Orlando Sentinel: Disney develops big-screen versions of 3 classic attractions

[PKS44]

Eisner predicted that PH would be a huge hit to rival Titanic, that should not be the concern of filmmakers...I think AV's earlier post sums up the attitude in Hollywood- "How can we make a money-maker" instead of "How do we make a good movie." In virtually every business that has ever really suceeded on a very high level, from retail to show business- the incredible, huge successes come out of passion to do something well, not profitably...profitability is not the end, it is a by-product of good work. I am not saying profits are bad-they are great-but chasing profits is less likely to produce them than chasing quality...I believe a guy named Walt Disney said something along these lines, "Make it high quality, the people will come."

Paul

 

[Another Voice]

Exactly Mr. PKS44

Disney has a very bad reputation surrounding all of its big summer movies, a reputation that goes all the way back to the days of ‘Dick Tracy’ and ‘The Rocketteer’. It’s the same exact problem that happened to ‘Pearl Harbor’ & ‘Atlantis’ and is happening to the ride movies. It’s a horrible chain of events that starts at the high level of the company:

All of the effort goes into the toys and none go into the movie. The film itself becomes just a commercial for all of the other stuff Disney thinks it can sell. Instead of focusing on developing a good script for the movie, the suits focus on finding the right ad campaign. They focus on the burger meal tie-ins, the ABC special and the plush. The movie is forgotten and left to fend for itself.

‘Pearl’ was a rotten movie that the public rejected very quickly. Sure, a few of them were hoodwinked into seeing the movie – but Disney lost the scam game to films like ‘Tomb Raider’ and ‘Mummy’. Once the public knew they were duped, the film plunged at the box office and people didn’t buy the video (notice the delay in the special “Director’s Cut” DVD). Cable sales will be for a much lower level, syndication will be lower, there’s no chance for a re-release and absolutely no chance for a sequel. Yea, some people showed up to buy tickets early, but the back end is a mess. Disney blew not only the movie, but the franchise surrounding the movie as well.

And now it looks like the same thing is happening to the ride films. Instead of great little fun movies – we’re getting bloated commercials for Happy Meals.

 

[airlarry!]

Aarrrggh!!

How can some posters think that we in Car 3 are anti-Disney when you read those last two posts from Mssrs. AV and PKS44? I may be speaking only for myself, but I *want* Disney to get those $5 or 6 billion dollars from the Jackson trilogy. I want them to make quality films that are 'surprise' box office hits. I want them to concentrate on one AND ONLY ONE animated film a year, develop it right, nurture it, market it, and then ADD to the parks with a mix of attractions based on these 'blockbusters' and original ideas. Being in Car 3 only means that I question whether or not present leadership can produce these results.

M. Landbaron, I just *know* there is an appropro Walt comment somewhere in your computer that would follow what they said about quality for the consumer.

 

[Peter Pirate]

'Pearl' was a rotton movie that the public rejected very quickly. Sure a few of them were hoodwinked into seeing the movie...

Voice! A few people? At last glance PH had made $450+ million bucks! Those "few" people must've paid a lot of money to visit the theatre. Any way you slice it PH drew a LOT of people. Further, at 450,000,000+ it actually must have made Disney a few bucks (and this is just theatre receipts)...

But to get back to an agreement. It will be heartbreaking to see another botched good idea such as the 'ride movies' concept. I agree wholeheartedly with you, Voice, with regard to the notion that movie makers should make movies & marketers should market movies. I also agree that very little (if any) input from marketing should even be allowed in the creative process. If Eisner doesn't learn this soon, I agree that the house of cards will continue to tumble.

My hope is still the hope of legacy. I don't believe Eisner wants to be know throughout history as the man who saved and then killed Disney. I do believe he wants to be revered, therefore very soon he will have to turn the Company around and perhaps the way to do this is to micromanage a little less, delegate a lot more and really (quite simply) concentrate on quality. Sounds simple to me.

 

[Bob O]

Peter Pirate it was a movie people wanted to see, as my dad did being a ww2 vet. But after he saw it(i agree ) the hype was so much better than the movie and he wouldnt see it again. In contrast to well done war movies/shows like BlackHawk Down/Soliders/saving private ryan/Band of Brothers. The hype and disney marketing got people to do once but not the repeat viewings which make movies into blockbusters.
And i never saw TombRaider of the movies mentioned by AV but all the other movies he mentioned IMHO were better than Pearl Harbor!!!

And i wouldnt say Eisner is the man who saved disney!!!! Wells had as much to do and if you think about it Walt saved his company after his death!!!! he gave the company thru his foresight all the land to expand in FLA. and he gave them a great vault of movie properties that eisner(and he deserves credit for this) was able to turn into huge profits!!!! But the next CEO wont have the luxury of having a untaped vault of movies to re-sell on VHS and then later on DVD. And he wont have vast land to develop!!! Eisner does deserve credit for turning the company around and hiring guys like Katzenberg who re-engerized their animated film division(of course it went sout when he left) but without Walt giving him the tools and new technology with first VHS and then DVD to help him out the story may have been different!!

 

[Another Voice]

“a few people…?”

Yes is the evil influence of marketing upon the world these days.

On Eisner’s legacy – the scariest thing for me is that thinks he really IS creating a legacy. He truly believes he is doing a good job with things. In his mind, it’s the others around him that have failed. Witness how easily very senior level people are thrown out and how easily major projects are abandoned instead of fixed (the Disney Stores rehab anyone?).

I think it’s all a part of the micro-manager mentality. They feel they are surrounded by idiots and only they, the ones with The True Talent, can save the day. To go back to an old thread – doesn’t the CEO of an Dow Jones 25 company have better things to do than write dialog for a screenplay and pick out chairs for a hotel? Why does Mr. Eisner feel compelled to involve himself in these matters?

For a brief moment, it really looked like Disney Studio was starting to turn around. Very good, small movies like ‘Princess Diaries’, ‘The Rookie’ and ‘Lilo’ were a very refreshing change. And for a while it looked like the ride films were headed in that direction too. But it seems that once again Michael “Super Executive” Eisner is stepping in. What’s really funny is that Jeffrey Katzenberg warned about this exact same situation in his infamous ‘Dick Tracy’ memo years ago. They’ve learned nothing since then.

P.S. – New rumor. Would you believe “It’s a Small World” as a direct to video animated movie? Who’s in charge of gathering the pitchforks for us peasants?

 

[Bob O]

I dont have time to gather all the pitchforks but will be happy to be a member of the of the brigade!!!!

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

Your Air-ness!! Your wish is my command!!

The following (in no particular order) is offered as a small sampling into the mind of the original. How far from these concepts has the present regime gotten? Well, you be the judge!!

I believe in being an innovator.

We allow no geniuses around our studio.

Reporters are always analyzing our approach to entertainment, but there’s no magic formula. I just make what I like – warm and human stories, and ones about historic characters and events, and about animals. If there’s a secret, I guess it’s that I never make pictures too childish, but always try to get in a little satire of adult foibles. Also, we do everything our own way, for ourselves, with no outside interference. We stay close to the fundamentals of family entertainment and recreation, and have complete voice in the marketing.

Caution there must be, of course, along with venturesome courage. The motion picture business has long been a chance-taking business. This doesn’t mean timidity in planning an operation.

I have every confidence that so long as our film presentations toughen the mind and warm the heart with the best the motion-picture industry can offer in art and craftsmanship and genuine warmth, so long may we expect prosperous support and a long life.

I am not influenced by the techniques or fashions of any other motion-picture company.

Well, I think by this time my staff, my young group of executives, and everything else, are convinced that Walt is right. That quality will out. And so I think they’re going to stay with that policy because it’s proved that it’s a god business policy. Give the people everything you can give them.

Anything that has a Disney name to it is something we feel responsible for.

Whatever we accomplish is due to the combined effort. The organization must be with you or you don’t get it done… I my organization there is respect for every individual, and we all have a keen respect for the general public.

I’ve never believed in doing sequels. I didn’t want to waste the time I have doing a sequel; I’d rather be using that time doing something new and different. It goes back to when they wanted me to do more pigs.

You hate to repeat yourself. I don’t like to make sequels to my pictures. I like to take a new thing and develop something, a new concept.

Some food for thought. Any comments?


PS: After I wrote all this, I read that AV posted. In his post he said:

Witness how easily very senior level people are thrown out…

To which Walt answers:

No matter what the provocation I never fire a man who is honestly trying to deliver a job. Few worker who become established at the Disney Studio ever leaves voluntarily or otherwise, and many have been on the payroll all their working lives.