Is the Earful tower really a good icon for Hollywood Studios?

[Tonyz]

clearly you are not knowledgeable about the fact that movie studio back lots are known for having water towers which initially were installed as a safety precaution in case of fires.
often the water tower had the logo of the movie studio on it.

I am knowledgeable about this, my friend... but it's a fairly average-sized water tower in the corner of the park. Not a big "weenie" in the front of the park like the Castle, etc.

And the tower might have made a little more sense if it was a representation of a park with a working studio in it... which is no longer is.

 

[pampam]

The hat spoiled one of the largest hidden Mickey's I've ever seen. I will not miss it at all.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I feel as though the water tower will be replaced yet again, once they decide what the new additions will be. If it is Star Wars ai could see something from that being installed.

Or the Pixar lamp

 

[Tonyz]

Or the Pixar lamp

Oh my god... that's it. That's exactly what they should do!! Someone contact Bob Iger!!

 

[Bluegrrl]

The initial design, if I am correct, was that the back area of the Studios would resemble the actual studios at Disney. Watch the whole version of The Reluctant Dragon or any of the pictures from the old studios and you can see that the back area does look quite a lot alike. The water tower (or any water tower) is a commonplace item at any movie studio, functioning or not.

However, since they theme park jacked-up the studios, the whole place is lacking a lot of identity. I am a total watertower purist, the hat ruins the sight of Mann's Chinese Theater. Which, in turn, screws with the identity of the park. I agree with others - move the (cue offensive Mickey language) to the front of the park at the entrance gate. Light the (offensive Mickey language) up for holidays. Just don't put it in the park.

Now, there have been rumors that the Mickey hat was a "quick-fix" thing because of a disagreement contract-wise with the Chinese theater people and Disney. So, they shoved the hat there to create a work-around. And if you want to talk "weenies", then the actual "weenie" was Mann's theater with the Great Movie Ride. So, big building+ride= something like Cinderella's Castle or the Epcot ball. That's at least what I remember from my time there in the '90s. The water tower was just supposed to be a water tower, I guess. Just to signal what part of the park you were in.

 

[disnut8]

It seems like DHS is changing into a different kind of park, one focused on the non-core Disney properties.

But "Studios" these days doesn't mean anything for any corporation. Anything filmed on a "studio" these days? I could name several TV shows but we'll stick to films. Hunger Games? North Carolina. Not in a studio. Catching Fire? Atlanta. Mockingjay? Atlanta.

"Studios" are gone.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

I feel as though the water tower will be replaced yet again, once they decide what the new additions will be. If it is Star Wars ai could see something from that being installed.

Or the Pixar lamp

Huge SW fan, but hope not something film specific.and I can't think of anything from Pixar that would be amazing towering over the park...that's the really issue, neither the hat or the water tower were BIG...and the Chinese Theater while pretty, wasn't big enough either.

We need SCALE.

 

[Networth]

But "Studios" these days doesn't mean anything for any corporation. Anything filmed on a "studio" these days? I could name several TV shows but we'll stick to films. Hunger Games? North Carolina. Not in a studio. Catching Fire? Atlanta. Mockingjay? Atlanta. "Studios" are gone.

Same thing with TV look at the Walking Dead it's filmed in GA.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

See, here's how we fix this whole situation. We help out poor Hollywood Studios with the sad little identity crisis it is currently experiencing. The tower makes excellent sense... if it was a working studio or resembled a working studio. Why not go back to that? It really wouldn't be hard. You have Hollywood Studios, Disney Studios, Pixar Studios, and Lucas Studios. You feel like you are walking around the movie sets, but as soon as you enter an attraction, WAMMO! You are in the action. They did this with Tower of Terror, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, and even Rock n Roller Coaster to some extent. It would require expanding, but that's easily handled. In that situation, I do think that the tower makes PERFECT sense. It's a water tour for the studios like all of them had back in the golden age of Hollywood.

It could resemble a working studio but extremely unlikely to become an actual working studio again. Easier to get work done in California with the labor availability. Too expensive to make things in Florida. Or so I have been told by someone on the industry within the past 10 years. "They" wanted to make Orlando Hollywood East as far as production capabilities and it just didn't work out successfully.

But making it show like one--I would love that. I miss the studio days.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

But "Studios" these days doesn't mean anything for any corporation. Anything filmed on a "studio" these days? I could name several TV shows but we'll stick to films. Hunger Games? North Carolina. Not in a studio. Catching Fire? Atlanta. Mockingjay? Atlanta.

"Studios" are gone.

There is still pre-production and post-production work, so studios is still accurate.

 

[larryz]

Oh my god... that's it. That's exactly what they should do!! Someone contact Bob Iger!!

I'm sure he'll put that on his "to-do" list ... right after "fix the yeti."

 

[Disneychick75]

When the MGM park was first built, it represented old Hollywood. As guests walked into the park and looked down Hollywood Blvd., they would see The Great Movie Ride theater at the end of Hollywood Blvd. which was based on Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood. The theater was a Hollywood landmark and fit perfectly as did the Earful Tower. Personally, I did not like where the hat was located at all.

 

[agavegirl1]

When the MGM park was first built, it represented old Hollywood. As guests walked into the park and looked down Hollywood Blvd., they would see The Great Movie Ride theater at the end of Hollywood Blvd. which was based on Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood. The theater was a Hollywood landmark and fit perfectly as did the Earful Tower. Personally, I did not like where the hat was located at all.

I agree with this. I thought the icon of the water tower was a good fit for a Studio park. Unfortunately it is no longer a Studio by any stretch of the imagination. The park will be changing, refocused and re-named (recent rumor). I don't know what a good icon for Disney's Hollywood Adventure (or whatever they call it) would be.

 

[buzzrelly]

I am just glad I just bought my daughter the Alex and Ani bracelet with the hat on it, since they won't be available for much longer

 

[JRawkSteady]

But "Studios" these days doesn't mean anything for any corporation. Anything filmed on a "studio" these days? I could name several TV shows but we'll stick to films. Hunger Games? North Carolina. Not in a studio. Catching Fire? Atlanta. Mockingjay? Atlanta.

"Studios" are gone.

All you did was name 3 movies from the same series...

There is plenty of work done in studio during a film production. With all the over-the-top CGI technology, a lot of work is now being done in studio with greenscreen. Plus as a PP had mentioned, all the pre-prod., post prod., and business, etc. takes place in the studio. Now, I do believe the name of the Studios will definitely change as it has zero attachment to the movie industry anymore. I heard a lot of rumors as to what this change will be, but I guess time will tell.

As for the water tower, it would make a good weenie IF it were somewhere closer to the front of the park and actually visible. I understand what they were going for, but it didn't really pan out. At this point the AT-AT walker is more of a park symbol than the earful tower, based on location/visibility to guests alone. I don't think they will figure out a park icon until they figure out what the park theming is first.

 

[disnut8]

There is plenty of work done in studio during a film production. With all the over-the-top CGI technology, a lot of work is now being done in studio with greenscreen.

Agree - BUT - how many park goers want that? Loved everything about the shows I've mentioned and even went to see where the show was filmed. Not where it was greenscreened or researched.

Backscreen technology is great but, how many day guests at Disney World want to have a total experience in that?