Universal Orlando News & Updates
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Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula to open at Universal Studios Hollywood
Scores of spine-tingling special effects as well as hundreds of artifacts, original props and set pieces, created for the movie, will be experienced throughout the attraction. Guests walking through "Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula" will pass through a shadowy portal and into Dracula's Castle where they'll join legendary monster hunter Professor Van Helsing and Princess Anna Valerious on their crusade to rid the world of fiendish creatures engaged in a never-ending war upon the human race. Trapped within Dracula's eerie crypt, surrounded by clusters of flying pygmy bats, undulating pods and swarms of feeding rats, guests will plunge deep into the catacombs, assaulted on all sides by the sounds of howling werewolves and the moans of shuffling corpses. Along the way, guests must traverse an unstable 50-foot bridge overlooking a dark laboratory where Frankenstein's Monster, shaking violently, is suspended upon a slab and the hideous figure of Igor swings erratically from a giant rope. Within a structure incorporating the film's original Gothic fagade, "Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula" will also allow guests a close-up view of the movie's original costumes, sets, special effects, make-up prosthetics and monsters. Within a structure incorporating the film's original Gothic fagade, "Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula" will also allow guests a close-up view of the movie's original costumes, sets, special effects, make-up prosthetics and monsters. Universal Pictures' "Van Helsing" is directed and written by Stephen Sommers. The film is produced by Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay, executive produced by Sam Mercer and stars Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Weham, Will Kemp, Kevin J. O'Connor. "Van Helsing" opens nationwide on May 7. Innovative filmmaker Stephen Sommers -- who so imaginatively re-envisioned Universal's classic Mummy character in the worldwide blockbusters "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns" -- now breathes new life into the most time-honored pantheon of classic Universal monsters, Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, by re-imagining them as cutting edge creatures and setting them in a stunning new world of fantastical reality for his tale of ultimate evil against a lone force of good: "Van Helsing." Hugh Jackman stars as the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, born in the pages of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," who, on order of a secret society, travels to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), out to rid her family of a generations-old curse. Featuring such unique and groundbreaking attractions as "Revenge of the Mummy -- The Ride" opening in June, "Shrek 4-D," "Terminator 2: 3D," "Jurassic Park -- The Ride" and the world-renowned behind-the-scenes "Studio Tour," Universal Studios Hollywood has matured into a full day, movie-based theme park. The introduction of "Revenge of the Mummy -- The Ride" coincides with Universal Studios Hollywood's 40th Anniversary. As the Hollywood landmark enters its fifth decade, the arrival of this ground-breaking thrill ride signals a milestone in the transformation of what was first conceived as a "behind the scenes look at Hollywood filmmaking" into a world-class entertainment destination. The movie-based theme park has fully evolved from its Studio Tour beginnings by adding rides and attractions that employ the latest in both movie and theme park technologies and offer both local and visiting guests a uniquely immersive entertainment experience. Universal Studios Hollywood offers print-at-home ticketing, available exclusively at www.universalstudioshollywood.com, designed to maximize guest convenience with immediately redeemable tickets that enable guests to print tickets at home, bypass the theme park ticket booths and proceed directly to the park's entrance upon arrival. Universal CityWalk is a unique dining and shopping promenade adjacent to Universal Studios Hollywood featuring 65 entertainment-themed restaurants, clubs, shops and movie theaters. Universal Studios Hollywood (www.universalstudioshollywood.com) is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (VUE) (www.universalstudios.com), the U.S.-based film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
Firefly flits from Disney to Universal
Based on Universal Studios Florida's backlot, five former Disney animators-turned-entrepreneurs plan to produce animated features and shorts using both traditional hand-drawn and computer-generated animation. "The training we got from Disney was the best there is, the best in the world," says Firefly President Dominic Carola. "Now we look forward to using what we learned there to build our own creative success." Staying local, staying alive Among Project Firefly's other new competitors on the local front: Legacy Animation, a new animation company launched by former Disney animators in Winter Garden, and Raven Animation, a subsidiary of Raven Moon Entertainment, which has hired a number of former Disney animators. "There's a lot of us who worked for Disney who would really like to stay in the area," says Gregg Azzopardi, co-founder and director of animation for Project Firefly. "The quality of life is good here, our kids are happy in their schools, and there seems to be plenty of work." The decision comes as no surprise to John Fremstad, vice president of technology business development for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. Fremstad says the beauty of animation and other digital media companies is that they are not businesses dependent on population growth. "These smaller companies have more flexibility and smaller payrolls," Fremstad says. "Many parts of the entertainment industry have gone to outsourcing, so it's no problem to stay in the area." Perhaps even more important is that keeping the animators in Central Florida helps reinforce the area's creative expertise, notes Pamela Tuscany-Warren, senior director of marketing and business development for Universal Studios' Florida Production Group. "These are animators with years of experience working on movies recognizable to people all over the world," Warren says. Making their own mark Four of the Project Firefly co-founders -- Carola, Azzopardi, Paulo Alvarado and John Webber -- are veteran animators, each with more than 10 years of animating experience. Glen Gagnon, a co-founder and director of business development and finance, brings with him more than 15 years. Project Firefly already has a number of original projects in development for theatrical and video release, says Gagnon. What those are exactly "can't be discussed just yet," he says with a smile, noting the entertainment industry's reluctance to do much preview on works in progress. Carola says work on other people's projects will help set the company on firm financial footing before launching into what the five partners are most excited about: producing original animation. "We definitely have ideas for our own projects," says Alvarado, director of story development. But, adds Creative Director Webber, "We'll be patient and build slowly to that point, even though it's something we are very anxious to do." For the time being, the partners say they are content to have the freedom to experiment and develop their own creative style. They expect to put their touch on everything from animated features and children's video games to, perhaps, a line of merchandise related to the company's icon: the firefly. And even though the company only has the five partners as full-time staff so far, expect to see growth within its first year, says Carola: "Like the firefly, we're just small right now. "But we believe we can bring a lot of creativity to the audiences out there who want well-told stories with a great animation touch."
Orlando's Twin Towers at the Entrance to Universal Orlando Join the Doubletree Hotels Collection
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2004--Doubletree(R) Hotels (NYSE:HLT) has announced the addition of the Doubletree(R) Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando(R), representing another addition to the brand's portfolio of more than 160 fine properties across the U.S., Canada and Latin America.
Universal Orlando raises admission prices
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