Universal City, CA – September 29, 2008 – 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.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YnXu3n7GWQ [1]

            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 (www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Nightmares [2]) 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 www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com [3].

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 www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com [3].

            "Halloween Horror Nights" tickets will also be sold in advance at Ralphs®, Food 4 Less® and Hot Topic® 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® restaurants.