One of the most thrilling aspects of being a pop culture editor and writer is participating in a set visit. For just a couple of days, you get to step outside of the daily grind of crafting content and keeping up with an ever-buzzing news cycle to head to ground zero of a TV show or film.
It’s a wonder and pleasure to immerse yourself in the location, whether it’s a “hot set” with actors actively filming or a wrapped set that’s eerily quiet yet still intact for you to explore. These experiences help you understand how things are made on a deeper level and connect with the series or film in new ways. And, you get to translate that newfound knowledge to loyal readers, perhaps even getting an inside scoop that increases the hype around a property.
While there’s truly no such thing as a bad press trip, there are some that truly take this experience to breathtaking heights. I discovered this when I embarked on what can only be described as the journey of a lifetime with Universal All-Access and Mandy Kay Marketing to Thailand in celebration of Jurassic World Rebirth’s home viewing release.
The film, which is currently a global success that’s made $800M and counting, is a critically acclaimed sequel that captures the heart of the franchise through socially relevant and resonant storylines. Over the course of five days, over 30 media professionals and influencers came together to travel across Thailand and experience the filming intricacies behind Jurassic World Rebirth through land, sea, and air. From traversing an aquatic haven and exploring lagoons to running through grasslands in scorching heat, we got to tap into our adventurous side for an unforgettable experience.
Day 1: Welcome to Jurassic World Rebirth
After many, many hours of flying from the East Coast, I finally arrived in Phuket, Thailand on July 30 along with a handful of other media professionals. We were whisked away to Anantara Mai Khao Phuket, an absolutely lovely and delightfully chill resort known for being a filming location for The White Lotus. Later that evening, a specially curated welcome dinner (complete with a dino dessert) at Trisara hosted by Amazing Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Looming palm trees swaying near warm waters and lush greenery transported us to a Jurassic World Rebirth state of mind. A warm greeting by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand as well as Universal and Mandy Kay team members preceded entertainment that you can only experience in this beautiful country. Traditional dance routines and a fire show along with a full fireworks display set the standard for an opulent and thrilling experience.
But what thrilled us all the most was a chance to meet and hang out with Dolores, the adorable Aquilops from Jurassic World Rebirth. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but I would put my life in danger to save her.
Day 2: The Interview Experience and Influencer Vibes with an Ominous Twist
Our first full day in Phuket took us to Maa Doo Bua, a popular eatery with absolutely delicious Thai food known for its massive lily pads. (I will seriously never get over the pineapple fried rice.) It is a dream location for anyone who loves to capture photos and videos, and this restaurant plays into that fully with an opportunity to do drone footage.
As an editor and journalist who prefers to stand behind a byline versus in front of a camera, I was admittedly unsure about this particular venture. But, when you’re in Thailand for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you do things outside of your norm/comfort zone. And ya know what? I really enjoyed it. We weren’t aware of how this would tie into celebrating Jurassic World Rebirth’s home viewing release until we got the final clip after returning home. What an awesome treat!
Speaking of unexpected treats, our dinner at Black Ginger following an afternoon/evening of interviewing the film’s stars and director Gareth Edwards was yet another unforgettable experience of Thai cuisine and culture. What a great land adventure, indeed.
Day 3: Setting Sail on the Andaman Sea
We’re on a boat! We’re on a boat! We set sail in the Andaman sea to experience the breathtaking views that our intrepid protagonists saw in Jurassic World Rebirth. It was more than a three-hour tour but thankfully our trip did result in being stuck on an uncharted desert isle. Instead, we made a pit stop to explore breathtaking caves and otherworldly lagoons nestled among massive rock formations.
We saw a few sea creatures pop up to say hello but thankfully no Mosasaurus nor Spinosaurus came to greet us. By the time the sun set, we were back on dry land and watching the colorful horizon in Phuket one last time before taking our adventures on the road.
Day 4: A Glorious Grasslands Adventure
It was time to hit the road and head towards Krabi, Thailand for more Jurassic World-inspired exploration. Halfway through the journey, we made perhaps the greatest stop of all-time at the same grasslands shooting location from the film. A typical press trip would’ve involved simply walking through this area and learning fun facts, like how the creative team used elephants to create depressions in the grass to mimic dinosaurs. But, this is obviously not your run-of-the-mill set visit.
We became a part of the franchise’s universe, running through the grasslands and filming our own teaser that put us right in the midst of action. It was just a taste of the dedication and hard work that actors like Jonathan Bailey, Scarlett Johansson, and Mahershala Ali put into this film. I had an absolute blast, but I will readily admit that I’m a writer and not an actor. Thankfully, the entire production team did a superb job of guiding us through all the motions and encouraging us to tap into our inner adventurer.
While at this location, it became increasingly clear why Gareth Edwards chose this slice of paradise as Jurassic World Rebirth’s filming location. It gives a dose of prehistoric aesthetic while also not feeling incredibly removed from modern life. And that modernity was right outside of this filming location with several food trucks coming out to make sure we were fueled up for all of that sprinting. It was enough to totally tire us out… or so we thought.
A short bus ride and boat trip later, we were re-energized by the sight of Rayavadee, a stunning resort complete with cozy bungalows. Nestled on its own slice of land in the middle of dense vegetation, there were monkeys, birds, and water monitors all over. It truly felt like staying in the jungle with a luxury twist, including a restaurant tucked off in a cave and a rather ominous looking wall that I was sure we were NOT going to scale the next day…
Day 5: Scaling Slippery Surfaces Like Scarlett Johansson
Reader, guess what? That daunting wall was indeed what we had to face with all the bravery our tired bodies could muster. It’s an experience that’s rather difficult to put into words but I have a few that come to mind: scary, thrilling, daunting, challenging, and addictive. The team at Hot Rock Climbing School was incredibly encouraging, professional, and downright hilarious, all of which put my fears at ease pretty quickly. Mandy Kay Marketing and Universal’s teams were out there to not only cheer us on, but to also take up the challenge themselves after we finished our climbs. This was truly a core memory created that let me tap into my inner Scarlett, if only for just a few minutes.
Sadly, all good things have to come to an end. And our night ended just as this trip started, with a fantastic group dinner and entertainment. Except, this felt totally different. I’d connected with new friends from around the globe, a group of certified nerds whom I now laugh with in a group chat. I felt infinitely closer to a franchise that I’ve loved since I was a kid. And, I pushed way past my comfort zone to explore the land of Jurassic World Rebirth.
Check out this gallery for more photos of this stellar press trip:
Jurassic World Rebirth: Why Should I Buy a Digital and/or Physical Copy?
Jurassic World Rebirth is now available to own or rent so you can watch it at home. I’ve had the pleasure of viewing it in my own humble abode, as well as the bonus content and behind-the-scenes exclusives that place a new lens on this epic saga.
Here’s a complete list of what you will get when you make a digital purchase of Jurassic World Rebirth:
- ALTERNATE OPENING
- DELETED SCENES
- RAPTORS – Featuring Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, David Iacono, Luna Blaise and Audrina Miranda
- MUTADON ATTACK – Featuring Scarlett Johansson, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, David Iacono, Rupert Friend, Luna Blaise and Audrina Miranda
- JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH: HATCHING A NEW ERA
- THE WORLD EVOLVES – Journey into a reimagined Jurassic World with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali and the rest of the cast and filmmakers.
- OFF THE DEEP END – Dive into the thrilling ocean sequence and learn about the challenges of shooting on open water, the one-of-a-kind gimbal used to toss around the Essex and Mariposa, and the VFX wizardry that brought the Mosasaurus and Spinosaurs to life.
- TREKKING THROUGH THAILAND – Follow the cast and crew’s footsteps as they navigate the challenges of shooting in exotic jungles, beaches, and tall grass fields that become home to the Titanosaurs.
- REX IN THE RAPIDS – Brace for a T. rex encounter that’s different than anything experienced before with a nail-biting river chase recreated from Michael Crichton’s original Jurassic Park novel.
- DON’T LOOK DOWN – Soar into the Quetzalcoatlus sequence with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Bechir Sylvain as they train for and shoot their cliff rappelling scenes.
- MINI-MART MAYHEM – Go inside the heart-stopping third act of Jurassic World Rebirth and witness the process of crafting sets that allow the movie’s mutant dinosaurs to step out of nightmare-inspired designs and stop on an exhilarating rampage.
- GAG REEL
- MEET DOLORES – Meet the animatronic Aquilops with an extraordinarily lifelike personality.
- MUNCHED: BECOMING DINO FOOD – Get a victim’s firsthand view inside the frightening jaws of deadly dinosaurs that munch, chomp, and chew their way into creating unforgettable death sequences.
- A DAY AT SKYWALKER SOUND – Actress Audrina Miranda guides a personal tour of Skywalker Sound in California to meet the audio editors, foley artists, and mixers who design the movie’s wide array of sounds.
- HUNTING FOR EASTER EGGS – Find out where to look for cleverly hidden Easter eggs that pay homage to everything from the first Jurassic Park film to other Steven Spielberg classics.
- FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR GARETH EDWARDS, PRODUCTION DESIGNER JAMES CLYNE, AND FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JACK RAVENSCROFT
- FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR GARETH EDWARDS, EDITOR JABEZ OLSSEN, AND VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR DAVID VICKERY
If you have committed yourself to building your physical media collection like me, then you can always rent Jurassic World Rebirth and hold on for the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD releases coming on September 9. Either way, you’ll want this dino action to stop into your living room so you can dive into this brave era over and over again. I’m glad I got to experience a slice of Jurassic World Rebirth’s real-life wonders, which translates to screen so beautifully.
Kop Khun Kha, Thailand for a journey unlike no other.