HERE N THERE
Star trek
Are you a movie aficionado who'd love to visit the settings of your favourite films? Locations where movie stars have romanced their screen loves or have bashed up the baddies? Well, your next trip to the UK or the US could take you on a tour of real shooting locations and renowned studios. You can also watch movies getting filmed - up, close and personal.
Locations could include from your most admired James Bond flicks in central London to Warner Bros. Studios in California - just take your pick. Closer home you can always land up at some of Bollywood's biggest studios in Mumbai? Here's calling all film buffs!
London
This one is for diehard 007 fans. London-based Brit Movie Tours takes you on a 10-location James Bond Tour of London -- and that includes sets of Golden Eye, Die Another Day, the latest blockbuster Skyfall and more. The tour will round off with an exclusive lunch (that costs extra) at Heatherden Hall, the studio where most Bond films have been shot, and afternoon tea (included in the cost).
If you shell out more, you can go for a ride in a James Bond car (the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow or the Range Rover Vogue SE), meeting actors from the films and more. This one's sure to leave you super-thrilled. Tagged at 610 per person (around Rs 54,000), this 8-hour guided tour starts every weekday at 9am. Return airfares from Calcutta to London start at around Rs 58,000. Go to www.britmovietours.com .
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Pic courtesy: Turner Entertainment Networks
California
If you're a Looney Tunes junkie, a fan of the popular TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory or The Matrix and Harry Potter series, then you must head off to visit the Warner Bros. (WB) Studios where all these were shot. In California go for the five-hour Deluxe Tour of WB studios that's being offered by WB's VIP Studio Tour. For $250 (around Rs 14,000) per person, it will take you to craft shops inside the studio, where artisans create sets, props, costumes et al. You will get to watch a movie/ serial being shot and also get to see engineers creating sound effects for WB productions. You'll also rub shoulders with movie stars (if you get lucky) and can grab a bite at the studio. The tour starts every weekday at 10am. Return airfares to Los Angeles from Calcutta start at around Rs 51,000. Go to www.vipstudiotour.warnerbros.com.
Mumbai
If Bollywood's what you're crazy about, sign up for Mumbai-based Bollywood Tourism's 2-night and 3-day Bollywood Experience. The tour takes you to some of the most famous studios in and around the city. Witness live shootings, attend visual and sound effect sessions and also drop by a star's home to see what it's like -from outside, that is. At Rs 23,699 per person, the package also includes twin-sharing accommodation in a 5-star hotel, breakfasts, all transfers, taxes and guide services. Meal costs are extra. Return airfares from Calcutta to Mumbai start at around Rs 15,000. Visit www.bollywoodtourism.com.
By Yashodeep Sengupta