Special Disney events & screenings!

[monorail91]

I think this would be a fun discussion board to bring up any screenings of Disney films near you! (As in special event showings, not Winnie the Pooh at your nearest Regal Cinemas!)

If you live near the San Francisco Bay Area, you should come check out this film program at the Berkeley Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive:

Behind the Scenes: The Art and Craft of Cinema
John Musker on the Art of Animation

"Animation director John Musker has written and directed some of Disney’s most beloved recent films. The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Princess and the Frog, along with The Great Mouse Detective, Hercules, and Treasure Planet, all made with collaborator Ron Clements, feature stories drawn from fairytales, myths, and literature, reshaped for our times. Musker knew he wanted to be an animator from the time he was a boy; inspired by comics, cartoons, and Disney classics, he was an avid caricaturist before going to work at Disney, where he helped revitalize the art of hand-drawn animation. In an illustrated lecture, he will take us behind the scenes of his animation features. Musker will also introduce The Princess and the Frog, and has selected a favorite Disney classic for a Sunday matinee."

http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/johnmusker

I will for sure be attending The Animator's Art: Lecture and Clips and the Princess and the Frog screening!

[monorail91]

For anyone who's interested, here's my journal entry for the first John Musker event! I wrote it while it's still super-fresh in my mind.

Tonight at the Pacific Film Archive, on [the UC Berkeley] campus by the Hearst Gymnasium for Women, director John Musker gave a lecture called “The Animator’s Art: Lecture and Clips.” Musker directed many of Disney’s Renaissance era works, like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, and more recently The Princess and the Frog. He gave a wonderful lecture speckled with film clips of work-in-progress scenes, not mere copies of the films that we are so familiar with.

Some interesting tidbits he shared:
• The scene for “Zero to Hero” in Hercules was inspired by a flight Musker took to New York, in which he listened to a demo tape of the song while watching clips of NBA all-stars – a “happy accident”, as David Lynch would say! He then incorporated it with music video clips of En Vogue and C+C Music Factory, creating a strange yet oddly fluid cultural mash-up.
• “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” was shot by filming live actors/dancers, and was then animated based on their movements. Very funny to see this clip!
• Raymond from The Princess and the Frog was based on the Cajun boat captain that the filmmakers met while researching for the film. The captain took them on a cruise through the bayous.
• His upcoming film will be a combination of hand-drawn 2D animation with 3D CGI animation, and WILL BE A MUSICAL. Most importantly haha. He doesn’t know who will compose the music yet though, the film is still going through the storyboard phase.

Being the geek I am, I stayed behind after with Dad to talk with him. I told him how I was a 1991 baby, so his films were a big part of my childhood. I shared the story of how I took my toy Aladdin lamp with me everywhere, and even slept with it. He said his kids were a few years older than me, but were also enamored with Disney animated films and the surrounding merchandise.

I asked him how involved he was with the adaptations of his works, like the new Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure ride at Disney’s California Adventure and the Aladdin musical that just opened in Seattle. He said they are typically not very involved, which is frustrating for him since they are characters that he helped create, comparing them to his children. He was very pleased with the Aladdin musical, however, and recommended I see it.

He signed a flyer for the event, and also the special book that came with the Aladdin Collector’s DVD Gift Set – he signed, “To [monorail91] – Best Wishes and glad to be part of your childhood!! Best wishes! – John Musker.” What a night!

[Disney's Divinity]

This really sounds like it would've been great to attend. I've always had a strong attachment to a lot of Musker/Clements films, so I would've been really excited. Sounds like you had a good time.

• The scene for “Zero to Hero” in Hercules was inspired by a flight Musker took to New York, in which he listened to a demo tape of the song while watching clips of NBA all-stars – a “happy accident”, as David Lynch would say! He then incorporated it with music video clips of En Vogue and C+C Music Factory, creating a strange yet oddly fluid cultural mash-up.

Interesting. Makes sense--like Hercules a brand of sandals a la a Nike endorsement.

• “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” was shot by filming live actors/dancers, and was then animated based on their movements. Very funny to see this clip!

I can imagine.

[monorail91]

Just remembered - At the end of “Friend Like Me” in Aladdin, the final image of Genie with the “Applause” sign originally wasn’t there – the song just ended with Aladdin in an empty cave!

Also, after Tim Burton (when he was an animator) got his wisdom teeth taken out, he asked his driver to stop at the Disney studios to do an “errand” – by which he meant taking the cotton swabs out of his mouth and bleeding all over people’s desks and walking through the hallways, with blood dripping out of his mouth!

Gosh I wish I could have videotaped it. So much great info!

[monorail91]

Tonight was a screening of Princess and the Frog!

Highlights:
• Applause after “Friends on the Other Side” and “Dig a Little Deeper”
• Musker is credited among “Additional Voices” – who??
• Color psychology used to capture different elements of New Orleans
o Pink for Charlotte, the blonde girl who wanted to be princess
o Green for a lush, beautiful context
o Purple for Dr. Facilier
o Mama Odie has the darkest complexion but is the most good of heart
o Facilier has the lightest complexion but is the most evil
• Jim Cummings (voice of Raymond) lived in New Orleans for 10 years and worked with Cajun merchants
• There is talk of a Tiana’s-themed restaurant at Disney World
• Mama Odie based partially on Coleen Salley, a storyteller
• Ron Clements wanted a New Orleans jazz funeral, so they decided to “kill” Ray
• Louis was originally a Yankee, Woody Allen-type accountant who made a deal with Facilier where he could play jazz music, and was turned into an alligator
• “Almost There” was originally a bluesy, “I Don’t Want” (as opposed to “I Want”) song because of Tiana’s broken dreams

[Sotiris]

Louis was originally a Yankee, Woody Allen-type accountant who made a deal with Facilier where he could play jazz music, and was turned into an alligator.

“Almost There” was originally a bluesy, “I Don’t Want” (as opposed to “I Want”) song because of Tiana’s broken dreams

Interesting. Thanks for your detailed entries. Did he say why these concepts were changed?

Btw, I think the reason this great thread isn't getting many replies is because of the title. Perhaps you should rename it to "Special Disney Events & Screenings" or something.

[monorail91]

Btw, I think the reason this great thread isn't getting many replies is because of the title. Perhaps you should rename it to "Special Disney Events & Screenings" or something.

Good call, just changed it!

He didn't elaborate much on the Louis stuff (would have been very interesting!) but regarding Almost There, he said that such a negative song would have made it hard for us to root for her, it would make her more of a pathetic figure than someone who has the drive to follow her dreams.

[Sotiris]

Regarding "Almost There", he said that such a negative song would have made it hard for us to root for her, it would make her more of a pathetic figure than someone who has the drive to follow her dreams.

That makes sense. I just wish we could listen to that deleted song. These sort of things should be included in the home video releases of the movies.

[DisneyDude2010]

Tonight was a screening of Princess and the Frog!

• There is talk of a Tiana’s-themed restaurant at Disney World

About time, SERIOUSLY i was wondering why this wasn't adding early or evening incorporated into the Fantasyland Expansion. I think that would be a hit!

Now Wishing for some Rapunzel themed areas - I WANT THAT TOWER AT DISNEY WORD!

[monorail91]

I threw that idea out to my friend, and her first reaction was that it might take over the Riverboat restaurant (?) in WDW? I'm not very familiar with WDW so I can't comment on that. I think a Tiana's Place restaurant would also work great in New Orleans Square at Disneyland (duh!), maybe replacing the French Market?

As far as Tangled stuff goes, I would love for the floating lights scene to be incorporated into the Storybookland Canal Boats haha.

If anybody's in the San Francisco Bay Area, tonight at the Disney Family Museum at the Presidio, John Musker will be hosting a screening of Great Mouse Detective! I'll try to be there!

[dvdjunkie]

Nationally recognized as one of the premier Theater Groups, the Wichita Music Theater is presenting Walt Disney's "The Little Mermaid" on stage from August 8 until August 14th.

Later in the season Wichita Theater Group will be presenting Walt Disney's "The Lion King".

We are getting some really good shows this season, and I will be attending all of them, as I have season tickets.

[monorail91]

The Little Mermaid will be screened at the fabulous Castro Theatre in San Francisco in a sing-along format from Sep. 23-25!!! I am super duper excited, by far one of my favorite movies with some of my favorite music.

http://www.castrotheatre.com/p-list.html

[Sotiris]

Ottawa International Animation Festival Offers a Trio of Panels that Are Sure to Delight Disney & Pixar Fans
http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief ... -fans.aspx


Will anyone be attending?

[Disney's Divinity]

“Almost There” was originally a bluesy, “I Don’t Want” (as opposed to “I Want”) song because of Tiana’s broken dreams

Like Sotiris, I really hope we eventually get a demo or something of this song. I can understand why they cut it though; it probably would've been very sad.

[monorail91]

I sure hope Disney gives us special editions of Princess and the Frog or Tangled in the near future. Most of the 1990s and early 2000s DACs got the 2-disc treatment, why not these two fantastic entries?!

[Sotiris]

I sure hope Disney gives us special editions of Princess and the Frog or Tangled in the near future. Most of the 1990s and early 2000s DACs got the 2-disc treatment, why not these two fantastic entries?!

Because Disney no longer invests in bonus features for home video releases? Even on Blu-ray, the extras are very scarce.

[monorail91]

Pictures from The Little Mermaid at the Castro Theatre:

Marquee:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43400093@N04/6191937619/" title="P9240133 by monorail91, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6167/619 ... efaf08.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P9240133"></a>

Poster outside:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43400093@N04/6191937857/" title="P9240134 by monorail91, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/619 ... 2784ea.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P9240134"></a>


Event hosted by Ariel and the Chef:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43400093@N04/6192455310/" title="P9240140 by monorail91, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/619 ... 4a67e3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P9240140"></a>

Really fun event! They turned it into a Rocky Horror-style participation event. Ariel and the Chef handed out goody bags as you entered the theater, with bubbles, dinglehoppers, crowns, clickers, pearl necklaces, and magic wands. Whenever Ariel would show up in a new outfit, we were instructed to "Ooh" and "aah", warn her when she was in trouble ("Look out, Ariel!") and "Don't do it!" (when she signs the contract with Ursula).

A good part of the crowd was really big fans (how could you not be?) who knew all the words - I couldn't stop laughing during Poor Unfortunate Souls, the audience even knew all of Ursula's inflections!

[Sotiris]

The CTN Animation Expo invites the toon industry to come celebrate their third edition November 18-20 at the Burbank Marriott. This year’s theme is “The Chain of Inspiration: Where Do We Go From Here?” and the show will feature over 150 sessions, exhibit floor, recruiting, book signings, gallery shows, live demos, screenings, CTN’s eclectic international talent base, plus special presentations and networking events from Animation Mentor, as well as evening parties hosted by DreamWorks and Disney.

Highlights of the event will include an interview with Ron Clements and John Musker (The Princess and the Frog) hosted by Animation Podcast founder Clay Kaytis; Creature Box founders/designers Greg Baldwin and Dave Guertin; character designer and studio founder Carlos Grangel (Grangel Studio); a spotlight presentation on the life and work of animator/illustrator/director Oscar Grillo; a conversation with graphic novel artist Régis Loisel; panels, live demos and signings with artist Florian Satzinger; and a round-table conversation featuring Terryl Whitlatch and other top creature designers.

Source: http://www.animationmagazine.net/events ... d-edition/

[monorail91]

Fantasia at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco Feb 24-26!!! Not sure which show I'm going to but I will definitely go to at least one! No word on which version it is (Sunflower or otherwise).