Being there: a renowned ride-film maker describes how immersion enhances entertainment. (Back drop: a behind-the-scenes interview with a digital content professional).(Interview)

Q Jeff, what attracted you to creating computer graphics ride films?

A The fun thing about rides, especially CG rides, is that you have this open door to create worlds where you can make just about anything happen. There are no rules about how to set up CG effects and physical effects, such as spraying the audience with water, blowing air on them with wind machines, or heating them with heating elements. And with a ride you add the extra dimension of the audience actually being able to be moved physically in some sort of conjunction with the dramatic intent of the story. You can do some amazing things that you couldn't do in a movie theater or other normal distribution mechanisms.

Q How did Corkscrew Hill come about?

A After the success of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, the ride film we created for Universal Studios, we were given the opportunity to design an attraction for Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, completely on our own. The only direction we were given was that it had to have something to do with Ireland, because it would be shown in the Irish section of the theme park. So Diana and I decided we didn't want any stereotypical stuff, like leprechauns, pots of gold, shamrocks, and rainbows. We did research on Irish folklore and became familiar with some other creatures that inhabit those stories. We also decided to use the motion base not to be just a roller coaster, but as a vehicle that has many different modes of transportation. And we wanted it to be more than just cute and sweet; it had to have excitement and danger.

Q Why is danger important in a film ride?

A People like to be scared and then suddenly rescued. One of the things that worked out well on Spider-Man was the last scene, where Dr. Octopus turns off the antigravity gun, and you fall between the buildings toward the pavement. I had been working on the ride for six months and had seen it on my computer hundreds of times, but when I saw it on the ride, and the motion base kicked forward, and the fans came on, I was really scared. This was something we wanted to build on in Corkscrew Hill. So we have this dragon-like griffin take you way up in the air and drop you. And it's not just a 40-story fall. You're about 5000 feet high, and you're freefalling toward the water and rocks below. And as you drop through the clouds, you feel like you're accelerating, and fans are blowing in your face, and just before you crash, you are caught by a horse and splashed with water. We figured that using big-screen stereo 3D with motion, wind, and water would help the ride build to a climax and be an exciting way to end the show.

Q What else are you trying to achieve with film rides beyond scaring people?