Universal Backlot Reopens

Universal Studios revealed the rebuilt New York Street backlot yesterday. The four acre lot was destroyed in a fire in 2008.

Universal’s president Ron Meyer stood with Steven Spielberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials as they reopened the lot that cost $200 million to rebuild.

A team, gathered by Spielberg, including president of NBC Universal JIm Walters and Senior vice president of NBC Universal, had a scale model ready and were allowed to start building two weeks after the fire. The project was called Phoenix Project.
The lot was modernized to look more like a real city. Heights of buildings were increased, more detail was given to facades, streets were narrowed and roofs were made practical for shoots. Among the changes was to make things more practical for filming, which included making manholes and chimneys ready for special effects steam and hiding outlets. They also created interiors so you could shoot looking in or out. DreamWorks art director Beala Neel said, “That is huge cost savings to a producer. They won’t have to rent stages.”

Meyer said, “We’re proud to have the largest working studio in the world.”