Monday, November 30, 2009

Lamp North Open For Business...

You've got a friend in me...




The official website for Pixar Canada has opened up...

So the Lamp is open for business and looking for animators to work on some of those upcoming projects Emeryville's most famous residents are too busy to work on?

Good times for Pixar South, I guess...

Hat Tip to Upcoming Pixar.

Iron Man x2...

I am Iron Man...

Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh...



Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh...

They've released a new teaser poster for "Iron Man 2" today...

Pretty cool finally getting to see War Machine, ain't it?

Landing Delayed...


It appears that the debut of "Prep & Landing" tomorrow is a casualty of President Obama's press conference...

The X-Mas special has been delayed a week and will now premiere on December 8th. Set your DVR recorders. Ok, if you miss it then, it'll be rebroadcast on December 16th as well. Of course, if you do watch it on the 8th, this just means you can see it twice in two weeks. It's a great special and I can't wait to own the DVD. Actually, I plan on buying the Blu-Ray.

Cause it is sooooo tinsel...

Sunday, November 29, 2009

La Grenouille Critiques: Partie Deux...

When you wish upon a frog...



And the roll call for a new dawn in Disney Animation continues...

The Mouse's latest film has gotten mostly high marks since it's release last week. A week from Friday everyone else gets to make their own minds. Until then, here's a few thoughts from some critics' minds.

"Disney Animation is back doing what it does best -- musical romantic adventure with magic -- after 10 years of unfortunate forays into barnyard humor and science fiction (see the same directors’ Treasure Planet or, better yet, don’t.)"

- Lou Lumenick, New York Post

"Visually lush, the film strikes me as the most American of the Disney Princess movies, using uniquely American iconography to paint the fairy tale.

I don't think this is the best of the Disney films, or that it's the best of what Disney is capable of, but I do think it's a movie that treats its target audience with uncommon respect. One might argue that the hand of John Lasseter, the film's executive producer, can be felt in the way the film treats its audience. After all, Pixar's built the brand out of treating the audience well. But to the credit of Lasseter and the Disney animators, this doesn't feel like the film has been "Pixar"ed. It's still recognizably a Walt Disney animated film, and the mere fact that this film drops so recognizably into the archetypes is comforting, an itch scratched, a momentary detour corrected now."

- Drew McWeeny, Hitflix/Motion Captured

"In a culture where advertising hype is more ubiquitous—seemingly more "real"—than the movies themselves, The Princess and the Frog’s feels like the ultimate betrayal: It’s classic Bait-and-Switch. Hyped as offering the Walt Disney corporation’s first African-American animated heroine, The Princess and the Frog actually refrains from expanding our social imagination. Based on the venerable The Frog Prince, it uses that fairy tale’s moral about seeking inner value and personal worth to exploit "post-racial" complaisance."

- Armond White, New York Press

"The animation style of The Princess and the Frog is perhaps the best Disney has produced for a traditionally animated film in years. This may not be 3D, but the film's vibrant look feels like much more than two dimensions with incredible character designs and an elaborate recreation of the architecture of the French Quarter from the Roaring Twenties. As an African-American and a Hispanic, I didn't find the character designs and portrayals to be stereotypical or racially offensive."

- Ron Henriques, Latino Review

"This is the first Disney animated film about an African-American princess, and this delightful fairy tale couldn't come at a better time, what with the two little African-American princesses who live in the White House."

- Allison Samuels, Newsweek
And the beat goes on...
And the beat goes on...

Friday, November 27, 2009

Designs On Mars...

What planet are we on?





That'll be ten cents, please.
If this is real, it's cool...

If it's not, then it's still cool. Swanky cool. You've ever seen Pixar's headquarters then you've noticed they have a lot of banners and posters up of whatever movie is coming out...

They tend to have artist do concept work and inspirational pieces for the projects they're working on. Andrew Stanton according to this artist has brought that plan over to "John Carter of Mars" as well.

This is a poster-type concept piece that William Erik Evans said he did for Stanton and his crew. Note that it hearkens back to the old pulp magazines that first printed these stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This gives me a comforting feeling that Stanton is the right person to handle the material.

That's certainly inspirational to me...

Hat Tip to Super Punch.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Enjoy The Blessing Of Your Bounty...


With all the problems in the world we sometimes forget to be thankful for all that we truly have...

We have so much to be grateful for. So much to appreciate. When I started this blog I didn't realize so many people would enjoy hearing the rants and praises I let flow through my fingertips into this keyboard. I've had the pleasure of having great friends and I've known the goal of doing things in my career that others have only dreamed of. I've enjoyed a loving family that has cared for me. I've grown up with the best parents one could only dream of. There have been obstacles and challenges along the way. There will be many more ahead. But I'm thankful for the blessings that I've enjoyed.

On this day when we celebrate all that is good, all that can be enjoyed and all that should be loved, everyone that has an involvement in Blue Sky Disney wishes you a happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy...

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

La Grenouille Critiques...


The reviews for Disney's return to hand-drawn animation are starting to roll in...

I can't wait to see this film. I've heard about it for almost three years and have wanted to see the Mouse return to an art form that it set the standard for. I've had several friends and colleagues see it; almost all have loved it. Unfortunately I'll be out of town during the exclusive showing on the Burbank Lot and will have to wait and see it on opening night when it goes wide. I'll be there with soda and popcorn in hand. But the reviews are starting to come out and overall it's getting good marks with the exception of Variety.

Take a look for yourself...

"This is the best Disney animated film in years. Audiences -- who don't care whether it's cel animation, CGI, stop motion, claymation or motion capture as long as it's a good story -- will respond in large numbers. A joyous holiday season is about to begin for Disney."
- Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

"Conspicuously outfitted with an African-American heroine and a vibrant 1920s New Orleans setting, this cheeky update of a classic fairy tale boasts almost as many talking points as merchandising opportunities, and should enjoy jazzy holiday biz starting with its Thanksgiving weekend bicoastal engagement and extending well past its Dec. 11 wide release. But whatever it accomplishes for Disney's reputation or bottom line, this long-anticipated throwback to a venerable house style never comes within kissing distance of the studio's former glory."

- Justin Chang, Variety

"Princess and the Frog" isn't the second coming of "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Lion King." It's just plain pleasant, an old-fashioned little charmer that's not straining to be the next glib animated compendium of pop-culture flotsam."

- David Germain, AP for SF Gate

"This A-level, G-rated entertainment is a fresh twist on the classic fairy tale about a handsome prince temporarily out of commission due to a malicious magic spell, a royal catch requiring the smooch of the right kindhearted, risk-taking heroine to restore him to his waiting throne."

- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

"Go ahead and pucker up. Because long before "The Princess and the Frog" is over you'll want to smooch the charming couple, air kiss a romantic firefly and hug a voodoo queen in this foot-stomping, smile-inducing, heart-warming animated twist on the old Brothers Grimm frog-prince fairy tale."

- Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

"In an era dominated by CGI, Disney makes a bold return to 2-D animation. The medium may be old-fashioned, but the story is thoroughly, refreshingly modern. Funny, inspiring and gorgeously rendered, The Princess and the Frog is an instant classic."

- Dezhda Gaubert, E! Online


Not a bad start out of the gate, but most everyone will have to wait a couple weeks to see it for themselves...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Same Make, New Model...

Brought to you by a grant from the Stark Corporation...


The new issue of Empire is something worth getting if you're into Marvel superheroes that wear cool armor...

Nice looking new outfit for Shellhead, huh? Looking forward to this almost as much as Bob Iger is looking for that distribution deal with Paramount to end.

2012 can't come any sooner..

What Made Joe Jump...

Wakka, wakka, wakka...


As of yesterday there was a change in the schedule at Walt Disney Animation Studios...

We've talked recently about the road ahead for the Mouse in ink and paint a couple weeks ago, so consider this an addendum that will be followed by more addendums. The schedule for the next few years remains relatively the same. Next year comes "Rapunzel" and then the following we get the new "Winnie the Pooh" film, but then things start to get a bit bumpy. 2012 will possibly see a different film as that year's offering, "King of the Elves" has been pulled off the rails temporarily as it gets retooled. As to what that means, well, it's the direction the story is heading isn't where Lasseter and the Story Trust were expecting it to be. Being as they have time before it's supposed to start animation (approximately late next year), this doesn't mean the end of the project. Remember that this happens on many films at Disney and Pixar. Ratatouille was the last example of the Lamp retooling a project. I've heard that there were story problems as early as a couple months ago with the departure/removal of Robert Walker. Aaron Blaise will most likely get another co-director but that hasn't been announced yet.

Being as that project will be tinkered with, another computer animated project that was thought dead a couple years ago could now possibly take it's scheduling place. I mentioned "Joe Jump" coming back from development hell in a post earlier in the month. It appears that it may move from a tentative 2013 release to 2012. Kind of the way Pixar moved "Cars 2" up to 2011 from 2012.

Animation takes a long, long time to make; sometimes it takes detours and other times it takes extended pit stops. Disney Animation's "Joe Jump" has taken a long, winding road. A road where good and bad things happened. Animated films go through metamorphosis from early conception through the development process, all the way to opening up all across the world. Sometimes it turns into a Frankenstein project like "Chicken Little," and sometimes it turns into something of a gem like "Bolt."

Hopefully, JJ will turn into that one. As a matter of fact, it's looking that way right now. Remember how Bolt began life as something called "American Dog" from Chris Sanders? Well, that's the case with Joe Jump. There are enough elements of the story that survive, but the project has taken a different route that what Sam Levine intended. Joe Jump was his baby. He storyboarded his heart into this project with his writer and created something that was decidedly different that what Disney is known for. When Lasseter came in, all projects that weren't deemed "Disney" enough were cast aside. Levine knew that there was trouble even though John kept him and his writer on board for another year working on the project. After it started to languish he asked for a status. What should he do? Go on working on a project that there didn't seem to be a lot of love for, or move over to another project? He wasn't given a clear answer. And so Joe J. faded into the background. And Sam? I believe he moved on.

The new incarnation of the film bears elements to the original, but there is enough difference to consider it an entirely different film. Rich Moore, the film's new director is taking a different approach and Levin is nowhere to be seen, although his influence is felt. Notice there is one director attached to it? As of now, that's the case, although a co-director could be added later if problems arise. But that's the case for the next couple of projects. Remember that other untitled hand-drawn film that is supposed to come out in 2013? It also only has one director, as of right now, Chris Buck. But again, things change as the news about KOTE shows. Of course, the other news about Chris Williams new project will be interesting to hear when it finally gets announced. Hopefully that will happen next year. Let's just hope it doesn't get "retooled."

But let's not think it would be the end of the world if it happened...

Katz Talez...


There's a really nice interview with DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg over at Fast Company...

Say what you want about Katzenberg, but the man does deserve his share of credit for Disney's Second Golden Age. Not all, obviously but a fair amount. I've always been fascinated by the man. His ego is legend, but his ability to work with people and get things done is something I genuinely admire. His knack for getting things that others couldn't has created a cottage industry of folklore about him. Some true and some tall tales, but all entertaining. My favorite is the one where, when he was at Paramount under Eisner, they went to the airport to catch a flight. When they arrived at the gate, the plane was already moving out on to the runway. Eisner turned to Katzenberg and said: "Jeffrey, go stop that plan!" Katzenberg walked over to the flight attendant at the desk and made a few comments that resulted in a hushed, but heated debate. Finally, they saw the plane turn around and taxi back to the gate as Katzenberg walked back over to Eisner: Mission Accomplished.

I remember attending a Q&A with Katzenberg when he was head of Disney that he gave at USC's Film School. I asked him about the status of the new Tom Cruise film he was working on with John McTiernan known as "A Princess of Mars." Sound familiar? But I was impressed by his candor and accessibility. And I was surprised to see this Hollywood mogul drive away in an old 80's Mustang (he's moved up to a black Prius now). But he's an intriguing fellow and worthy of following.

Just like this article about him...

Monday, November 23, 2009

Legacy Is Only The Beginning...


It appears that the Suits in Burbank are very happy, albeit somewhat nervous of the price tag of "Tron Legacy" with the latest screenings...

It appear that some are feeling what "The Matrix" was to the 1990's, this could be to the coming decade. When I spoke with one of my Bothans last night that's the impression they got. Although the budget for the film is quite high, it's not at the level of "Avatar." But from the footage seen, the executives are looking at planning out a trilogy of films (or Tetralogy if you count the original). Not that they hadn't hoped it would be something they could make sequels to. But there is already talk of another script and planning has quietly gotten underway. It's preliminary, embryonic stuff of course, but Disney is feeling that confident in what next Christmas could hold for Walt Disney Pictures.

That would be a complete turnaround from the year of disappointment that 2009 has been. Besides "Up" and the soon to be released "The Princess and the Frog," there hasn't really been much to celebrate. That could all change next year with the release of "Alice in Wonderland," "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time," "Toy Story 3," "Rapunzel," and "Tron Legacy," naturally. The Mouse is going to take a major stab at putting its imprint on being at the top of the box office in 2010.

But I have a feeling that Joseph Kosinski is going to be feeling like Gore Verbinski for the better part of the next decade...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Hand Drawn Pixar Sequel...


Yes, you heard that right...

There will be a sequel of sorts to Pixar's animated treasure "Up" that will be hand drawn. Sort of...

It's called "George and AJ." And it actually is only about four minutes and five seconds long. And I believe if you buy the DVD you will find it over at Apple's iTunes as a commemorative of the release with the digital version of the film. Or you can just click HERE and watch it through the magic of YouTube.

Relax, it's Pixar. Enjoy...

Hat Tip to /Film.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Lamp North...


A little news about our favorite company in Emeryville's little expansion campus...

We've known for some time now that Pixar was building an animation studio in Canada. This one was to handle the various bits of animation that aren't handled in house, like the animated theme park segments (think: Toy Story Midway Mania), various shorts, product tie-ins and other commercial endeavors heretofore known as "Legacy Franchises." Lasseter was very concerned about the animation that was being done for TSMM since it wasn't being handled by Pixar (rather, WDI delegated it to an outside firm). This was before he was in the position to make all those decisions he's been making. This along with the spurt of growth the Lamp has been going through have resulted in the expansion of the company beyond domestic borders. Not much else has been said about it and everything has been quiet till now.

Dylan Brown, who was a supervising animator on "Ratatouille" is the Creative Director of Pixar Canada as the division will be known (that's the logo up top, sans little Luxo Jr.). Anyway, Brown was at the Vancouver Film School to meet the staff and students as well as look for potential employees. Expect more to be announced as they ramp up for production next year, but until then you can check out these nice pics of the event over at Flickr.

Hat Tip to Upcoming Pixar via The Pixar Blog.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Game On/Over...

Push the "X" button, now the "Y" button...




With Walt Disney Pictures "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" slowly approaching it's release, I thought I'd examine what other gaming titles would make a great movie for Disney...

Think of this as a video game version of my "Without Tights" post. Instead of talking about comics that would be good for the Mouse to adapt, we'd focus on video games. This isn't new, in fact studios have been adapting games for the better part of the last decade. Badly in almost every instance. So far there hasn't been any one adaption that has transcended the boundaries of a game controller to become a smash hit. From "Silent Hill" to "Doom," video games has had a spotty record at the box office and haven't been treated too kindly by critics either. And least we not forget Uwe Boll, who has destroyed many a video game adaptation entirelywithout help. In the desecration of games, he's an industry unto himself and probably the main reason people think all video game movies are so bad.

The Holy Grail of video game adaptations was going to be the uber game "Halo" with Peter Jackson producing, but the enormous sized budget gave Suits cold feet and it's been languishing ever since. Hopefully there will be some positive word in the next year or so and a project like this won't wither on the vine, but until then we have to wonder what could be the next potential adaption? What title that is currently out there capable of translating cinematically and financially? While we wait to see if POP is the first one to break out and become a blockbuster let's examine the world around us.

There are several titles out right now that I think could make excellent films, some of them in active development, others just waiting to be plucked up. So with that I'll just go over a list of films that any studio could make into an amazing film, but since this blog is called Blue Sky Disney, I'll pretend that I'm recommending them for the Mouse. We all know they listen to my every word.

Where to start? With the first footstep; all journeys begin with that...



Uncharted

Actually, with the release of "Uncharted 2" this property is currently a prime example of a game that would make an impressive candidate for the box office. Although the first game was good and had impressive gameplay, the sequel is head and shoulders above it in terms of gameplay, graphics and narrative. This title is pure cinema with a joystick. For those that don't know, Uncharted follows the adventures of Nathan "Nate" Drake; a modern day Indiana Jones type character searching for the lost city of El Dorado.

Along the way we meet a rouge's gallery of characters that are out to thwart Drake from his mission. Hunting for the fortune and treasure with his friend Sully, he comes in to contact with Gabriel Roman (Drake's Belloq). They find the remnants of an ancient city which one had a large gold statue. Drake find clues that lead to an island in the pacific as to where this statue was taken. Upon the island he has to confront mercenaries and traps as he hunts for the treasure in a race against his greedy opponents. The game was quite detailed, filled with detailed adventure and interesting characters.

The sequel, "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" is actually an even better title. Sadly, this story is already in development at Columbia with Avi Arad attached as producer. Kyle Ward wrote the most recent draft of the script and as of now no one is attached to direct, much less star in the film. Disney could have picked this up, but another studio got to it first. If the Mouse had made it the Touchstone Pictures label would have been the best use for it since the film would be far more violent and adult than the Disney label would allow.



Half-Life

If you don't know Half-Life then you're not a gamer. Or you haven't been in the past decade. This adventure follows Gordon Freeman as he goes to work at the Black Mesa Research Facility. He dons a HEV suit and performs experiments that causes an accident known as a "resonance cascade." He performs an experiment that tears a hole/portal in dimensions and blacks out.

When he awakens in the ruined test chamber of the lab, strewn with dead bodies of the people that work there. Having no communication to the outside world he heads to the surface for. He survives alien attacks and dangerous perils in the damaged building only to find that there is a group of government agents that are killing the employees and aliens in some massive government cover-up. He proceeds to try and find a solution to the opening portal and the alien horde that threaten to overtake humanity.

Half-Life is my second favorite of all these games as far as hoping for an adaptation to a film. I can easily see this being a grand, Sci-Fi adventure with Lovecraftian overtones. Again, this would have to be done under the Touchstone or Hollywood labels. But a film of this nature would be a grand spectacle filled with amazing imagery. Finding the right screenwriter and director would be a challenge as the story is complicated and needs someone that is capable of stripping it down to a two hour film. Otherwise, it could easily be a six to eight hour miniseries. Hey, there's an idea! No, actually I want to see a film adaption of this with a budget that matches the scope of the narrative.



Bioshock

Yet another property optioned by another studio (Universal). But this one is in turnaround so the Mouse has a chance to get this one. That is, if they're willing to swallow the huge price tag. It would be a reuniting with Gore Verbinski and could/would create another franchise from which to build. But it would also have to be under the Touchstone label for the same reasons as Uncharted.

Bioshock is the story set in 1960, following a plane crash survivor named Jack, who washes ashore on a mysterious island and stumbles to a lighthouse. He finds a bathyspheres and descends down beneath the sea to discover an underwater city known as Rapture. It is there that he discovers a mad scientist, strange monsters, mutated genetics and dark secrets that involve his own life. There are many twists.

This is an incredibly interesting game, filled with science fiction and horror elements that would be very interesting to see in a film. I haven't read the script, but I hear it's phenomenal and expensive. This would have been a bizarre action film set upon an incredible canvas. Will it get made? Not unless someone ponies up for the budget or a rewrite brings the scope and scale of this adventure into a more filmable tale. Ross, you looking for something... different? Actually, it's too different to be Disney... but not Touchstone or Hollywood Pictures perhaps?


StarCraft

The only computer game I still play on my Mac. This was an addiction I had five or six years ago. Before the blog, I spent nights of not being able to sleep killing Zergs and building bases on far off worlds.

For those that have never heard of StarCraft, it's a game by the geniuses of Blizzard Entertainment that is a Sci-Fi combat strategy game (RTS). Set during a war in the 26th century between three species fighting for dominance of the galaxy. The humans, known as Terrans are in a battle with a primitive insectoid type race known as the Zerg and a highly advanced race known as the Protoss.

This would be a film filled with high adventure in space. Picture "Aliens" on a larger level across an entire galaxy, but less dark and filled with crazy action. This film would be the first of these games I've listed that could be under the Walt Disney Pictures label. A filmed adaptation of this game isn't that far fetched since it's sister game WarCraft is already in active development for a film right now. Sam Raimi is producing that one so it's entirely possible that some producer out there could be working on getting the rights to film this one. Could Disney and possibly Bruckheimer (who is working on "Alien Legion" as we speak) work together to make this a reality?




Crimson Skies

Ok, now we've come to my favorite possibility. A dream really. My roommates and I spent endless nights till dawns overheating his X-Box with this game on. If you read this blog often you know I love pulp fiction, serials and worship at the alter of Indiana Jones. My two favorite Disney Afternoon shows were "Ducktales," which was Raiders with a duck really and "Tailspin" which was Raiders of the air with Disney characters. Essentially, that is what Crimson Skies is.

Set in an alternate world in the late 1930's, this adventure is set in a divided America that broke apart shortly after The Great War. Divided into rival factions, this reality has a world enamored with air power. Planes, Zeppelins and balloons are the primary mode of transit. It is a version of Raider set in the sky and it succeeds marvelously. The main character is a rouge adventurer named Nathan Zachary, a dashing and daring pilot. It follows his adventures against air pirates and beautiful maidens. Exotic locations and thrilling adventure themed to an Art Deco world filled these two video games. Two, you say? Yes. The first was "Crimson Skies" for Windows (Boo!). The second, and my favorite was "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" for the X-Box. Both had good stories, but the second was superior and the game was better designed as a console game versus being a PC title.

This would be perfectly suited to Walt Disney Pictures and could come across as a Pirates of the Caribbean with planes. And as Iger wants now, it's fully sequel-ready. In fact, it screams franchise. I think the perfect person for something like this would be Peter Jackson. Having watched "King Kong," the way he paints the 30's; he would make an amazing adaption of this game. Together with his LOTR writing team, this would be a film I'm frothing at the mouth to see... and pay money to see over and over... Hopefully some Disney Suits will point that out to Iger, Ross and Aviv, but I ain't holding my breath.

Will Disney, or any company out there make one/all of these? Who knows since these adaptions are expensive. Video games tend to have a scope that is massive and therefore costly. When was the last time you saw a best selling game that featured a small, intimate story? Not many. Suit tend to be wary of spending these kinds of budgets in these hard economic times. But action is something that sells rather well and it also translates internationally across cultures. As a film producer once said to me: "A bullet translates better than dialog." But times are changing I believe.

There are several out there that are worthy of being made. Some with tremendous potential and with the right talent attached, you will one day see a major success. Will Prince of Persia be it? Who knows, but it certainly has talent attached. It absolutely has the breath and epic scale to it; Jerry B. has seen to that. Come next May we'll find out if it's a hit. If it is you can expect Disney to start looking at what else it can adapt. First from Disney Interactive and then elsewhere.

That's when we'll know if it's truly game on...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Echos In The Hundred Acre Woods...


Production Weekly has let it be known who will be playing the voices in the new "Winnie the Pooh" film...

Veteran actor Jim Cummings will play both the part of Pooh & Tigger, Rabbit will be voiced by Tom Kenny and Owl will have talk show host/Drew Carey alum Craig Ferguson in the part.

Hat Tip to /Film.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

20K? No Way...


Now comes word from Variety that the 20K sequel has been put on hold...

Actually, that's not the good news. I have always like the idea of a prequel to the classic and it would/could be a great aquatic action film along the lines of "Raiders" or "The Mummy" but my complaint has always been with the guy steering it. Or actually, his taste and choices.

It appears that McG has moved on to other things and the Mouse has halted the planned production of this project indefinitely. Hopefully they'll get this thing going again soon, but with a director more in tune with what this project needs. My suggestions? James Cameron would be interesting, but I don't think he has the time or interest. Peter Jackson, but he'd probably turn it down for similar reasons to Cameron. So who else would be a good choice? Actually there is one other choice. A perfect choice actually, but he's going to be busy for a few years so mayby he can do it when he wraps production on his latest epic? Guillermo del Toro would be absolutely spot on for this project. He's also a fan of the original and wouldn't do anything to screw with it and the legacy of the original film. Maybe it's a good thing it got delayed, you think?

Oh, and NO Will Smith please...

A Mad World, Next Year...

Don't be late, don't be late...





They've released another new poster for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" film...

What makes this one so special is who it is obviously. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter will be what drives viewers to the box office on this film. No matter what anyone tells you, that girl with the blond hair who keeps drinking what she's not supposed to and going where she's not allowed is merely a sidekick.

Don't be so terribly late next spring...



A very important date...

Monday, November 16, 2009

New Pirate Captain Confirmed...


We finally have some news about POTC 4 that doesn't involve Johnny Depp's disappointment at Dick Cook being fired...

Over at Ain't It Cool News, there's an article, a review really of the new film, "Nine" that someone saw at a screening and Q&A afterwards. We've heard a lot of people mention that Rob Marshall was up for the director's gig, but this is the first time he's actually confirmed it.

Go over and read the surprise in the first paragraph and then read the review of the film...

Adaptaliens...


I think the Suits have been reading this blog...

Ok, ok, I'm just kidding. Don't think I've got a swelled ego and Bob Iger and John Lasseter value my opinions the way they do Steve Jobs. If they did then Jay Rasulo would have been gone a long time ago. And he wouldn't have just switched jobs. But those of you that read USAToday this morning would have seen an article with some neat little bits of info about a project I thought would have made a great live-action film for Walt Disney Pictures. And it looks like it may. May being the important word here. Remember that development of films in Hollywood moves at a glacial pace and just when you think something could get a greenlight it becomes banished to Development Hell. So, anything could happen.

If you remember reading my post: "Without Tights," I listed a series of titles that I thought the Mouse should go after and adapt in to a film since DC Comics was owned by Warner and Marvel was self financing. So I suggested several independent titles that would be great launching vehicles for Disney since it was comicless, so to speak. Well we all know what happened since then and with Disney buying Marvel I put away a "Without Tights Part Two" article that was about half way finished upon hearing this news. I mean, they've got at least five thousand characters to exploit and they don't really need to go shopping elsewhere, right?

Apparently there are still comics not owned by Marvel that they're willing to go after. Although Alien Legion was published by Marvel (through Epic Comics), it's still a creator owned title and would qualify as an independent comic book/graphic novel. But it along with several other titles I mentioned are already in active development. Many not at the Mouse and a few are languishing toward that horrible pit of fire all things written go to when Suits don't have the courage or intelligence to say "Go" to.

The article has some interesting observations, like the current writers, Derek Haas and Michael Brandt as well as the involvement of Jerry "The Bruck" Bruckheimer and the fact that it's for Disney: but nothing has been given a go. Hopefully that will change soon as this would be another great franchise for Iger and Ross to utilize over those various divisions of the Walt Disney Company.

Give it a read and maybe you will see Disney join the Legion and become a Foot Slogger in a couple years...

P&L PSA...


If you've heard me talk about ABC airing WDAS' "Prep & Landing" you know how much I enjoyed it...

Take a look at this little animated short for P&L that runs like a public Service announcement from the past. Clever and cute just like the special.

Enjoy...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sightlines & Timelines (Part One)...


The one thing that has always separated a Disney theme park from any other park has always been details...

Details, details, details. From the original Anaheim park to the one that's in planning for Shanghai; a park by the Mouse is one to set the standards for the other guys.

Well, it's supposed to be that way. Work that way in theory at least. Where Disney has had successes and failures is in planning and details have broken or made the difference.

Many people blame the extravagant details that were put into the design of Euro Disneyland for it's failure, but it wasn't the problem that resulted in the financial mess the this park became. It was the over building of hotel rooms that created the economic problems for Paris. Michael Eisner deserves praise and scorn for the opening of Disney's European resort. He did encourage the Imagineers to go all out on designs for what we now know as Disneyland Paris. Eisner deserves credit for that. But he also was the one that told WDI to build six hotels instead of starting with two or three. Will all these empty hotels the debt that the company held increased greatly and caused Disney to lose/sell almost twenty percent of its investment (from 49% controlling interest to 39%). For than he should have a very harsh critique. And sadly, he didn't learn from his mistake... instead he spread the blame around to everyone else and didn't look inward into that mirror that showed him an ever balding man.

He thought it was the details and so on many of the future projects, the details suffered. DCA being the prime example of this. Not that it didn't have lavish detailing. But with the budget, not quality being the high standard to go by, Paul Pressler cut a third of the money from the park with no conception of what he was doing. Is it any wonder this man has been fired twice since leaving Disney? But even inside the budget there were other design problems with that park and several others that have been created in the past decade.

Sightlines and Timelines.

These are the main reason for such harsh criticism over the the past decade. As Eisner got further into his insular state he brushed aside design elements that Imagineers had mastered over the past quarter of a century. Not only were the budget cuts in California Adventure bad, the design had major misdirections. One thing that Eisner forget and several at WDI managed not to address was making things throughout the areas of the park contemporary. There is nothing so dated as to put something in the present. Five years from now it will feel weathered and outdated. If you look back to the original Disneyland you see lands that evoke times and places that don't exist anymore, never existed or idyllically exist in our minds. That way there is no permanent point for the brain to fix on and be critical of.

Main Street U.S.A. is an idealized representation of Walt's childhood, but it's not a literal example of the time he lived. Imagineers build what people wanted to remember, not what they strive to forget. Adventureland and Frontierland draw upon mythic memories of a past that may have existed, but they're shown to us as something of a tall tale, not a realistic grim presentation. Fantasyland is exactly that. Tales of wonder that never existed, but in a place you would love to go. And Tomorrowland was the representation of what the future could hold. It was this land that WDI has had so much trouble with. Trying to keep it contemporary with people's views of what the future would be like is why Euro Disneyland chose to call this land Disneycoveryland so as to not date the area and make it easier to add and take away from it without disrupting the theming.

Look at DCA with a front entrance that is supposed to be a postcard from California, but winds up being nothing more than a pop-culture nightmare. A collection of stores and signs that mark no distinction from any mall you can find within a hundred mile radius of the park. Did the Suits really think people were going to be willing to fork over forty to fifty dollars to see what they can get in a mall for free? One of many reasons this park has failed to impress up till now. Even the parks best themed land, the Golden State is a compromise at best. Although it is lush in greenery and detail, it's overly theming to a contemporary white water rafting company is flawed. Again, you can find this in other areas. The original concepts of having it in a turn of the century "Yosemite National Park" styled land with animatronic animals would have worked much better. Even the more current plan for turning it into a mid-fifties national park style land with animatronic animals works much better than layering the attractions in the hear now.

Thankfully, some of this is changing. And if all goes well then you'll more than likely see it continue. With the pier slowly evolving into a Victorian, seaside midway, a front entrance that brings to mind a late 20's/early 30's Los Angeles that Walt might have seen and a Hollywood Backlot that becomes more old Tinseltown, they're clearly on the right track. Turning all these areas into a throwback to times and places that most Californians don't even know is a great way to differentiate this park from the outside world. It's also a great place to show that it is Disney.

And hopefully in Disney's future we'll get more of Disney's past...

Thursday, November 12, 2009

There Is A God, Um Maybe...


Wow, what to say, what to say...

A blessing, but a mixed blessing. If you haven't heard the news reported in the article at the New York Times, Jay Rasulo and Tom Staggs have switched rolls kind of like Lindsey Lohan did in that movie a few years back. Well, not exactly, but Staggs will take over Rasulo's job and Rasulo will take over Staggs.

While I'm immensely happy that Jay will no longer be screwing up the parks, it doesn't give me any comfort that he'll now be in charge of financial aspects of the Mouse. But then, maybe a bean counter like himself will fit far more in that role than as the head of a very creative part of the parks.

As for Staggs, I don't know him extremely well, but he has handled the Walt Disney Company quite well over the last few years. Having met him, he comes off as a far more likable guy than Jay, but that doesn't say much about him. His biggest problem for me was his use of a Blackberry instead of an iPhone. Found out some interesting opinions on Steve Jobs that day... but I digress.

I'll try and have more commentary to follow, but until then, here's the press release:

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE CHANGES

THOMAS O. TOM STAGGS TO BECOME CHAIRMAN, DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS

JAMES A. JAY RASULO TO BECOME SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER


BURBANK , Calif., November 12—In line with The Walt Disney Company’s goals of advancing its global businesses and brands while providing new opportunities and challenges to executives, Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger announced today that two of the company’s most senior leaders would assume new roles at the end of the year.

Thomas O. Tom Staggs, Senior Executive Vice President and Disney’s Chief Financial Officer and 20 year Disney veteran, will become Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. In his new position, Staggs will preside over the company’s vacation businesses, which span three continents and include five-world class destinations, a top rated cruise line and the most popular resort locations in North America, Europe and Asia.

James A. Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts and a 23-year Disney veteran, will become Senior Executive Vice President and Disney’s Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Rasulo will oversee the company’s worldwide finance organization, corporate strategy and development, brand management, corporate alliances, investor relations, treasury and risk management activities, controller functions, information systems, corporate responsibility, real estate and taxes.

Both will remain members of the senior management group reporting to Iger.

“Jay and Tom are both dynamic and versatile executives, who have done a great job over the last several years and have helped me to shape Disney’s strategic direction,” Iger said. “By giving them exciting new challenges that build on both their strengths at a time when each of their respective areas are on the right strategic track, the change is good for them and good for the company.”

As CFO, Staggs has helped guide Disney through one of its most important periods of expansion and financial success while steering it effectively through two sudden global economic downturns in 2001 and 2008. Throughout, he’s been praised by Wall Street for his financial and communication skills and has consistently been voted the country’s top entertainment industry CFO by analysts polled by Institutional Investor magazine.

Working closely with Iger, Staggs has played a critical role in a wide variety of Disney’s strategic and operating initiatives, including the acquisitions of Capital Cities/ABC, Pixar and the pending acquisition of Marvel Entertainment. As CFO, he spearheaded Disney’s realignment of its performance goals toward a combination of profit growth and strong long term capital returns and free cash flow. He has also led company efforts to drive greater cost and capital efficiency throughout the organization and to put in place well-received company-wide environmental and healthy food policies.

“For over a decade, I’ve had a unique opportunity to build our business by collaborating with a group of great executives running a wide range of media and travel businesses,” said Staggs. “Taking the operational reins of one of our biggest and most complex businesses during the period of rapid global expansion launched by Jay is tremendously exciting and a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”

Under Rasulo’s leadership, Parks and Resorts has built on its traditional strengths as the world’s preeminent theme park operator to create a range of businesses that have made Disney a global leader in the family vacation industry.

As part of this growth strategy, Rasulo has overseen a major expansion of Disney’s California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, which culminates with the opening of Cars Land in 2012, and of Hong Kong Disneyland, where work is underway on the creation of three original new lands. He has also led negotiations with the Chinese government to begin development of a new theme park in Shanghai.

In addition to park expansion, Rasulo has been the principal architect of the growth of the award-winning Disney Cruise Line, which is currently adding two new ships, Disney Vacation Club and Adventures by Disney. Prior to becoming head of Disney Parks and Resorts in 2002, Rasulo greatly improved the operating performance of Disneyland Paris, now the number one tourist destination in Europe.

By emphasizing innovative marketing, strategic investment and financial discipline, Rasulo has also deftly managed the Parks and Resorts businesses through difficult periods, first as the unit’s President after tourism plummeted globally in the wake of 9/11 and later as Chairman during the 2008-09 economic downturn. Throughout, he’s been an important advocate for the tourism industry, serving as Chairman of the Travel Industry Association of America in 2006 and 2007. Rasulo was inducted into the Travel Industry Hall of Leaders in 2008.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to lead the almost 100,000 Cast Members, Crew Members and Imagineers during a period of unprecedented investment at Disney Parks and Resorts ,” said Rasulo. “I look forward to building on Tom’s success as CFO by working with Bob to advance Disney’s growth strategy, while continuing to strengthen our balance sheet and create shareholder value.”

Both Rasulo and Staggs are longtime Disney executives and both serve on the board of Euro Disney S.C.A., the French parent company of Disneyland Paris.

Rasulo joined Disney in 1986 as Director, Strategic Planning and Development, advancing to more senior positions there, and later became Senior Vice President, Corporate Alliances. He then led Disney Regional Entertainment before moving to Paris as President, Euro Disney before eventually becoming its Chairman and CEO in 2000. A native New Yorker, Rasulo has a degree in economics from Columbia University and both an MA in economics and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Before joining Disney, he held positions with Chase Manhattan Bank and the Marriott Corp.

Staggs joined Disney in 1990 as Manager of Strategic Planning and soon advanced through a series of positions of increased responsibility, becoming Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Development in 1995 before becoming CFO and Executive Vice President in 1998. Born in Illinois, Staggs received a BS in business from University of Minnesota and an MBA from Stanford University. He worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley & Co. before joining Disney.

About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. Disney is a Dow 30 company with annual revenues of approximately $36 billion in its most recent fiscal year.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

An Anniversary & A Seachange...


Today the Sesame Workshop starts the 40th season of "Sesame Street" on PBS...

The Animation Magazine has an interesting article about how one of the projects that will celebrate it is a new segment on the show entitled "Abby's Flying Fairy School," and that is a bit of a departure for the show. The Muppets on this show are CG.

The times they are a changing...

Honoring Service...


To all those that put on the uniform...

Thank you for your service and devotion. You deserve this nation's deepest respect and most profound admiration, for you are the true heroes of America. Not the ones we read in comic books or pay tickets to watch in theaters.

May God keep you safe, so that you may keep us free.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Docter's Rx...


Pete Docter and Bob Peterson are making the rounds doing interviews for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of Pixar's "Up" and "Monster's Inc." with one little comment is making waves...

Latino Review
has a good interview with the director and co-director of the Lamp's latest. It's a good read, but the thing that's got some people excited/upset/mildly interested is in an interview Docter gave New York Magazine.

In that interview he mentions he's working on a new project that'll be out in 2013-2014 and that it's not "Monsters Inc. 2." Some people are upset about this, but you really shouldn't be. He didn't say that we wouldn't be seeing Sully and Mike again. He just said it wasn't the next thing he was working on. Believe it or not there are many projects in various states of development at Pixar that aren't anywhere ready to be announced. Docter's is just one of them. There are a couple surprising projects that I'd guess the Lamp would be announcing hopefully next year, but Pixar is notoriously guarded about its projects. It's actually surprising that people didn't think Docter would have another non-Monsters Inc. project brewing.

Now as for Monsters Inc., I haven't heard from my Bothans that were in the know on this project in a couple months, but I do know that as of the end of summer M2 was still in very active development. It could have been shut down since then, but I don't think so and will remain optimistic until we get an actual denial from John Lasseter and Co. But there's one question that people aren't asking. One question that's dangling from my proverbial imagination. What's Bob Peterson doing next?



Hmmm...

Princely Posts...





Now that the trailer for "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" has been released you can expect the publicity machine inside the company to start releasing more info as we move toward next summer's release...

Over at /Film they've got a set report that the site's Peter Sciretta did while visiting the production in England. He also has an interview with Dastan and the lovely Gemma Arterton as well.

Give it a look and be prepared for all things Persian...

Monday, November 9, 2009

A Vacation From Reality, A Haven From Chaos...


In these troubled economic times there are small pockets of calm that the reality of the outside world seems to not have any affect on...

I've mentioned how Apple, Inc. is one of these companies/businesses/lifestyles that is an example of this. Google is another. The Walt Disney Company, while not recession proof, happens to be weathering this storm remarkably good. The one area of the company that is a total part of this anomaly lies in Emeryville. In fact, every one of these companies are in northern California or the northwest. Maybe it's just the general area or the state of mind, or maybe it's just Steve Jobs and those that work for him or compete against him? But the Lamp is what I'm talking about.

Pixar.

That little company that seems to be showing everyone else how to run a successful business and to prosper. The economic swine flu that everyone else is suffering under happens to not infect that little plot of land in the bay area. Pixar is immune. While other companies seem to be cutting back, laying off or slowing expansion, John Lasseter and his crew are plowing forward. Success is a wonderful cure for a business.

Steve Jobs has been part of two business stories about that with the Fruit Company and the Lamp. I'm crossing my fingers that his magic touch goes on for a third time with Disney and this company will be able to ride the current and future crisis's as well. Hopefully Iger has his ear very close. We already know he's helped out on the redesigned Disney Stores/Imagination Parks idea. His former employee, John Lasseter is in charge of animation has been working to prop up the animation side of the company. Maybe a few more suggestions inside those Board meetings will be implemented and spread throughout the entire company? Who knows, maybe he'll convince Iger to let Lasseter build that swanky new pad for WDAS on the Lot? Or better yet, in JC's Glendale Kingdom?

But back up north... you wonder what it's like to work in a place of relative calm while the world around you falls apart. And right now, they're not only surviving, they're thriving. In fact, the company is bursting at the seams. At a time when most companies are looking at how to cut cost, Pixar is looking at how to grow. They simply have too many people that don't fit in the existing building. And many more are needed. That's why over the next decade they're going to be adding two new buildings that will expand and house their current and future workers. Unlike many other animation studios, the artist working on productions at Pixar know they've got a little job security for the next four or five years. There is that much work to do. The planning of projects is that far in advance.

Now, not everything is perfect in Emeryville. One thing that some people will complain about is the fact that Pixar pays its employees less than other companies (about 20-25% less). But many, not all, of the people that work there view this as a trade off for job security and an environment that is far more inclusive than most of the animated studios in the Los Angeles area. And they have lost several talented artist over the last couple of years (Lou Romano, we miss you!). But for every artist that leaves the place there are many more lined up to get a shot at working for the cream of the crop.

Sadly or sourly, depending on how you look at it, Pixar is now the pinnacle for everyone to work for. They are the man on the mountain that everyone wants to toss down. This used to be the spot that Walt Disney Animated Studios throughout the late 80's to the later 90's. This was a spot they held from the 30's all through the 60's alone. There really wasn't any credible competition then. It wasn't until the eighties that there was finally some form of a challenge to their near monopoly on animated features.

During the mid-nineties the Mouse made overtures to Pixar about creating a computer generated film and with it helped spawn a half dozen other studios that cropped up over the next three or four years. It's really hard to believe that before the Lamp, all these other studios didn't exist. And as they ascended, WDAS (Walt Disney Feature Animation) withered and slowly started to fade away. It took bringing in Pixar to revive the division. Kind of like Apple buying NeXT to save itself in a sense. And now we wait and see with the release of "The Princess and the Frog" if the Southern California branch of Pixar becomes part of this refuge.

Now, if only the rest of the economy would as well...

Blue Sky Disney X's Three...


Three years...

That's how long Blue Sky Disney has been around as of today. Just a little thing I started to fill those nights when I couldn't sleep, so I started a simple blog to post my thoughts. I knew a few people so I posted news and some rumors I heard. I expected to have no one read it. At the very least, I expected a few people to read it and that's all.

I got almost half a million hits the first year. Whoa... Last year BSD got over 1.2 million hits and this year we hit that mark a couple months ago. Truly overwhelming, really.

I want to thank each and everyone of you that enjoys reading my blog. I want to thank all the people that have contributed columns/posts to this as well. I want to thank the Bothans and I want to that everyone that clicks on the sight with an interest in my thoughts on the Mouse and everything else.

Here's to making the next year even better for you, me and the entire world, not just the Disney one...

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Flash Forward Episode Seven: The Gift...


Here I'm back with another post to one of the very few shows that I watch...

If you didn't get to see it, ABC's latest episode of "Flash Forward" on last Thursday night was entitled: "The Gift" and it was really, very good. Seven episodes and it keeps getting creepier and yet, more intriguing dealing with these people's lives. The ending made me wonder how they'll explain a few important things.

So if you didn't see it on Hulu, here it is.

My gift to you...

Episode Seven - The Gift.