Press Release: Universal’s New Backlot Premieres

On June 1, 2008, a three alarm fire broke out at Universal Studios Hollywood, destroying New York Street, the King Kong theme park attraction and a video vault. In response, the entertainment community rallied together and assembled a world-renowned creative team to rebuild what had been lost. Jim Watters, President & General Manager of NBC Universal Operations Group, and Dave Beanes, Senior Vice-President of NBC Universal Production Services were joined by esteemed film legend Steven Spielberg, production designers, and Rick Carter (Academy Award winner for Avatar) to be a part of the design process. The team quickly expanded to a list of twenty-five award-winning production designers and graphic artists that collaborated, designed and rebuilt the legendary Hollywood fixture.
The finished product, which will be completed on June 30 and includes a New York block with a glass and steel look, Paris Square, London Square and Central Park, will usher in a new era for the Universal Studio Hollywood Studio Tour. The upgraded Studio Tour has been upgraded with high-definition TV monitors in each tram car, new video content and high-grade digital audio systems and will provide guests with a more in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the film and television industry than ever before.
As for King Kong, the attraction was moved to expand the location and provide additional production parking. The new King Kong 360-3D attraction created by award-winning director Peter Jackson will open this summer and will be the world’s largest and most intense 3D interactive theme park experience!

ABC 7 Reports on the Re-Opening of the Burned Down Section the the Universal Backlot

From KABC-TV LOS ANGELES, CA:

Nearly two years ago, a fire raced through the Universal Studios' backlot, destroying movie sets and some of Hollywood's most famous films. On Thursday, a celebration was held as part of the lot reopened.

The heads of Universal Studios, along with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, director Steven Spielberg and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, attended the ceremony.

"What you see around you is the result of a new New York, and not just New York, but London and anywhere else your imagination takes you, because the backlot can be anything an art department and a director and a writer put in our imagination," Spielberg said during the ceremony

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King Kong Rampages Through Dodger Stadium

Universal staged an publicity stunt this morning at Dodger Stadium to promote the new King Kong attraction that opens in early July.

More info was provided by LA Land:

The giant ape footprints that begin near home plate and disappear behind center field are part of a series of attention-grabbing events to promote the idea that Kong escaped the fire that destroyed parts of the backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2008.

After stomping through various parts of the city in the next few weeks -- Santa Monica Pier and Hollywood Boulevard, for example -- the knuckle-dragging ape will, according to Universal Studios' publicity folks, settle into his new home at the theme park.

The ape will star in King Kong 360 3D, an attraction designed by director Peter Jackson. It is scheduled to open by the Fourth of July holiday.

Peter Jackson Discusses New King Kong 3D Attraction

Via.

New International Café Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood

According to the What's New section of the Official Universal Studios Hollywod website, there is a new place to eat at USH. Sounds like a rather healthy assortment of food options!

Visit the newly opened International Café, behind Mel's Drive In, offering fresh gourmet sandwiches, salads, sliced fruit, a wide selection of snacks, desserts, refreshing beverages and gourmet coffee drinks. It's unlike anything else in the park!

Special Effects Stage to get updated and relocated

A rebooted version of the Special Effects Stage show reopening at Universal Studios Hollywood in June will pit classic movie-making techniques against cutting-edge digital technology, theme park officials said.

The 22-minute show will be co-hosted by a conservative, middle-aged tech guru and a fun-loving and quick-witted 20-something hipster who will demonstrate filmmaking special effects both old (rear-screen projection, forced perspective and matte imagery) and new (CGI, green screen, stop motion, motion capture and 3-D).

The television and movie theme park is moving the long-running special-effects show from a lower level sound stage (near the now-shuttered Backdraft attraction) to an upper-level theater to make room for the much-anticipated Transformers ride, scheduled to open in 2012.

Unlike the previous behind-the-scenes special-effects show, which shuttled audience members through three sets, the new show will take place in a single auditorium.

Via Universal Studios Hollywood - Official Facebook Page & LA Times