ACE Comic Con Arizona is a division of ACE Universe, a newly launched experiential events company created by brothers Gareb and Stephen Shamus. With 20 years of experience and 175 Comic Con shows under their belts, the brothers are creating a new immersive experience that looks to redefine the industry and break the mold of the linear Comic Con business.

Along with Evans and Holland, other confirmed guests include Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier – Captain America), Anthony Mackie (The Falcon – Captain America), Hayley Atwell (Agent Peggy Carter – Captain America), Laura Harrier (Liz – Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Jacob Batalon (Ned – Spider-Man: Homecoming). 

More guests will be announced soon, including superstars from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 

• VIP Admissions, Photo Ops and Autographs are on sale now at aceuniverse.com. 
• General Admission Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com) starting at 10 a.m. PST on Tuesday, Oct. 10. 

"When we first went to Gila River Arena, we knew we had found the right home for our next big event," said Gareb Shamus, ACE Universe Chairman and CEO. "We believe the fans will fall in love with this new style of Comic Con and we can't wait for everyone to enjoy everything the weekend will have to offer, which includes the opportunity to watch all of the can't-miss programming on the arena Jumbotron." 

AZ Marvel variant cover - Billy Martin

ACE Universe has secured an exclusive Marvel Comic variant cover to Captain America #495, drawn by Good Charlotte lead guitarist and illustrator Billy Martin. This book is exclusive to box office buyers and VIPs. Martin will be on hand all three days to sign the books, which feature Captain America and Spider-Man, in an homage piece of art to the great Todd McFarlane. 

• ACE Universe also has partnerships across key sectors including technology, media, entertainment, gaming, publishers, manufacturers, licensors and retailers to help create a robust experience for fans. 

• Additionally, ACE Universe will be the first to provide FREE global live streaming to fans with wall-to-wall coverage of the entire Comic Con. Now, all fans can enjoy access to top-tier talent, breaking news and on-site programming as every aspect of the show will be fully streamed, social media friendly, and available on mobile devices. 

"Chris Evans, Tom Holland and the casts of both films are global box office stars that provide fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and greet with their favorite super heroes," said Stephen Shamus, President of ACE Universe. "When you listen to the fans, these are the stars that are most requested, so securing the main cast members from both Marvel franchises makes this a can't miss weekend. We also haven't forgotten the WWE fans, some of the most excitable fans in the world."

ACE Universe logo (PRNewsfoto/ACE Universe)

ACE Comic Con Arizona is the second of the new ACE Comic Cons, with the debut event set to take place at NYCB Live: Home of the Veterans Memorial Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY, Dec. 8-10. In addition to these two shows, ACE Universe will announce more 2018 dates, cities and ticket information at aceuniverse.com and on the ACE Comic Con social channels at Facebook.com/acecomicon or @acecomiccon on Instagram and Twitter.

SOURCE: ACE Universe

451 Media Group Storms New York Comic Con with Premiere of New Graphic Novels from Top Hollywood Creators

451 Media Group will exclusively premier nine graphic novels, created by top Hollywood writers of "The Deuce", "X-Men First Class", "The Fast and Furious" and other blockbusters, at this year's New York Comic Con.

451 Media Group, a multi-platform entertainment company, today announced it will exclusively premiere nine graphic novels, previously released only in single issue series, created by some of the most sought-after TV and movie writers at this year's New York Comic Con (NYCC). Co-founded by acclaimed director and producer Michael Bay, 451 delivers an immersive entertainment experience combining cutting edge digital technology with content from some of the Hollywood's top creative minds.

451 Media Group has produced trade paperback editions of all its properties for the first time, nine titles of which will be making their debut at NYCC. Created by marquee Hollywood talent, the titles include:

S6X - From master author/screenwriter George Pelecanos (HBO's The Deuce, The Wire, and The Pacific) comes an explosive tale of war and the lives of six soldiers altered forever, who reunite for one last mission to bring down those who threaten one of their own in a full fury showdown risking everything they have.

"S6X is very visual and character driven," says Pelecanos. "These are very young men and women. And they look like everyday people. That's something that I wanted to write about because I think it's very real and also very important. To me, the graphic novel was the perfect vehicle to take the plunge and dive into the world of sequential art. And it's something that I've wanted to do for a really long time."

"What I love about the world George created is it's both heightened and populated by real human beings. The characters are flawed, wounded and emotionally tangible souls who just happen to be caught up in this operatic but deeply personal war story. S6X is more than just a shoot 'em up — it's about the things people are capable of at their very worst and their very best," says Ashley Miller, the screenwriter of X-MEN FIRST CLASS, THOR who is adapting the book for the big screens.

Red Dog – From Rob Cohen (writer of The Fast and The Furious, xXx and upcoming film Hurricane Heist). Comes an all new sci-fi adventure that follows Kyle, the only child on a distant planet, and his robot dog Red. When Red goes missing in the savage alien landscape, Kyle goes in search of his friend facing dangers beyond imagination and proves no matter how far in space you go, there's no greater bond than one between a boy and his dog.

"RED DOG is my passion project and if I can make it into a movie someday, I will die a happy man," says Cohen. "But more important than that, it has found its form as a graphic novel thanks to the brilliant folks at 451 and a day does not start that I don't look at a copy of to the first issue framed on my wall and smile." 

NVRLND – From the creative minds of the writing team, Stephanie Salyers and Dylan Mulik comes NVRLND a dark and magical re-imagining of PETER PAN set in present-day Hollywood. Wallflower turned wild-child Wendy Darling befriends the fiery Tiger Lily and enters the rave scene of the underground club NVRLND. Intoxicated by music and pixie dust, Wendy falls for the enigmatic Peter, lead singer of The Lost Boys. You think you may know the truth about NVRLND but the truth is you know nothing.

Stained - Meet Emma London: recovery artist and bounty hunter for hire. She is strong, possibly indomitable, and did we mention...part machine. Emma enters dark places that no one else will go to track down the subhuman criminals lurking in the underbelly of society and bring them to justice. From David Baron, 2016 Harvey Nominee and top comic professional spanning over twenty plus years with highlights including GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE, PLANETARY, THE AUTHORITY, JLA, DETECTIVE COMICS (THE BLACK MIRROR), GREEN LANTERN, DIVINITY and BLOODSHOT: REBORN.

"With Issue one selling out, I couldn't be happier how well STAINED has been received by fans and professionals. I don't think I have ever been more excited for a Con in my 20 year career to premiere STAINED at NYCC 2017," says Baron.

Additional graphic novels premiering from 451:

Self Storage - A Zom-rom-com from Clay McLeod Chapman, the writer of The Boy, Henley, Edge of Spider-Verse and Marvel's Universe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Humbug - A masterly plotted merry and manic mash-up of SHERLOCK HOLMES and GHOSTBUSTERS from A.J. Gentile, the writers and creators of MICRONAUTS and VISIONARIES.

Sunflower – A psychological thriller from writer Mark Mallouk, writer of Black Mass starring Johnny Depp.

ExMortis – An epic WWII action adventure from the minds of Paul + Pete Williams, VFX gurus behind Avatar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Chronicles of Narnia.

Bad Moon Rising – A wild smash up of The Wolfman and Sons of Anarchy from writer/producer Scott Rosenberg (Con Air, Gone in 60 Seconds, Jumanji 2, Welcome to the Jungle, and the CBS series ZOO).

Learn more about these and other original story titles at 4five1.com.

NYCC brings the best of comics, television, film, exhibitors, celebrities, cosplay, anime, and more to create memorable, uniquely exciting experiences for fans who come from around the world for the ultimate pop culture experience. The annual event will be held on October 5-8, 2017 at the Javits Center in the heart of NYC. Visit 451 Media at Booth #444.

Co-founded by acclaimed director and producer Michael Bay, 451 delivers an immersive entertainment experience combining cutting edge digital technology with content from some of the Hollywood's top creative minds.

About 451 Media Group

451 Media Group is a technology-focused intellectual property (IP) development & entertainment company. Working with cutting edge technology and highly accomplished talent, 451 is a multi-tiered platform content creator that combines publishing, entertainment, media and technology together with the industry's leading writers, artists and tech visionaries to captivate and engage readers in a unique digital experience. 451 Media Group was co-founded by Michael Bay, Anthony Gentile, John Gentile and Douglas Nunes.


SOURCE: 451 Media Group

Could We Build A Blade Runner-Style 'Replicant'?

Image via Sony Pictures

By Fumiya Iida, University of Cambridge

The new Blade Runner sequel will return us to a world where sophisticated androids made with organic body parts can match the strength and emotions of their human creators. As someone who builds biologically inspired robots, I’m interested in whether our own technology will ever come close to matching the “replicants” of Blade Runner 2049.

The reality is that we’re a very long way from building robots with human-like abilities. But advances in so-called soft robotics show a promising way forward for technology that could be a new basis for the androids of the future.

From a scientific point of view, the real challenge is replicating the complexity of the human body. Each one of us is made up of millions and millions of cells, and we have no clue how we can build such a complex machine that is indistinguishable from us humans. The most complex machines today, for example the world’s largest airliner, the Airbus A380, are composed of millions of parts. But in order to match the complexity level of humans, we would need to scale this complexity up about a million times.

There are currently three different ways that engineering is making the border between humans and robots more ambiguous. Unfortunately, these approaches are only starting points, and are not yet even close to the world of Blade Runner.

There are human-like robots built from scratch by assembling artificial sensors, motors and computers to resemble the human body and motion. However, extending the current human-like robot would not bring Blade Runner-style androids closer to humans, because every artificial component, such as sensors and motors, are still hopelessly primitive compared to their biological counterparts.

There is also cyborg technology, where the human body is enhanced with machines such as robotic limbs, wearable and implantable devices. This technology is similarly very far away from matching our own body parts.

Replicants have human-like abilities. (Sony Pictures)

Finally, there is the technology of genetic manipulation, where an organism’s genetic code is altered to modify that organism’s body. Although we have been able to identify and manipulate individual genes, we still have a limited understanding of how an entire human emerges from genetic code. As such, we don’t know the degree to which we can actually programme code to design everything we wish.

Soft robotics: a way forward?
But we might be able to move robotics closer to the world of Blade Runner by pursuing other technologies, and in particular by turning to nature for inspiration. The field of soft robotics is a good example. In the last decade or so, robotics researchers have been making considerable efforts to make robots soft, deformable, squishable and flexible.

This technology is inspired by the fact that 90% of the human body is made from soft substances such as skin, hair and tissues. This is because most of the fundamental functions in our body rely on soft parts that can change shape, from the heart and lungs pumping fluid around our body to the eye lenses generating signals from their movement. Cells even change shape to trigger division, self-healing and, ultimately, the evolution of the body.

The softness of our bodies is the origin of all their functionality needed to stay alive. So being able to build soft machines would at least bring us a step closer to the robotic world of Blade Runner. Some of the recent technological advances include artificial hearts made out of soft functional materials that are pumping fluid through deformation. Similarly, soft, wearable gloves can help make hand grasping stronger. And “epidermal electronics” has enabled us to tattoo electronic circuits onto our biological skins.

Softness is the keyword that brings humans and technologies closer together. Sensors, motors and computers are all of a sudden integrated into human bodies once they became soft, and the border between us and external devices becomes ambiguous, just like soft contact lenses became part of our eyes.

Nevertheless, the hardest challenge is how to make individual parts of a soft robot body physically adaptable by self-healing, growing and differentiating. After all, every part of a living organism is also alive in biological systems in order to make our bodies totally adaptable and evolvable, the function of which could make machines totally indistinguishable from ourselves.

It is impossible to predict when the robotic world of Blade Runner might arrive, and if it does it will probably be very far in the future. But as long as the desire to build machines indistinguishable from humans is there, the current trends of robotic revolution could make it possible to achieve that dream.

About Today's Contributor:
Fumiya Iida, Lecturer in mechatronics, University of Cambridge

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

Blade Runner 2049 - Trailer:

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Catalina Film Festival Wraps 7th Annual Fest With Awards in 14 Categories From 113 Films in Competition; Career Tributes, Film & New Media Summit Rounded out the Five-Day Fest

Actor and activist, Matt McGorry (How to Get Away With Murder, Orange is the New Black), and director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Lords of Dogtown) at Catalina Film Festival, in the projection room of the historic Avalon Theatre. (Credit: Jerod Harris)

The 7th annual Catalina Film Festival (CFF) wrapped with awards issued in 14 film competition categories selected from 113 films screened at venues throughout the famed Catalina Island. The annual film festival also featured career tributes, as well as the annual Film & New Media Summit.

Acclaimed director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island, Metal Gear, Destiny 2, upcoming Godzilla Vs. Kong) attends Catalina Film Festival on Catalina Island to accept the Festival's Crest Award for Directing. (Credit: Jerod Harris)

CAREER TRIBUTE AWARDS INCLUDED:

• Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award: 91-year-old veteran producer, Marcia Nasatir (The Big Chill, Rocky, Carrie, Apocalypse Now)

• Maverick Award: Actor and Activist, Matt McGorry (How to Get Away with Murder)

• Crest Award—Directing: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island, Metal Gear, Destiny 2)

• Crest Award—Acting: Wyatt Oleff (IT, Guardians of the Galaxy)

FESTIVAL AWARDS INCLUDED:

• U.S. Feature — Winner: ROCKAWAY / Excellence: Tater Tot & Patton

• Documentary — Winner: Black and Blue / Excellence: A Classy Broad

• Wes Craven Horror — Winner: Matthew 19:14 / Excellence: The Madame in Black

• Screenplay — Winner: Time Zero / Excellence: The Joyrider

• Animation — Winner: Alike / Excellence: Catching the L Train

• U.S. Short — Winner: Chocolate / Excellence: The Visit

• Conservation — Winner: Manmade Waters / Excellence: Gaviota: The End of Southern California

• Advanced Student — Winner: Icarus / Excellence: The Transfer

• High School Student — Winner: Puget Sound / Excellence: Color My Dreams

• International Short — Winner: Pushing Night Away / Excellence: Girl in White

• International Feature — Winner: Secret from the Past / Excellence: Generation Wolf

• Festival Treasure — My Loyal Audience

• Deb Bauer Unsung Hero — SEARCHDOG

• Golden Fox Award for Excellence in Directing — Brian Crano, Permission

George Boucher, Jordan Vogt-Roberts and Ron Truppa (Credit: Jerod Harris)

About Catalina Film Festival

Catalina Film Festival is an annual celebration of film on the West Coast's only resort island, just 26 miles from Los Angeles. Sponsors include Panasonic, IEX Helicopters, Catalina Express, Island Spa Catalina, ALS Limo and Car Service, Catalina Flyer, BIG, Horseshoe Bend Vineyards and The Cafaro Group. 

Past CFF honorees include Nicolas Cage, William H. Macy, Andy Garcia, Sharon Stone, Jon Favreau, Emmy Rossum, Mena Suvari, F. Gary Gray, Stan Lee and more.

SOURCE: Catalina Film Festival