Universal Studios is celebrating it’s 100 year birthday this year and not only will they be celebrating all year long with various events and celebrations, they also have a slightly altered logo to mark the occasion.

Universal Studios has been responsible for some of the greatest films ever made. The ones they single out in the press release below are  All Quiet on the Western Front, The Birds, Buck Privates, Dracula (1931), Dracula Spanish (1931), Frankenstein, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Out of Africa, Pillow Talk, Bride of Frankenstein, The Sting and To Kill a Mockingbird as each will be getting special remastered Blu-ray version but don’t forget classics like Back to the Future, the original Wolf Man, Cape Fear, Lorenzo’s Oil, the list really does go on for ever. In fact if you look at Wikipedia, you’ll see a list of hundreds of movies from the world famous studio.

Universal have also made a special website which you can visit here: http://Universal100th.com

Much more information is in the press release below and you can click the logo above to enlarge it. Happy Birthday Universal Studios! I hope you get your letter from the queen!

UNIVERSAL PICTURES CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF MOVIE MEMORIES

WITH YEARLONG CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

100^th Anniversary Activities include: Major Film Restoration, New Logo Unveiling, Home Entertainment Offerings, Theme Park Celebrations, Signature Events and

Sweeping Social Media Campaign

Los Angeles, January 10, 2012 – Universal will mark its 100^th anniversary in 2012, and will commemorate its centennial with a yearlong celebration honoring the studio’s rich film history and cultural legacy. The campaign draws its inspiration from Universal’s extraordinary and diverse library of films, many of which will be highlighted throughout the year, and is designed to engage fans of all ages in the art of moviemaking.

A significant element of the centennial includes the extensive restoration of thirteen of the studio’s most beloved titles such as To Kill a Mockingbird, All Quiet on The Western Front, Jaws, The Sting, Out of Africa, Frankenstein, and Schindler’s List.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment will kick off the celebration in January with a special 50^th anniversary release of To Kill a Mockingbird, debuting on Blu-ray^TM for the first time ever. Throughout the year, Universal will pay tribute to other influential films in the Universal library with special events and Blu-ray^TM releases of such iconic classics as Jaws and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial which celebrates its 30^th anniversary.

Universal will reveal an updated animated logo tied to the centennial. The animated logo will make its first appearance in front of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax at its premiere in February, and for its U.S. theatrical release beginning March 2^nd.  (The new static version of this logo is unveiled today and is featured at the top of this release.)   Other activities surrounding the studio’s 100^th anniversary include a vibrant social media campaign, special events, theme park activities, promotions, and many surprises to engage fans throughout the yearlong celebration.

“This is a proud moment for all of us who’ve had the privilege of working at Universal Pictures,” said Ron Meyer, Universal Studios President and COO. “Our centennial is designed to bring special memories back to longtime movie lovers and fans, and to engage new audiences with our extraordinary library of films for the first time. Our goal, a hundred years later, is to preserve, restore, and continue the iconic legacy of this studio for generations to come.”

Fans and film enthusiasts can start celebrating online today at the official Universal Centennial website, http://Universal100th.com, a one-stop destination dedicated to Universal’s 100 years.  The site, as well as a number of social media platforms, will bring the centennial to life online. Universal will be sharing archival content on its brand new Tumblr (http://universal100.tumblr.com/); fans of Universal classics on Facebook will find exclusives and special opportunities across their favorite pages; followers of @UniversalPics on Twitter can find the activities using the hashtag #Universal100; Foursquare users who check in at iconic Universal locations such as the studio and theme parks will be able to unlock special behind-the-scenes tips and content; and for those who are followers of fashion, Universal’s Pinterest account (www.pinterest.com/universal) will be drawing inspiration from favorite films for everyone’s Pinboards, starting with ten inaugural titles of pop-culture classics such as The Breakfast Club, Scarface, Sixteen Candles, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Bridesmaids . These online initiatives will roll out throughout various times of the year and will tie back to the Universal Centennial official site.

In the spring, select fans will have the opportunity to attend a special gala anniversary celebration on the lot featuring many of the filmmakers and artists who shaped the studios history. In addition, the studio will spotlight the 100^th Anniversary throughout various worldwide film festivals and other featured events, panels and activities.

On April 30, 1912, Universal Film Manufacturing Company filed its certificate of incorporation with the state of New York. In 1915, Carl Laemmle officially opened Universal City, the largest film production facility in the world. Throughout Universal’s 100 years, the studio has served as a home for many of the most talented filmmakers of all time (such as Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Peter Jackson, Spike Lee, John Hughes, and Judd Apatow)  and created films that have touched the hearts of millions and fueled culture’s fascination with cinema.  To share the profound legacy of its artists, the studio will highlight their careers with touching personal stories from filmmakers, talent, crews, employees and fans.

Universal’s key centennial activities included throughout the anniversary year are as follows:

Major Film Restoration Commitment

Universal will restore thirteen films over the course of the centennial year.  The restoration effort includes the following films:  All Quiet on the Western Front, The Birds, Buck Privates, Dracula (1931), Dracula Spanish (1931), Frankenstein, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Out of Africa, Pillow Talk, Bride of Frankenstein, The Sting and To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Unveiling of New Logo

Universal will reveal an updated animated logo at the February premiere of the upcoming feature, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, and at its U.S. theatrical debut on March 2, 2012.  The updated logo will be used on all Universal Pictures films going forward, and will be integrated into all aspects of the company’s business as well.

Home Entertainment

Universal Home Entertainment will be introducing a limited edition 100th Anniversary Collector’s Series featuring some of the aforementioned film restorations on Blu-ray^TM in collectible, book-style packaging showcasing rare movie memorabilia and brand new 10-minute video featurettes.  In addition, special collections will be released throughout the year culminating in the highly anticipated Blu-ray^TM releases of Universal’s Classic Monster and Alfred Hitchcock series. A selection of movies that have shaped Universal’s legacy will also be released in commemorative packaging, many of them on Blu-ray^TM for the first time ever.

Theme Park Celebrations

Universal’s Parks and Resorts will help highlight the campaign with centennial specific content and merchandise throughout both the Orlando and Hollywood locations.  The Orlando resort will soon announce a specially themed entertainment experience that will celebrate Universal’s heritage.  At the iconic Hollywood park, the world-famous Studio Tour features expert guides that will take guests on a tour through 100 years of moviemaking history on the Universal Studios production backlot.  Tours are conducted daily visiting TV and movie sets ranging from the early Universal Studios monster film classics to current production.

Website and Social Media Campaign

Universal will be engaging fans across multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Tumblr (http://universal100.tumblr.com/) and Pinterest. At the center of all online initiatives lies a rich, robust website dedicated to all things related to the yearlong celebration of Universal’s 100^th Anniversary.  For more information, please visit http://Universal100th.com.

Nestled a few miles west of London sits Pinewood Studios, still looking as sprightly as ever, but having today reached the grand old age of 75.

And what a 75 years it has been. Though the landscape of cinema has changed beyond recognition in that time (fads have come and gone, new filming techniques have been developed and refined, entire genres have been popularised, then forgotten, then revived), Pinewood remains.

Bought by building tycoon Charles Boot in the early 1930′s, Pinewood was then turned into a studio through a joint venture between Boot and J Arthur Rank, the name being settled on because according to Boot:-

“of the number of trees which grow there and because it seemed to suggest something of the American film centre in its second syllable.”

The studios officially opened their doors on 30th September 1936 and since then has been home to some of the largest scale productions imaginable. The 007 stage was built for The Spy Who Loved Me in the late 1970′s and has accommodated a whole host of Bondian adventures up to and including Quantum of Solace. Check out the video below for the mind-boggling dimensions of this legendary stage.

What else has Pinewood been home to I hear you ask? Try this lot on for size:-

• Much of Michael Powell’s early output, including Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes and Peeping Tom
• A Night To Remember, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Ipcress File
• Superman, Bugsy Malone, Battle of Britain
• Clash of the Titans (1981), Little Shop of Horrors, Santa Claus: The Movie, Patriot Games, Mission: Impossible
• Patriot Games, The Fifth Element, Event Horizon, Alien 3, Batman
• Tomb Raider, United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum, Captain America, The Dark Knight, HP and the Deathly Hallows
• The Hobbit, Hugo, Kick-Ass, Aliens, Children of Men

I could go on. At some length. What an almighty legacy. The studio continues to thrive, with Tim Burton returning after Sweeney Todd and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to shoot his next film, Dark Shadows there. The Hobbit and Snow White & The Huntsman are hardly small-fry either.

So if you have them to hand, raise your glasses to Pinewood Studios and its “diamond plus something but not yet platinum” anniversary. What is my favourite of what has been shot there so far? It’s probably not The Da Vinci Code or Tomb Raider. Gosh, this is like trying to pick your favourite child. I guess it would have to be either Aliens or The Bourne Ultimatum. What’s yours?

25 Years ago today on the 3rd February 1986, a studio was formed. That studio has gone from pretty much nothing to become one of the biggest, best and most well known studios in the world. That studio is Pixar!

Pixar actually began in 1979 as part of LucasFilm in the ‘Graphics Group’ which was then acquired in 1986 by Apple boss, Steve Jobs. Then, in 2006, Pixar was bought by Disney.

We weren’t sure how to celebrate the news but I thought maybe a poll of the most well known characters from Pixar movies to work out which is the favourite among you, the people! I know there will be some characters missing but that’s where you can have your say in the comments section below (although if we’ve missed any obvious ones I’ll add them in!).

Happy birthday Pixar from all of us here at HeyUGuys! Keep doing what you’re doing cos we LOVE it!!

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Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

]]> http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2011/02/03/vote-for-your-favourite-pixar-character-on-pixars-25th-birthday/feed/ 6 http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2010/11/07/heyuguys-co-uk-is-2-years-old-today/ http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2010/11/07/heyuguys-co-uk-is-2-years-old-today/#comments Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:16:16 +0000 David Sztypuljak http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/?p=54272

Well, it’s been a rather fun and emotional two years and over that time we’ve learnt an awful lot, met many amazing people, spoken with hundreds if not thousands of people on numerous social networking platforms and we’ve loved every minute of it!

HeyUGuys was started with a simple idea based around a simple love of movies and we hoped that some people would come on the journey with us. Little did we know that ‘some people’ would become thousands upon thousands. Now we have some of the most fantastic writers and some fabulous regular readers who are enjoying this journey with us and we simply can’t believe it.

HeyUGuys wouldn’t be what it is without you, our lovely readers, and Jon and I want to thank you all for coming to visit us, engage and chat movies all day and night. We hope that the next two years will be just as fun and engaging and we’ll continue to do our best to bring you all the latest and greatest stuff about movies from all over the world.

On behalf of all the team here at HeyUGuys.co.uk (you can see us all here) thank you, and here’s to another two amazing years and beyond!

Dave & Jon

HeyUGuys.co.uk Founders

For the 20th anniversary edition of Empire Magazine, not only did they have Steven Spielberg as they’re guest editor and reunite The Goonies, they also did some wonderful photos of famous movie stars recreating famous scenes with a modern twist. The photos featured people like Arnold Schwarzenegger recreating his some Terminator poses, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins doing Silence of the Lambs and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost re-enacting Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Empire have now collated all these images and given them to us in a lovely gallery which shows them off properly. Some of these were available before today but now all 30 images are there.

I think I’m going to create a collage of them all because they’re too good to be kept on the Internet. They need to be displayed on a wall!

Head over to Empire to check them all out.

Well, it’s been quite a year and let me start by saying thank you to all our readers whether you’re a regular or because you’ve been to visit us once because we posted a new Twilight New Moon poster! Without you, HeyUGuys would not function and we  most definitely couldn’t do it without you.

On November 7th, 2008, Jon Lyus and myself, David Sztypuljak started on a journey in which we had no idea where we’d end up. It all started with an email from me to Jon asking if he wanted to start a blog about films…. the rest is history. In the beginning (!) Jon and I both said that if we got invited to a screening, we’d have made it in the film industry. Well, coming out 365 days later with three premiere’s a set visit and countless screenings later so I guess, in the eyes of Jon and myself, we have indeed ‘made it’.

Over the year, the website has changed design twice into the current state and we’ve found a format that you, the readers seem to like (but please do email us suggestions for improvements). We’ve  had 22 people contribute to the site and we want to thank you all very much for all you do. We couldn’t do it without you.

Going forward,  in year two, we hope to bring you more exclusives,  attend more screenings, festivals and hopefully set visits along with the usual movie news and reviews that we all love.

At the risk of this turning into an acceptance speech that goes on forever. Thank to everyone who has contributed to HeyUGuys. Bring on year two!!

Dave & Jon
Founders – HeyUGuys.co.uk