Earlier this month, Midsummer Scream announced that despite the cancellation of their 2020 event, they would be holding a virtual event this Saturday to celebrate all things Halloween.The free to stream daylong telethon will feature over 20 panels and presentations while raising money to support those impacted financially by the current pandemic. Alongside Midsummer Scream’s full slate of programming for Halloween and horror fans, TEA@USC will be running a full line up of seminars and educational talks for themed entertainment professionals and anyone looking to work in haunted attractions.There In Spirit: Midsummer Scream will be available to stream for free through Facebook, YouTube, and Periscope and has an entire day of programming scheduled from 11 AM – 7 PM PST. Check out the lineup announced so far below!The Midsummer Scream Schedule:11:15 AM – Disney CHILLS with Dizney Coast to Coast12:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Spooky Hollows12:10 PM – Silver Screams: Movies to Get You in the Halloween SpiritJoin Ivorte Littles of Horror Movies and Beyond as she talks with film historian David J. Skal about his upcoming book, “Fright Favorites: 31 Moves to Haunt Your Halloween and Beyond.”12:25 PM – Haunt Preview: The Haunt With No Name…Yet1:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Scareventures1:10 PM – Spooky Los Angeles2:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Corona Haunt2:15 PM – Secrets from the Hocus Pocus Booooooook of SpellsLegendary production designer William Sandell and Creator/Producer David Kirschner will join “Disney Coast to Coast” host Jeff DePaoli to share rarely seen concept sketches and photos for Hocus Pocus as well as behind the scenes stories from making the classic Halloween film.3:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Insane Haunt Productions3:15 PM – Halloween Tourism: Salem to Sleepy Hollow to New Orleans3:20 PM – 13th Floor Entertainment4:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Dreich Society4:15 PM – Horror Is the New BlackThe team from Creepy Kingdom breaks down trailers from the upcoming horror releases Candyman, Antebellum, and “Lovecraft Country.”4:30 PM – Haunt Preview: Desert Decay Manor5:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Realm of Shadow5:30 PM – Haunt Preview: Haunted Rose6:00 PM – Haunt Preview: Rotten Apple 907TEA@USC Schedule:11:10 AM – Narrative Development & the Growth of Immersive TheatreJoin the creator of Delusion and master of immersive theater Jon Braver for a conversation about building a compelling narrative for immersive storytelling.12:45 PM – Interactive Effects and How To Use Them In Your HauntAmerican artist and designer Greg MacLaurin, who is known for his work in theme park concept design, special effects, and interactive devices, discusses the history of interactive effects and gives insight on how to create them for your home haunt.1:00 PM – The Storyteller Effect: Why Immersive, Live and Themed Entertainment DominateDavid Wally and Bonnie Hallman of Mycotoo, a leading experience design and production company, will share a discussion on storytelling and inviting audiences into vastly different immersive worlds to interact with characters ranging from the Ringmaster to a Voodoo Priestess.2:00 PM – Special FX Makeup with Bone Yard EffectsTune in as Larry Bones presents a live makeup demonstration and presentation giving a behind the scenes look at the creature creation process.2:30 PM – Sound Design for Halloween AttractionsYou’ve heard his music at events, including Knott’s Scary Farm, Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Winchester Mystery House, and more. Now, join haunt sound designer Jon Autopsy in an in-depth conversation about how he creates the tracks that terrify you.3:15 PM – The Art of Producing an EPIC ExperienceEpic Entertainment’s award-winning Charity Hill and Steve Sheldon have produced numerous immersive experiences and themed entertainment events, including The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor and Orlando’s newest haunted attraction, Dark Horizon: Point of No Return. Join them as they discuss their approach to creating, producing, and operating successful themed entertainment attractions.4:15 PM – Scares, Screams, and Logistics: Operations In the Haunt IndustryJoin operations masters Amy Hollaman and Crystal Wright for a deep dive into all the things that go into operating a Halloween attraction.6:00 PM – Theme Park University: Creating Attractions At Your UniversityJoin students and recent graduates from UCSD, USC, and Carnegie Mellon in a conversation led by Jamie Bartkowicz about how they created attractions at their universities. From a Halloween maze, a greek mythology inspired theater event, to a dark ride, hear how they created these attractions, all while being college students.In addition to the above, the songwriters and producers behind LVCRAFT will share the secret histories of popular Halloween season songs throughout the day, and Poltergeists & Paramours designer Ama Lea will unveil her new line of horror-inspired swimwear and lingerie. For all the latest details and to join in on the fun Saturday visit https://midsummerscream.org/livestream
