Michael C.
Yelp
I was very excited to be going on another studio tour on my recent vacation in LA. My only other experience on a tour was at Universal Studios nearly 5 years ago. I very much enjoyed the Universal tour, and therefore I was hoping this would be just as much an enjoyable experience.
Our tour guide was a enthusiastic and jovial guy named Tony, "rhymes with Sony." I'm guessing the fact that the studio name rhymed with his was purely coincidental, and he pointed this out to our entire group as a way to remember his name.
The tour starts out in a screening room, where tourists view a short film and learn of the history regarding the founding, development, and present status of the studio now known as Sony Pictures. I found the film to be informational yet unnecessary as I was here to take a tour of a studio and not to watch a film or film clips.
After the film is finished, you're taken across the street to the Sony back lots. Also, if you haven't figured this out already, this tour is a walking tour in its entirety. Although you won't be walking far distances (i.e. the entire lot) make sure to wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. And depending on the weather, sunglasses, hats, or umbrellas may be helpful if the good old California sun is shining, as you won't be indoors very much on the Sony lot.
The first stop on the tour on the Sony lot is at a building where you are able to view the 12 Oscars awarded to the studio for all the films that won Best Picture. This is very historical as most of the Oscars on display are the actual statuettes presented at the ceremony, while the others are merely duplicates. The tour continues through an area where buildings are named after actors, directors, or executives that have had long existing and/or historical ties with Sony Pictures. You're also taken thru the studio's Main Street area where there are shops, eateries, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Yogurtland, and the studio store where you can pick up souvenirs and other trinkets.
Aside from the 12 academy awards, the only other venue I found appealing on the tour was the Barbara Streisand scoring stage. We were told that this the largest music scoring stage in the world, and that one of the earliest films to have been scored was The Wizard of Oz. And lastly, one of the last stops on the tour was the sound stage where Wheel of Fortune is taped. Of course, Pat and Vanna weren't there to greet us as I'm sure they must have been in their dressing rooms....har har. Also, let me clear up something right now: The actually Wheel is much smaller than it is on television. My friend and I couldn't help but notice that it wasn't as big as it seems on tv.
TOUR GUIDE: Tony was very friendly, charismatic, happy and knowledgable. He made sure to try to get to know everyone in his tour group going as far as asking where you're from, some tidbit of information about your home state or country, and your name, of course. Also I must mention that throughout the entire tour he was testing everyone's movie knowledge with trivia-like questions. And I must admit he did make the tour quite entertaining.
TIPS:
1) Be on time. We were running late, and I think they most likely would NOT have waited for us even though we had paid for the tickets online.
2) Tours start at Sony Pictures Plaza. Don't, I repeat don't, attempt to enter at any gate entrance to the Sony Pictures lot.
3) Go to the bathroom BEFORE the tour starts. Once you're on the Sony back lots there really aren't any opportunities to go to the bathroom until the very end.
Bottom Line: It was just alright. I actually did like the historical aspect of it all though.
