Universal Studios Hollywood Challenges Filmmakers to Imagine 'King Kong's Path to Universal Studios Hollywood' as Part of a Short Film Competition Coinciding With Launch of 'King Kong 360 3-D,' World's Largest, Most Intense 3-D Experience

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Studios Hollywood(SM) is challenging filmmakers to compete in a virtual short film competition with $15,000 in prize money timed to coincide with the launch of the theme park's highly anticipated attraction, "King Kong 360 3-D," the world's largest, most intense 3-D experience, opening this summer.

Filmmakers are invited to submit one-to-three minute film shorts that support the theme, "King Kong's Path to Universal Studios Hollywood" via the creative online social networking site, Zooppa, which is administering the competition on behalf of Universal Studios Hollywood, at www.zooppa.com/contests/king-kong.  

The short film competition invites filmmakers to depict the havoc a behemoth Kong might wreak had he stomped though their hometowns as he makes his way back to Universal Studios Hollywood.

Filmmakers are presented with the creative challenge to establish the suspenseful return of King Kong without revealing the iconic figure's whole face or whole body in any of the scenes.  To view one approach to this issue, filmmakers are directed to Universal Studios Hollywood's "King Kong 360 3-D" campaign ad at "King Kong 360 3-D" which depicts the aftermath of Kong's destruction as he enters Universal Studios Hollywood.

Entries can be submitted through June 7, 2010 and must include the following three key phrases for consideration:  "King Kong 360 3-D," "Universal Studios Hollywood," and "Summer 2010."  All entrants must be 18 years of age.  Details and submission can be found at www.zooppa.com/contests/king-kong.

Eleven winning shorts will be announced on June 14, 2010.  The winning film short will be selected by Universal Studios Hollywood's creative community and awarded a grand prize of $8,000, with second and third place winning $3,000 and $1000, respectively.  An additional $3,000 will be divided up among ten finalists voted by registered Zooppa users and Zooppa's creative staff.

Making its colossal debut this summer, "King Kong 360 3-D will open as a signature attraction on the world famous, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour.  Hailed as the world's largest, most intense 3-D experience, "King Kong 360 3-D" will feature visceral state-of-the-art special effects with new 3-D media to deliver an incomparable theme park ride of epic proportions.  Studio Tour guests will be transported to Skull Island where they will find themselves catapulted into the middle of a terrifying struggle between a giant T-Rex and "the eighth wonder of the world" – King Kong.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Universal Studios, a part of NBC Universal.  NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.  Formed in May of 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.  NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric (NYSE: GE), with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

SOURCE Universal Studios Hollywood