An Interview with Imagineer Neil Engel
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Neil Engel

Neil Engel was the show producer for Superstar Limo and the ABC Soap Opera Bistro at Disney's California Adventure. Engel was also project set designer for Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Paris and Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland and he was the ride producer for Jurassic Park - The Ride at Universal Studios. On February 6th Engel talked to LaughingPlace.com about the Hollywood Backlot Pictures district in general and Superstar Limo and the ABC Soap Opera Bistro in particular.

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On February 6th he talked to LaughingPlace.com about those and the rest of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot District.

LaughingPlace.com: Can you tell me about the Hollywood Pictures Backlot District?

Neil Engel: Sure. The Hollywood Pictures Backlot is Disney’s take on a contemporary Hollywood which is kind of a new one for us. Classically, you see a lot of people talking about Hollywood in terms of the golden age. Everyone does 40s Hollywood. But like the rest of the park here, this is contemporary, so what we wanted to do was create a Hollywood that is up to date. It does pays tribute to the classic architecture of Hollywood because it’s still there. But the attitude is very much more in step with, like, E! and Entertainment Weekly and Entertainment Tonight. It’s really supposed to be very much about today and very much about you. You being a part of Hollywood, walking in it, being part of the thrills, being part of the fame, because classically, the typical guest is an observer of Hollywood and the Hollywood glamour. This time we wanted you to be part of the glamour.

LP: Can you talk a how it is similar and/or different to the Hollywood of Disney-MGM Studios.

NE: It’s hard because I didn’t spend a lot of time down there in Florida so I’m not really too familiar with it. But I think, kind of what I was mentioning, is that this take on Hollywood is kind of two-fold in that it is contemporary and it’s supposed to be very hip. But also, that if you look down the center line it’s all complete until you start looking at it obliquely and stuff starts to fall apart just like the movie set. Again, our version of Hollywood is - it’s kind of a veneer. It’s like this is Hollywood, but it’s all just like Hollywood is. Set up individual shots that are for a very specific perspective and the minute you start to get off axis it starts to become a little bit of an anomaly which is kind of neat because a lot of people like to see what’s on the other side of a set.

 
Walt Disney World's Hollywood Blvd.
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The Hollywood Pictures Backlog District at DCA
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LP: Are there any famous Hollywood landmarks people should be on the look for there?

NE: Oh gosh, we've got references to a lot of classic architecture in Hollywood like Crossroads to the World, the Pantages Theater, The Max Factor building, as well as typical sound stages and of course the Los Angeles theater. The front of the Hyperion Theater is a reference to a theater that’s still down there in downtown.