Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights Short Film Competition Draws Over 315,000 Votes

Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights Short Film Competition Draws Over 315,000 Votes

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- After only two weeks of public online voting, a staggering 315,000 votes were cast to select the winner of Universal Studios Hollywood's first horror short-film competition, timed to coincide with the theme park's annual Halloween Horror Nights special event beginning October 3 and running continuously on weekends through November 1.

Winner of the competition is William C. Howard of Fort Worth, Texas, who will receive a $1,000 cash prize and an invitation to appear at Universal Studios Hollywood on October 3, where his film, "The Prank," will be screened at the annual Eyegore Awards ceremony that marks the kickoff of the theme park's Halloween Horror Nights event. The Eyegore Awards, which honor achievement in the world of horror, is attended by celebrities, industry executives and media.

Filmmakers were invited to submit material conforming to the theme "Live Your Worst Nightmare," with a running time of 90-seconds to three minutes. Of the 50 films submitted, 10 were selected as finalists by celebrity judges Don Mancini (director, "Child's Play"), Bill Moseley (actor, "House of 1,000 Corpses") and Corey Feldman (actor, "The Lost Boys"). The 10 finalist films were posted on Universal's Halloween Horror Nights site (http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/Nightmares) and voting was open to the public. "The Prank" and the other nine finalists films will remain posted for viewing throughout the month of October.

Issuing a dare to "Live Your Worst Nightmare," Universal Studios Hollywood has ratcheted up the intensity level to present a new "Halloween Horror Nights" for 2008. This year's event will pair Hollywood's top entertainment scenic and special effects artists with a cast of thousands to create terrifying new experiences including a bloodcurdling new "Nightmare on Elm Street" maze, all contributing to Southern California's most intense Halloween experience.

"Halloween Horror Nights" begins on Friday, October 3 and will extend over an expanded 13-night run concluding Saturday, November 1. Tickets to "Halloween Horror Nights" are on sale now at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/.

"Halloween Horror Nights" will continue on consecutive weekends beginning on Friday, October 3 through Saturday, November 1. Event dates are: October 3-4, 10-11, 17-19, 24-26, 30-31 and November 1. The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.; closing hours vary by night throughout the event. Tickets to "Halloween Horror Nights" are $54 and are available for purchase online at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/.

"Halloween Horror Nights" tickets will also be sold in advance at Ralphs(R), Food 4 Less(R) and Hot Topic(R) where consumers can save up to $20 off a ticket with the purchase of any Coca-Cola product. Guests can save up to $20 with any Coke can or special coupon from Jack in the Box(R) restaurants.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Universal Studios, a part of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May of 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Universal Studios Hollywood

CONTACT: Domestic, Audrey Eig, +1-818-622-2962, audrey.eig@nbcuni.com,
or International|online, Debbie Park, +1-818-622-9504,
deborah.park@nbcuni.com, both of Universal Studios Hollywood

Web site: http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/Nightmares
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment