Hidden Worlds Entertainment, an ‘impactainment’ company producing purpose-driven attractions, has announced that it will hold its first event in Miami starting this May. The company also shared its plans to make Miami the base of its operations.
The upcoming show combines the worlds of ‘impact’ and ‘entertainment’ by producing an immersive experience with a clear message about the perils of climate change. The forthcoming attraction, which is slated to run from May 20th to June 20th at Miami Beach’s Rudolf Budja Gallery, aims to bring guests on a tech-powered voyage through our natural ecosystem.
Hidden Worlds Entertainment’s CEO, Daniel Hettwer, gave Refresh Miami a spoiler-free taste of what people can expect of this attraction: “We’ll take you on a journey during a 24-hour period, starting in the mangroves, going to the coral reefs, and then bringing you back to the mangroves.”
Evening attendees will be treated to an extended 2.5-hour projection, similar to the recent Monet immersive experience. They will be served a multi-course ocean-positive menu created by chef Scott Linquist of Como Como Miami and Coyo Taco and the gallery’s restaurant. Daytime viewers will watch a projection of 40-minutes and will be provided with a sample of the menu.
And don’t worry, the drinks will be flowing – it’s Miami Beach, of course – thanks to local mixologist Gio Gutierrez. After dinner, evening guests will be able to stick around for the space to be converted into a lounge, complete with a DJ playing music while the projections continue.
Weekend tickets cost $36 for adults and $29 for children, while attending a weekday showing costs $32 for adults and $26 for children.
Hettwer has a background in economics and consumer decision making psychology and previously worked in the financial engineering department of a major renewable energy company in Asia Pacific. Teammates include world-famous explorer Philippe Cousteau, journalist Ashlan Cousteau, neuro-economist Dr. Paul Zak, and Universal Theme Parks veteran Robert L. Ward.
Tech innovation is at the core of Hidden Worlds’ programming. The three-hour performances include 360 degree audio and a photorealistic environment. “Those producing the content have really gone over and above what is technically possible,” explained Hettwer. He said that the technologists behind the production took assets that have been captured using a process called photogrammetry, which creates a digital 3D environment from photographs.
The profits Hidden Worlds Entertainment generates will go towards two goals, according to Hettwer. First, he said that the company “want[s] to make players like Disney and Universal more aware that you can make profit while pushing positive impact.”
“Now there’s 500 million people going through theme parks annually,” Hettwer noted. “If we would only have one impact team and experience in every theme park, 500 million people will see that every year. Talk about scale and ability to make change. It’s in their hands.”
Second: The team hopes to channel funds into the conservation tech space. “I want to make sure that people like Daniel Kleinman [Founder & CEO of Miami-based blue tech startup community and venture studio Seaworthy Collective] are empowered to find the solutions that we need to bring the planet forward.”
This is just the first of what Hettwer expects to be more impactainment programming to come. “Our intent is not to produce one event and then be done with it. We really want to create an impactainment company that incubates new shows in Miami, gets feedback from the market, and then scales it up and tours it similar to as you’ve seen with other immersive entertainment tours.”
Miami will be the company’s hub. Hettwer, a native of Hamburg, Germany who has lived in Hawaii for the past few years, said that Hidden Worlds Entertainment is already building a management and creative team in the Magic City. “We’re going to do a fundraising to hire and scale up and move our headquarters to make Miami the global hub for impactainment.”
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