Universal's Cinematic Celebration Night Show

[Nick]

Uoteam has stated they are running technical rehearsals tonight.

 

[Jon Fu]

Here's something that most of the fanbase watching don't exactly understand or consider when critiquing these kinds of shows:

Here’s the thing: that’s your job. Why should fans care? That’s not relevant at all to how they should perceive the final product.

When you buy a car, you expect it to work and work consistently. While it’s nice to know about the small details associated with the project, you - at the end of the day - expect the thing to work.

Looking at this show, I see at least 6 different IP holders that all must have had to approve this. Most impressive to me is that they were even allowed to have a Harry Potter section in this show at all! Warner Bros. is notorious for being very protective of how that brand is used. Many IP holders don't want you to put their IP next to other brands, etc. The list of requirements almost makes it impossible.

You act as if this creative team is the only group that experiences this. Obviously Disney does as well, so this doesn’t really change how people should perceive this show.

You’re taking these criticisms very personally. Were you involved with this show? We don’t need a name, but it should be noted if you have a vested interest in making sure this show is perceived in a positive light.

 

[Mad Dog]

Here's something that most of the fanbase watching don't exactly understand or consider when critiquing these kinds of shows:

Shows like this get critiqued as if the final product was all one unobstructed conscious choice on the creator's part. If a show has multiple IPs, that usually means that the creatives also had to run all of their concepts and ideas through multiple teams of IP holders and brand protection people who work for the production companies who own the films. At Disney, even though they own almost everything they use, they STILL have to run through teams at Pixar, Lucasfilm, and other third parties and partners to get ideas for show concepts approved. These people usually are marketing people that have a very hard time understanding theme park rides and shows and how they are different from film or tv. Every show I have worked on had a frustrating process of bouncing ideas back and forth until we got approval from all sides.

As an analogy, a show is like a new car you want to deliver, yet on the journey from the factory, it goes through several major hailstorms. Success is when if you get the car it still looks like.... a car.

Looking at this show, I see at least 6 different IP holders that all must have had to approve this. Most impressive to me is that they were even allowed to have a Harry Potter section in this show at all! Warner Bros. is notorious for being very protective of how that brand is used. Many IP holders don't want you to put their IP next to other brands, etc. The list of requirements almost makes it impossible.

Half the work of a show like this is fighting to keep your creative ideas intact as it gets beaten to shreds by marketing people who just would rather you make an advertisement or movie trailer.

Looking through the lens of my past experience, I am blown away at how they got all of these properties to work together. The show flows together through the use of the music. While there isn't a narrative that ties it together, the way the music was strung together is pretty masterful. Getting the IPs to approve just that must have been a nightmare.

So if I had to guess, putting on my producer hat:

1. Jaws, BTTF, and Monsters weren't included because DreamWorks and Paramount didn't want their properties to be included next to "old" things.

2. HP couldn't tell a narrative story due to that being considered "lateral" content. They were most like pushed to make an overall brand statement or not get approval.

3. Illuminations and DreamWorks probably fought over how much their content was represented against each other.

4. There were probably one or two segments that didn't make the show due to lack of approval.

And finally 5. The lack of an overall narrative storyline is most likely due to the fact that these IPs would never let their properties blend with others in a new story that dillutes their original intent.

So look at it through that lens and this show is a pretty stellar feat of showmanship, artfully presented together with beautiful moments and some of the best music choices I've heard in a long time.

Thanks for your very astute inside observations of the process. You've contributed quite a lot to this thread, and you've been right on with all of your predictions. :thumbsup:

 

[bob albert]

I was surprised at the big reaction Trolls got when it started. I think that property should be high on Uni’s addition list

No one cares about trolls. They just want to hear Justin Timberlake.

 

[Miketheboss]

No one cares about trolls. They just want to hear Justin Timberlake.

I was going to say this. LMAO

 

[JungleSkip]

No one cares about trolls. They just want to hear Justin Timberlake.

Merch sales say differently. :thumbsup:

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Uoteam has stated they are running technical rehearsals tonight.

To add on, they just opened Central Park for guests again.

From ThrillGeek,



Guessing this will be the first night where the proper Pre-Show takes place, with Pyro.

Merch sales say differently. :thumbsup:

Trolls, are on a level of Evergreen regardless of if you've seen the DWA films. It's a stupidly smart move that Universal made to incorporate them into the show, especially also considering the following the film has actually been somewhat getting over the years.

Hell, I am probably going to finally commit to watching it over the weekend, as I have heard fun things for the show.

EDIT:

From ThrillGeek, testing apparently occurred earlier.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

No one cares about trolls. They just want to hear Justin Timberlake.

Hey, it's a Universal song that makes the show pop, isn't that a complaint about the show so far?

 

[AlexanderMBush]

From Bio,



Good call on Universal putting the times for the show's Tech Rehearsals, even if it's Subject to Change.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

The park really came out nice... and useful.

 

[ragerunner]

Some serious storm clouds gathering tonight - hopefully they can still get the show in.

 

[bob albert]

go away storm cloud

 

[shiekra38]

Pyro, we want pyro

 

[BrenRays]

While I don't know about approvals, it is reported the show was planned for 2019 but moved up quickly after damage to the CineSpec show after the hurricane.

Yeah I was going to say! Why aren’t we talking about how quickly Universal got this up and running? It took 3 years to get Rivers of Light to premiere. I know there was more construction involved with that, but still, I’m so impressed by Universal’s time line

 

[shiekra38]

Yeah I was going to say! Why aren’t we talking about how quickly Universal got this up and running? It took 3 years to get Rivers of Light to premiere. I know there was more construction involved with that, but still, I’m so impressed by Universal’s time line

As is the case for most things they do...I truly wish people would take a step back and look at years like 2009, when the only interesting thing that opened was Rip Ride Rockit

 

[Mad Dog]

I believe Aiello said he's been working on this for 18 months. So evidently it was planned even before the hurricane affected the previous show.

 

[Evan]

The pyro really helps the show! Just finished watching a stream. Looks great, finale was wonderful!

 

[Mad Dog]

The pyro really helps the show! Just finished watching a stream. Looks great, finale was wonderful!

:thumbsup:...Thanks for the word

 

[IOAGuy]

The finale is awesome! Can’t wait to see this.

 

[Justin Hofstetter]

Found it on Facebook that was wonderful!