universal.

We all agreed that we had quite a time in sparkling LA, I’ve fallen in love with the sunny city and would love to move there and fulfill my dreams of becoming a fashion journalist in the future. We took a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, and sadly it didn’t live up to it’s corny catch phrase; “The Entertainment Capital of LA!” How have I memorized this peculiar slogan, you ask. Well, it was being blared through loudspeakers throughout the park, throughout the day! It was a fun experience, but we all agreed that the newly opened Universal Studios Singapore was better. However, there was one thing that Universal Studios Singapore could never offer, that Universal Studios Hollywood flaunted with much pride; The Studio Tour.

Universal Studios is more commonly associated with a cotton candy colored theme park, but it is the name behind several movies, TV shows and stars that have made a legendary impact on the world of entertainment. The Studio itself is the largest operating Studio in the world, and driving through it on a touristy little guided tram felt purely magical. How exciting it felt to be gracing the artificial streets present in countless star-studded movies. I couldn’t help but think to myself how many celebrities have walked those very roads before us. Rowan Atkinson, Eva Longoria, and Tom Cruise, just to name a few.

The studio is a gargantuan 415 acres, inclusive of the theme park. The view from the Universal Studios theme park offered a great perception of the fictional ‘city,’ as well as a gorgeous skyline. As you can see, none of the fake buildings have interiors or rooftops, and the construction of the ‘city’ is quite clustered. At each sharp turn we took on the tour, we were magically transported to a whole new time and place. At one point we were in old London, with intricate lampposts, London-esque signage and cobbled streets. In less than a minute, we were in a modern-day city, with glass buildings and angular structures. Soon after, we were whisked to old Mexico, and all the low-rise wooden buildings, scattered crates and labeled barrels seemed to be smothered in a pearly, glowing sheen from the sun. The entire experience was so realistic; I felt like I was touring the world with Walt Disney by my side, pointing out all the intricate creative beauty embedded in the vast concrete jungle.

I’m sure all you Desperate Housewives fans recognize this polished fragment of Wisteria Lane, an elegant manicured street embellished with vibrant foliage and a lingering sunlight. This street has been used for several movies and TV shows though, but it is best known for its presence in Desperate Housewives.

We drove past this amazingly realistic set from War of the Worlds – the 747 Plane Crash (that was an actual Boeing 747 that was no longer in use; it was bought for a mere $60,000 but the whopping transportation cost was $200,000).

Picture Car used in the movie “Mr. Bean’s Holiday.” Need I say more?

The set of the city car chase scene in “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” The cars are attached to large bionic ‘arms’ hidden under the rubber paneling that send the cars lurching forward as if they’ve been thrust into mid-air. We saw a full-on demo of the scene, complete with elaborate special effects such as roaring flames, thick smoke and moving props (my favourite was the faded Japanese cigarette dispenser that glided miraculously around the perimeter of the set to create the illusion of different angles).

This automated rushing river was one of the highlights of the Studio Tour. At the mere press of a button, a foamy river snakes realistically towards us, coming dangerously close to the tour tram. The windows of a nearby house are thrust open, emitting more frothy water into the chaos. The sprinklers atop a nearby pole begin spewing out rainwater, and the entire scene laid out flawlessly was nothing short of delicious to watch. This river has been used in numerous movies, TV shows and commercials, and recently in Lady Gaga’s music video for “Judas.” The best part? The water is mixed with milk so it appears more clearly on camera!

The building in which CSI and Parenthood is filmed.

See that line of buildings? Forget about them being expensive, antique architectural gems; they’re only painted wooden panels!

PS. This post is actually a week late; meaning we experienced the thrill of this spectacular theme park a week ago. However, I wanted to make sure I staggered my posts and varied my content, so apologies if my vacation timeline confuses you!

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