CULTURAL RESOURCES

Each year from September through November, SPE provides 1,000 free tickets for the studio’s public walking tour, which offers an in-depth look at the many facets of the studio, past and present. Tickets are made available to those individuals who live or work in Culver City and are distributed by the Culver City Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber highlights the tours in their online member newsletter and the tour is advertised three times in the August, September and October editions of The Culver City News.

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The Sony Pictures virtual museum, was re-launched in September 2009. The museum has enjoyed a successful, online presence since 2003.

With the ever-changing technology of the internet, SPE welcomed the opportunity to upgrade the museum’s content and backend support. An extensive overhaul of the website included a state-of-the-art content management system with flexible administrative features and a complete redesign of the look and feel, offering visitors streamlined navigation and easier access to a wide variety of content. During the system and design upgrade phase, SPE also engaged in the time-intensive process of culling new content from various SPE resources, as well as obtaining legal clearance for use of all contemporary material - a necessary practice which allows the museum site to feature many of Sony Pictures’ current films that feature actors such as Will Smith, Adam Sandler and Julia Roberts.

Highlights of the museum’s new content include never-before-seen shot builds from Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation’s feature films; a stroll down Culver City’s memory lane featuring the history of the Fiesta La Ballona; a colorful look at the Western - one of Columbia Pictures’ most successful genres of the 30’s and 40’s; and detailed portraits of the influential people who were part of Columbia Pictures’ celebrated past such as Harry Cohn, Frank Capra and Rita Hayworth. Added to these features are captivating additions to the Film Preservation section as well as numerous new and classic movie titles featuring still photos and film clips in the renamed Theatrical Library.

The web museum Kiosk in Sony Pictures Plaza (SPP) has also undergone a significant redesign and continues to provide the public with access to the museum website along with trailers of Sony Pictures’ upcoming films and information about the props, wardrobe and archival effects found in the studio tours area of SPP.

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This annual survey assesses the use of Culver City’s parks and recreation programs and facilities by SPE employees. This year a limited number of employees responded to the survey; however, those employees indicated their regular use of the City’s parks and recreation facilities. The complete survey results were submitted to the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services and Planning divisions in September 2009.