I want to make sure those interested in Disney show creation read the story at the link.
Those of us in the production business all have our "war stories" of having to get the "show" to the people on a deadline.
Many times things get done just under the wire.
(Sometimes a bit AFTER the wire, too.)
This kind of "will we make it?" tale is a fun read for those who remember when Epcot opened and was "cutting edge" in so many technical ways.
The Imagineers were building attractions based on new "combinations" of discrete technologies that were uncommonly used together in the "real world" at that time.
Disney's early attempts at these spectacular presentations led the way to later development of
more-commonly-available systems to accomplish the complex tasks of running these kind of shows.
The ubiquitous 3D films we see now in cineplexes around the country (and the world) are a later, much simpler, generation of the "nearly manual" synchronization of multiple mechanical projectors and surround-audio
gear used to create the 3D showings of
Magic Journeys in Epcot's early days.
At the
link is the story of one Imagineer trying to hand-protect the (
one and only) brand new print (two fragile film strips) of
Magic Journeys from harm and -at the same time- trying to "force it" into behaving as a viewable attraction.
And do so on time for a hard-deadline of a promised premiere showing for top brass of Disney and Fortune 100 executives... inside the newly-constructed Epcot "Imagination" Pavilion.
