GH OST BOAT A M ER ICAS WISCONSIN / USA
U s ing cutt i n g - e d g e a u d i o v i sual technol og y , M o m e n t F a c t o r y tr a ns f or m s t h e C o l d W a t e r Ca nyon i n to a f ul l y i m m e r s i ve , s p i n e-c h illing s ca r e ex p e r i e n c e .
Founded in the interest of opening Wisconsin’s scenic views to a wider audience and combining entertainment and education, Dells Boat Tours invites visitors to explore the midwestern state through its themed river cruises. The operation’s more standard tours guide audiences across the Wisconsin River, focusing on the natural scenery and the site’s rich history. However, one of its most distinctive offerings follows a different model. The Ghost Boat experience, an after-dark excursion built around a horror-driven, mostly fictional narrative, has long been a customer favourite. Honouring its fan base, the Dells team decided to upgrade the attraction at the beginning of the year, introducing a bespoke audiovisual set-up that serves to further frighten and entertain tourists. Moment Factory, a Montreal-based studio, was responsible for delivering this multimedia transformation. Virginie Valastro, Producer at Moment Factory, recounted the earliest days of production. The studio was brought onto the project after Dells Boat Tours became aware of Moment Factory’s proprietary Lumina experiences opening nearby. These outdoor night walks merge natural environments with tailored AV solutions, structured around a whimsical storyline. Valastro explained that before the technological design could begin, the team first sat down with the Dells crew to discuss both the scope of the installation and a refined narrative for Ghost Boat. “In joining the reconstruction effort, we wanted to be mindful of the experience’s already-established presence,” said Valastro. “It had been running successfully for over a decade already, so we worked in very close collaboration with the Dells team to ensure our wild ideas fit with their expectations. Luckily, they loved our concepts and were more than happy to listen to our thoughts. “Our multimedia director came up with a way to blend our suggestions with the recognised aim. The programme of the experience sees tourists go on an upriver boat cruise, before taking an immersive walk through the site’s Cold Water Canyon. “We thought it would add to the scare-factor to make it seem as if visitors were taking a ‘normal’ tour, before the boat’s communication system begins to glitch, and it becomes apparent that something much darker is going on, with mentions of lost spirits from previous travellers. “Then, as guests begin the on-foot section of the excursion, more haunting moments occur, before a climactic show moment brings them face-to-face with a sinister creature.” To realise this spooky vision, Moment Factory began to build a complete narrative and multimedia environment for the Ghost Boat attraction.
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The tech behind the tour Technical Director Pierre Corsy revealed that in designing suitable solutions for Ghost Boat, he had to keep in mind the various constraints of the site. Moment Factory’s proficiency in outdoor installations aided the process, however, Corsy said that it was one of the most environmentally unique terrains they had worked on. “We were integrating solutions along the walking segment of the experience, and as it is a canyon, it is naturally a riverbed, meaning that every time there is rainfall, the area can become like a river in itself,” began Corsy. “Therefore, we needed to make sure everything we installed was of a high IP rating.”