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- Before "South Park," Matt Stone and Trey Parker crafted "Your Studio & You," a 14-minute parody film for Universal Studios.
- The origins of this unusual project trace back to Edgar Bronfman, owner of Seagrams.
- The Zucker Brothers, known for parody films like "Airplane!" and "Naked Gun," had recently been persuaded to set up shop at Universal.
Uncover the fascinating story of “Your Studio & you,” a 1995 parody film commissioned by Universal Studios, spotlighting Matt Stone and Trey Parker before their “South Park” fame.This project,a witty send-up of corporate culture,was crafted to celebrate Seagram’s acquisition of Universal,assembling a star-studded cast including Steven Spielberg,Demi moore,and Sylvester stallone. News Directory 3 explores the film’s unlikely genesis and its sharp satire of Hollywood and business. Discover the origins of this unique piece of film history and the creative freedom that birthed it. Learn how this early project foreshadowed their future success.What secrets will the archives reveal next?
Universal’s “Your Studio & You”: A South Park Parody Before Fame
Updated June 01, 2025
Before “South Park,” Matt Stone and Trey Parker crafted ”Your Studio & You,” a 14-minute parody film for Universal Studios. Commissioned in 1995 to celebrate Seagram’s taking ownership, the film brought together major Hollywood names for a send-up of corporate culture.
The origins of this unusual project trace back to Edgar Bronfman, owner of Seagrams. He sought to reassure Hollywood’s creative community that Universal’s new management “got it,” after previous struggles with Matsushita Electric. Bronfman turned to David Zucker, of Zucker Abrahams Zucker (ZAZ) fame, who then tapped Parker to produce the film. Parker brought Stone on board just before shooting.
The Zucker Brothers, known for parody films like “Airplane!” and “Naked Gun,” had recently been persuaded to set up shop at Universal. At the same time, Seagrams was finalizing its acquisition of an 80% stake in MCAUniversal, making them the studio’s new owners.
“Your Studio & You” parodies 1950s educational films, shot in black and white with a generic soundtrack. What’s remarkable is the cast: Demi Moore, Sylvester Stallone, Michael J. Fox, Angela Lansbury, Steven Spielberg, and Jeffrey Katzenberg all appear. Many seem unaware of the parody’s true nature, ofen seen holding Seagram’s wine coolers.
Stone and Parker reportedly filmed without a script. Zucker would call celebrities, promising a half-hour of their time for a film celebrating Universal’s new owners. Stone and Parker would then arrive, feign forgetting the script, and improvise scenes, such as Angela Lansbury painting the Psycho House while wearing a “Universal is A-OK” button.
The film’s humor is sharp.Spielberg, playing a Universal studio Tour driver, tries to convince bored tourists (including Katzenberg) that the “Shark Attack” scene is exciting.
As footage of the mechanical shark plays, the narrator, voiced by Parker, says, ”But what about tomorrow? If we don’t keep in step with the times, things that were once neat and thrilling can become old and stupid.”
the film was intended for a single showing at Seagram’s welcoming party. Bronfman reportedly found it “a little more mean-spirited” than necessary. The film was then shelved, but copies surfaced after “South Park’