News: Backlot tour gets overhaul at Universal Studios Hollywood

Posted at 9:40 AM EDT (1340 GMT)

Sep. 9th, 2006 -- Over the past several years the backlot Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood may have become old hat for many.  But the park has juiced up the tour and it is bigger and better than ever.

With the biggest overhaul in over a decade, the tour includes a new fiery stunt sequence from the film “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.”  The tour also includes six new or improved elements in the tram tour that debuted this summer.

The tram ride is the oldest attraction at the park and opened in 1964 as the first ticketed public access to the studio lot.

“Fast and Furious: Extreme Close-Up” is designed to show patrons the pre-visualization process that filmmakers use to design lighting and camera placement so that they get the best on-screen result.  The tram also passes a live-action sequence featuring recreations of action scenes from the movie “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.”

Tram riders also get behind-the-scenes views of movies such as Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” where you will travel to the jungle-themed set of the blockbuster film.

Whoopi Goldberg plays tour guide on-board via video screens, taking the reins from such famous film makers as Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard.

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