David's photo op beside the skyline backdrop and the parking lot / floodable water tank.

By Dan Sarto

Our Paramount Tour started with coffee and sunglasses, our group basking in the welcome warmth of the sun after having spent the last few days in the cold, wind and sporadic Southern California drizzle. Like Sony and Fox, Paramount is a huge studio, complete with large soundstages and even larger cinematic and television history. As our electric cart motored off, our tour guide expertly peppered us with interesting studio facts and a brief rundown of some of the classic films made here at the studio.

We stopped at one point to take a picture with the iconic Hollywood sign balanced on the hills far behind us.  We drove past huge sound stages and production buildings, as well as a New York backlot that like Fox, you’ve seen in more shows and commercials then you realize. 

The Paramount Studio tour begins. (From left to right) Brandon Oldenburg, Bonnie Thompson, Patrick Doyon, Marc Bertrand, me, Amanda Forbis, Ron Diamond, Sue Goffe, Grant Orchard and Wendy Tilby.

Pictorial by Dan Sarto

Paramount Studios is one of the oldest and most venerable of the big Hollywood studios.  Founded in 1912, the studio has been home to some of the greatest films in movie history, including The Godfather franchise, The Ten Commandments and Read Window.  While the studio has been distributing animated films for some time through its relationship with DreamWorks, only announced last July it announced it was getting back into the animation production business.  Our group spent the entire day on the lot and were not disappointed.