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| Chip Largman |
Universal City, California USA — Universal Studios HollywoodSM has promoted Chip Largman to Senior Vice President, Universal Creative, with responsibility for the development and execution of all rides and attractions for the entertainment landmark, including the theme park and the Universal CityWalk® shopping and entertainment complex.
In making the announcement, Mark Woodbury, President of Universal Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts said: “We are very pleased to recognize Chip with this much deserved promotion. His extensive experience and reputation in themed entertainment production, creative development and strategic planning make him an invaluable asset to our company as we continue to build cutting edge rides and attractions that maximize our brand positioning as The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM and deliver an original and authentic Hollywood entertainment experience.”
Mr. Largman’s recent accomplishments included the execution and development of the theme park’s acclaimed Studio Tour thrill ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” created by triple Oscar®-winner Peter Jackson. His scrupulous oversight of the ride resulted in it being awarded “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project” by the Visual Effects Society. The prestigious award was the first-ever presented to a theme park ride.
Recent other projects included oversight of Universal CityWalk’s “5 Towers” interactive outdoor concert venue. The multi-million dollar project, which represented Universal CityWalk’s most ambitious expansion in over a decade, features a technologically advanced staging system equipped with thousands of LED fixtures, motion capture sensors, five soaring 42-foot light tower sculptures, a massive video monitor and a state-of-the-art audio system.
Mr. Largman is currently overseeing the theme park’s Spring 2012 thrill ride, “Transformers: The Ride 3D,” based on the iconic brand from Hasbro and electrifying film franchise, directed by Michael Bay. Celebrated for its multi-generational appeal, inventive storyline, spectacular action sequences and amazing special effects, the attraction aims to revolutionize theme park ride perceptions when it debuts as a cutting-edge mega-attraction next year.
Mr. Largman was most recently Vice President of Universal Creative. He began his tenure at Universal in 1987 as a Project Manager working on the team responsible for designing and building the Universal Studios Florida theme park. Throughout his prosperous career, Mr. Largman also served as Executive Producer of the 1984 Democratic National Convention and the 1986 Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration. His brush with fame began early in his career when he worked as a Lighting Designer touring with such artists as Olivia Newton-John, Cher and Bette Midler for over 10 years.
Mr. Largman currently resides in Santa Clarita, California with his wife, Karen and two children, Kayte and Grayson.
Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., is a full day, movie-based theme park featuring such unique and groundbreaking attractions as “King Kong 360 3-D,” “The Simpsons Ride®,” “Revenge of the Mummy—The RideSM,” “Shrek 4-DSM,” and “Jurassic Park®-The Ride” as well as the world-renowned behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, featuring video host Jimmy Fallon. It also includes the adjacent CityWalk, a unique dining and shopping promenade featuring an array of entertainment-themed restaurants, clubs, shops and movie theaters, including the new “5 Towers” outdoor concert venue.
Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of the Universal Parks & Resorts division of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.
