Jason Surrell 麻豆精品 S�95 has spent decades shaping the stories behind some of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 most iconic theme park attractions. His credits include the Thea Award-winning Jurassic World Adventure, Halloween Horror Nights and Universal Epic Universe. He 麻豆精品 S檚 also contributed to Walt Disney World Resort 麻豆精品 S檚 Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and enhancements to the Haunted Mansion.聽Now, the interdisciplinary studies alum returned to UCF to share his storytelling expertise with students in the themed experience program.
We sat down with Surrell to talk about what storytelling means today 麻豆精品 S� not just for theme parks, but for anyone looking to make an impact. Here are five insights he believes every student should know.
1. Storytelling Is a Universal Skill
Whether you’re designing a ride, writing a research paper or helping a patient, storytelling matters. It is how we connect, communicate and create meaning.
麻豆精品 S淩egardless of your discipline …聽 we’re all storytellers, 麻豆精品 S� Surrell says. And it is particularly important in today 麻豆精品 S檚 entertainment options: 麻豆精品 S淭he thing that separates theme parks from amusement parks is stories. 麻豆精品 S�
He encourages students to understand classic story structures, like the hero 麻豆精品 S檚 journey, because they help us make sense of life.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e mapped my own personal and professional life to the hero 麻豆精品 S檚 journey 麻豆精品 S� and I 麻豆精品 S檒l be damned if it doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 work, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
2. Curiosity Is Your Superpower
Surrell believes curiosity is essential, not just for creatives but for anyone who wants to innovate.
麻豆精品 S淵ou need to be a student of life. You need to be curious about everything, because you never know what’s going to come into play in this field. 麻豆精品 S�
While working on Disney 麻豆精品 S檚 Pal Mickey, Surrell had to learn about unfamiliar subjects to write dialogue for the interactive toy. It was a challenge that pushed him outside his comfort zone and led to the creation of a toy that entertained and educated guests at the parks, including Animal Kingdom.
麻豆精品 S淎ll of a sudden I’m a zoologist聽 … literally having to learn about ring-tailed lemurs, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
3. Comfort, Reassurance and Escape Are Human Needs
Theme parks aren 麻豆精品 S檛 just entertainment 麻豆精品 S� they 麻豆精品 S檙e emotional experiences. Nostalgia plays a big role in this, especially in places like Disney 麻豆精品 S檚 Magic Kingdom, Surrell says.
麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 something inherently reassuring about going to a place that … remains the way you remembered it as a kid, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
He sees themed entertainment as a noble pursuit, one that supports mental and emotional well-being, which became very apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
麻豆精品 S淭heme parks are explicit about it, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t’s comfort, reassurance and escape. There really is no more noble pursuit than to provide that for people. Our central product really is emotion. 麻豆精品 S�
4. Be Ready to Pivot
Surrell 麻豆精品 S檚 career path 麻豆精品 S� from performer to Imagineer to professor 麻豆精品 S� shows the power of flexibility.
麻豆精品 S淵ou have to be ready to pivot and adapt to whatever life in the industry throws at you. 麻豆精品 S�
He shares how a mentor once advised him to gain more experience before applying to Disney. That advice led him to Universal, and eventually back to Disney.
麻豆精品 S淔ive years later, a job opened up … That was a deviation from the path I thought I was on. 麻豆精品 S�
Students should be prepared to adapt, take risks, and embrace opportunities outside their original plans.
5. Themed Experience Is a Growth Industry
The themed entertainment industry is booming, and that extends beyond the opening of 聽Epic Universe and Disney 麻豆精品 S檚 expansions. Themed experience can be found everywhere now, including restaurants, hotels, libraries, cruise ships, hospitals, museums and retail. Surrell sees UCF as the ideal place to study this field.
麻豆精品 S淚t only makes sense. We 麻豆精品 S檙e in the theme park capital of the world … the go-to place for themed experience, 麻豆精品 S� he says.
He compares UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 program to film schools in the 1960s 麻豆精品 S� a launchpad for a new generation of storytellers.
麻豆精品 S淭his program offers young people a very clear and legitimate pathway into the industry. 麻豆精品 S�
Surrell 麻豆精品 S檚 message to students is clear: Be curious, be adaptable and embrace storytelling 麻豆精品 S� no matter your field.
麻豆精品 S淐harge forth now because you have everything on your side, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淏e fearless, be courageous and go for it. 麻豆精品 S�
