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King Kong Universal Studios Hollywood: King Kong Returns to the Entertainment Capital of Los Angeles By Rena Dictor LeBlanc W hat’s it like to be in a Hollywood movie with a su- perstar? Tanks to Universal Studios Hollywood, millions of visitors from all over the world have experi- enced moviemaking “magic” aimed at making people feel they’re actually part of a movie. Tis summer visitors to the theme park can become part of a movie scene with one of Hollywood’s most famous and fearsome creations - King Kong. Te monstrous gorilla will make his comeback at the studio in a new special effects at- traction that will be part of the Studio Tour Tram Ride and will be the world’s largest and most intense 3D experience. John Murdy, Creative Director of Universal Studios Hol- lywood said, “We bring movies to life. Tis place is all about behind-the-scenes magic of how movies are made. What we do is we take you through the screen. It feels like you’re actually in the movie. Te latest state of the art technologies and ani- mation enable Universal to do that. What I most frequently hear is people feel like they lived the movie. Tere’s nothing quite like this anywhere in the world.” Universal Studios combines an authentic working movie and television studio with cutting-edge thrill rides and attrac- tions. It’s home to a wondrous array of fantasy creatures from those who wreak horror to whimsical cartoon characters. According to Peter Jackson, creator of the new attraction, “King Kong 360 3-D” will transport Studio Tour guests to Skull Island and catapult them into the middle of a terrifying struggle. Aboard the Universal tram, you’ll get a wrap-around view of the action through a process involving eight 3-D images shot and projected at 60 frames per second,” he said. “Te film and tram will be tied into a motion simulator that will allow you to physically experience this pulse-pounding spectacle.” It includes a 35-foot tall dinosaur intent on attacking the tram and Studio Tour guests. Suddenly the 25-foot tall Kong appears. Te trams jolt and shudder as the guests find themselves caught in the middle of a battle between these colossal prehistoric foes. Jackson said, “As a filmmaker, you’re hoping to have the audience step inside your movie and become part of the expe- rience…to create the illusion of reality in a way that is much more profound than can be done in a normal theater. It’s only within a theme park attraction like this that you have the op- portunity to do that. It’s ultra realistic and astounding. Tis is 34 DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD / SUMMER 2010 ABOVE: The entrance to Universal Pictures in 1926. RIGHT: Movie production at the studio in 1936. the first time special effects have been done to this extreme.” He is the writer, producer and director of “King Kong”, the 2005 movie that won multiple Academy Awards. King Kong was an integral part of the theme park for decades until he was destroyed in a fire in 2008. Larry Kurzweil, President of Universal Studios Hollywood said, “After the fire, we knew he had to be reintroduced as a new, groundbreaking, thoroughly over-the-top experience. King Kong will be the most exhilarating feature of our world-famous Studio Tour.” It’s scheduled to open this summer.