Thinkwell Group creates interactive finale to Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood
Experience designers Thinkwell Group have created a new 25,000sq ft (2,300sq m) addition to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, a finale to the backlot attraction and the culmination of a two year project exploring how films and TV shows are made.
The new aspect of the Los Angeles attraction, known as ‘Stage 48: Script to Screen’, provides cutting-edge technology to create a hands-on look at the world of filmmaking, with several interactive exhibits and features highlighting the production process. In addition to gaining behind-the-scenes insights, visitors will be able to look at costumes, sets and models from films and TV shows such as The Dark Knight, Friends and the Harry Potter films.
Similar in style to Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour – also by Thinkwell – Ellen DeGeneres provides an introductory video for Stage 48, after which guests walk through a series of exhibits detailing the production process, from screenwriting and set design to visual effects and post-production.
Once inside pre-production, visitors are able to view recreations of a screenwriter’s desk, cast a film using an interactive touch table, and see scaled models of film set pieces and see costumes from film and TV. In addition, visitors can also create their own Batmobile on an interactive design station as well as outfit computer-generated models in costumes from The Great Gatsby and Camelot.
The production area of the attraction houses the original Central Perk Café from the set of Friends, where visitors can act out a scene from the show, have a go behind the camera, or be a member of the studio audience. Production also includes the space capsule used in the Oscar-winning Gravity.
The post-production area offers guests a look at how special effects, sound design, and editing add the finishing touches to Hollywood productions. Green screen technology where visitors can ride Batman’s motorcycle through the streets of Gotham is available, while motion capture technology allows them to take up the role of Dobby from Harry Potter. Finally a forced perspective table – as used in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings films – to create seemingly small Hobbits, will allow guests to portray a larger-than-life version of Gandalf.
The experience ends with Warner Bros. Legacy Room, which comprises a collection of Jack Warner’s personal effects and a collection of Oscars and Emmys the studio has received in its near 100-year history.
“This was a top-down effort, with an amazing amount of participation and attention from the studio executives, heads of departments, and the archive team,” said Chris Durmick, Thinkwell creative director for Stage 48. “The Warner Bros. tour has been providing its visitors with an unparalleled experience inside one of Hollywood’s most-storied studios, and Stage 48 is a wonderful finale and a clear demonstration of the studio’s commitment to their guests.”
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