General
Depp Perception : Why For did Johnny really want to work for Walt Disney Studios ?
Jim Hill finally wraps up that story that he started last Friday. Where Mouse House execs struggle to get a handle on the movie version of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” As in: Who they should cast as Capt. Jack Sparrow, whether this project should be a theatrical release or just a video premiere, etc.
Kelly T. wrote me yesterday to say:
You didn’t forget about that Matt McConaughey story that you started last week, did you? At this point, JHM readers have been waiting for almost a week for you to finally finish that story. Please don’t leave us hanging !
Dear Kelly —
Sorry about that. Why don’t I try and pick up where I left off last Friday ?
Now you have to remember that — for a while there, anyway — that Walt Disney Studios couldn’t quite decide if “Pirates of the Caribbean” should be a movie that would be released to theaters or one of those relatively-rare live-action video premieres that Buena Vista Home Entertainment sometimes produces. You know ? Like “George Of The Jungle 2” or “Inspector Gadget 2.”
And if this movie was going to be a theatrical release … Well, that meant that Disney would then need a name performer to help open this sure-to-be-expensive-to-produce motion picture. And given that (at that time, anyway) Disney execs were somewhat impressed with the work that Matthew McConaughey had just done on Touchstone Pictures’ still-then-unreleased Summer 2002 release, “Reign of Fire” … It was thought that McConaughey might be a good fit for the role of Jack Sparrow.
Matthew McConaughey in Touchstone Pictures “Reign of Fire”
Copyright 2002 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Now keep in mind — at this point in the project’s development, anyway — that “Pirates of the Caribbean” had a much more conventional screenplay. By that I mean : This version of the script featured no cursed treasure and no undead pirates.
Instead, this version of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” screenplay started off with Will Turner working as a prison guard at the jail where Jack Sparrow is being held. And when the governor’s daughter is kidnapped by the notorious Captain Blackheart and then held for ransom … Well, Will breaks Jack out of prison. You see, Sparrow used to be a member of Blackheart’s crew. And Turner is hoping that this newly freed prisoner will now lead him to Blackheart’s secret hideout. So that Will will be able to rescue Elizabeth Swann.
So now these two, the ultimate odd couple — the straight-laced prison guard & the burned-out buccaneer — head out to rescue the governor’s daughter. With the authorities (I.E. Governor Swann as well as the by-the-book Head Jailer) hot on their heels and fearsome pirates directly in front of them. And hilarity (and much adventure) ensues.
You see what I’m saying here ? This version of the story (Which — surprise, surprise — was cooked up by a trio of Disney creative executives: Brigham Taylor, Michael Haynes and Josh Harmon) was a bit on the bland & predictable side. And Jack Sparrow was basically envisioned as 2001’s answer to Captain Vallo (I.E. The character that The Crimson Pirate.” Which was the last successful pirate picture to be produced in Hollywood. Which — FYI — was originally released to theaters back in 1952).
Anyway … Given McConaughey’s passing resemblance to a young Burt Lancaster (More importantly, given that “Reign of Fire” director Rob Bowman had some very nice things to say about Matthew. That the actor had had given his all during that film’s action sequences, that McConaughey hadn’t ever complained while having to wait around on set while that movie’s numerous pyro effects were being set up, etc.), it was felt that this actor might then be a smart addition to Disney’s “Pirates” project.
Early Captain Jack Sparrow concept drawing
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All Right Reserved
But then again … Let’s remember that — on the heels of “The Country Bears” not turning out nearly as well as Disney executives had hoped it would — studio officials were still debating whether “Pirates of the Caribbean” should be a video premiere. And if that were to happen … Well, obviously that version of “Pirates” wouldn’t be able to afford someone like Matthew McConaughey. So that meant Disney had to then find some much more affordable alternatives.
As for the proposed video premiere version “Pirates of the Caribbean,” I’ll say this much : Mouse House officials certainly had some interesting casting ideas for Jack Sparrow. They ranged from hiring Christopher Walken (Who — I think — would have have brought a real edge, added some genuine menace to this character) to Cary Elwes (Who — I’m imagining — would have been just as charming as he’d been while playing the Dread Pirate Roberts in “The Princess Bride“).
But then Dick Cook managed to get Jerry Bruckheimer interested in producing a motion picture version of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction. And once that happened … All bets were off. Bruckheimer wanted someone really extraordinary to play Capt. Jack Sparrow. Someone that you’d never ever expect to see in a movie that was based on a theme park ride.
Which brings us to Johnny Depp. Who actually wound up being cast in this film not because Depp was interested in appearing in any live-action projects for Disney. But — rather — because Johnny was hoping that he might be able to land a job voicing a character in one of the studio’s upcoming animated features.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Strange but true, folks. You see, Depp and his longtime love, French actress-singer Vanessa Paradis have two small children, Lily-Rose and Jack. And when you have kids these days … Well, you know the drill, right ? You spend hundreds of hours on the couch with your off-spring, watching the same damned Disney movies over & over & over …
Which might sound like torture for some. But not Johnny … You see, given how busy he’d been with his own career for the past 20 years, Depp was really unaware of what Disney Feature Animation had been up to during that same period. Which was why it was something of a surprise for Johnny to sit down with Lily-Rose & Jack and then discover how genuinely entertaining “The Little Mermaid (2-Disc Platinum Edition),” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” were.
And given the obvious kick that his kids were getting out of watching these WDFA productions (More importantly, given how few of Depp’s own films are really suitable for small children to watch) … Well, that’s why Johnny met with Dick Cook back in 2001. He wasn’t there at that studio as Johnny Depp, actor. But — rather — as Johnny Depp, father. Johnny was just looking to do a voice for one of Disney’s upcoming cartoons. So that he could then sit on the couch with Lily-Rose & Jack and be able to watch that movie with his own family.
Dick Cook, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
But Dick Cook … He wasn’t going to squander an opportunity like this by having someone of Depp’s caliber do voice work for “Meet the Robinsons.” As he listened to the names of all of the Disney films that Johnny & his kids had watched, Dick quickly realized that he was dealing with an actor who now had some real affection for the Mouse House and the types of movies that this studio produced.
Which is why Cook then decided to take a chance. Float a trial balloon, if you will. “You know,” Dick said. “We’re developing a movie that’s based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.”
Hearing this, Depp then got all excited. “A real pirate movie ?,” the actor asked. “With swords ?”
Cook replied. “Yeah. With swords.”
To which Johnny then responded : “I’m in.”
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Right Reserved
Now keep in mind that — at this point — Johnny hadn’t even seen a script for this film. Nor did he know what sort of character that Dick was envisioning him playing in this picture. None of that mattered. If Walt Disney Studios really was making a movie based on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction, then Depp wanted in. Period.
Of course, when Johnny learned that the production version of the “Pirates” screenplay was being rewritten by Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio (I.E. The two guys who wrote “Aladdin”) … Well, that was just the icing on the cake.
I mean, here was Depp, wanting to work on a Disney animated feature. But — instead — he lands a gig on a live-action project for that same studio that’s now sure to have some cartoonish qualities. And it’s a pirates picture, for God’s sake. What’s not to love about a job like that ?
After all, as Depp just said in a recent interview : “What little boy doesn’t love to play pirates ? “
As for how the motion picture version of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride would eventually turn out … That part of the story, I’m sure you already know. But isn’t it weird to hear how movies like this actually come together ? How performers really get cast in high profile projects like this ? How so much of what happens just seems to come down to coincidence ? The luck of the draw ?
Anywho … That’s it for this week at JHM. You folks have a great Memorial Day weekend, okay ?
General
Seward Johnson bronzes add a surreal, artistic touch to NYC’s Garment District
Greetings from NYC. Nancy and I drove down from New
Hampshire yesterday because we'll be checking out
Disney Consumer Products' annual Holiday Showcase later today.
Anyway … After checking into our hotel (i.e., The Paul.
Which is located down in NYC's NoMad district), we decided to grab some dinner.
Which is how we wound up at the Melt Shop.
Photo by Jim Hill
Which is this restaurant that only sells grilled cheese sandwiches.
This comfort food was delicious, but kind of on the heavy side.
Photo by Jim Hill
Which is why — given that it was a beautiful summer night
— we'd then try and walk off our meals. We started our stroll down by the Empire
State Building
…
Photo by Jim Hill
… and eventually wound up just below Times
Square (right behind where the Waterford Crystal Times Square New
Year's Eve Ball is kept).
Photo by Jim Hill
But you know what we discovered en route? Right in the heart
of Manhattan's Garment District
along Broadway between 36th and 41st? This incredibly cool series of life-like
and life-sized sculptures that Seward
Johnson has created.
Photo by Jim Hill
And — yes — that is Abraham Lincoln (who seems to have
slipped out of WDW's Hall of Presidents when no one was looking and is now
leading tourists around Times Square). These 18 painted
bronze pieces (which were just installed late this past Sunday night / early
Monday morning) range from the surreal to the all-too-real.
Photo by Jim Hill
Some of these pieces look like typical New Yorkers. Like the
business woman planning out her day …
Photo by Jim Hill
… the postman delivering the mail …
Photo by Jim Hill
… the hot dog vendor working at his cart …
Photo by Jim Hill
Photo by Jim Hill
… the street musician playing for tourists …
Photo by Jim Hill
Not to mention the tourists themselves.
Photo by Jim Hill
But right alongside the bronze businessmen …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and the tired grandmother hauling her groceries home …
Photo by Jim Hill
… there were also statues representing people who were
from out-of-town …
Photo by Jim Hill
… or — for that matter — out-of-time.
Photo by Jim Hill
These were the Seward Johnson pieces that genuinely beguiled. Famous impressionist paintings brought to life in three dimensions.
Note the out-of-period water bottle that some tourist left
behind. Photo by Jim Hill
Some of them so lifelike that you actually had to pause for
a moment (especially as day gave way to night in the city) and say to yourself
"Is that one of the bronzes? Or just someone pretending to be one of these
bronzes?"
Mind you, for those of you who aren't big fans of the
impressionists …
Photo by Jim Hill
… there's also an array of American icons. Among them
Marilyn Monroe …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and that farmer couple from Grant Wood's "American
Gothic."
Photo by Jim Hill
But for those of you who know your NYC history, it's hard to
beat that piece which recreates Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph of V-J Day in Times Square.
Photo by Jim Hill
By the way, a 25-foot-tall version of this particular Seward
Johnson piece ( which — FYI — is entitled "Embracing Peace") will actually
be placed in Times Square for a few days on or around August 14th to commemorate the 70th
anniversary of Victory Over Japan Day (V-J Day).
Photo by Jim Hill
By the way, if you'd like to check these Seward Johnson bronzes in
person (which — it should be noted — are part of the part of the Garment
District Alliance's new public art offering) — you'd best schedule a trip to
the City sometime over the next three months. For these pieces will only be on
display now through September 15th.
General
Wondering what you should “Boldly Go” see at the movies next year? The 2015 Licensing Expo offers you some clues
Greeting from the 2015 Licensing Expo, which is being held
at the Mandalay Bay
Convention Center in Las
Vegas.
Photo by Jim Hill
I have to admit that I enjoy covering the Licensing Expo.
Mostly becomes it allows bloggers & entertainment writers like myself to
get a peek over the horizon. Scope out some of the major motion pictures &
TV shows that today's vertically integrated entertainment conglomerates
(Remember when these companies used to be called movie studios?) will be
sending our way over the next two years or so.
Photo by Jim Hill
Take — for example — all of "The Secret Life of
Pets" banners that greeted Expo attendees as they made their way to the
show floor today. I actually got to see some footage from this new Illumination
Entertainment production (which will hit theaters on July 8, 2016) the last time I was in Vegas. Which
was for CinemaCon back in April. And the five or so minutes of film that I viewed
suggested that "The Secret Life of Pets" will be a really funny
animated feature.
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, Universal Pictures wanted to make sure that Expo
attendees remembered that there was another Illumination Entertainment production
coming-to-a-theater-near-them before "The Secret Life of Pets" (And
that's "Minions," the "Despicable Me" prequel. Which
premieres at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival next week but
won't be screened stateside 'til July 10th of this year). Which is why they had
three minions who were made entirely out of LEGOS loitering out in the lobby.
Photo by Jim Hill
And Warner Bros. — because they wanted "Batman v
Superman: Dawn of Justice" to start trending on Twitter today — brought
the Batmobile to Las Vegas.
Photo by Jim Hill
Not to mention full-sized macquettes of Batman, Superman and
Wonder Woman. Just so conventioneers could then see what these DC superheroes
would actually look like in this eagerly anticipated, March 25, 2016 release.
Photo by Jim Hill
That's the thing that can sometimes be a wee bit frustrating
about the Licensing Expo. It's all about delayed gratification. You'll come
around a corner and see this 100 foot-long ad for "The Peanuts Movie"
and think "Hey, that looks great. I want to see that Blue Sky Studios production
right now." It's only then that you notice the fine print and realize that
"The Peanuts Movie" doesn't actually open in theaters 'til November
6th of this year.
Photo by Jim Hill
And fan of Blue Sky's "Ice Age" film franchise are in for an even
longer wait. Given that the latest installment in that top grossing series
doesn't arrive in theaters 'til July
15, 2016.
Photo by Jim Hill
Of course, if you're one of those people who needs immediate
gratification when it comes to your entertainment, there was stuff like that to
be found at this year's Licensing Expo. Take — for example — how the WWE
booth was actually shaped like a wrestling ring. Which — I'm guessing — meant
that if the executives of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. didn't like
the offer that you were making, they were then allowed to toss you out over the
top rope, Royal Rumble-style.
Photo by Jim Hill
I also have to admit that — as a longtime Star Trek fan —
it was cool to see the enormous Starship Enterprise that hung in place over the
CBS booth. Not to mention getting a glimpse of the official Star Trek 50th
Anniversary logo.
Photo by Jim Hill
I was also pleased to see lots of activity in The Jim Henson
Company booth. Which suggests that JHC has actually finally carved out a
post-Muppets identity for itself.
Photo by Jim Hill
Likewise for all of us who were getting a little concerned
about DreamWorks Animation (what with all the layoffs & write-downs &
projects that were put into turnaround or outright cancelled last year), it was
nice to see that booth bustling.
Photo by Jim Hill
Every so often, you'd come across some people who were
promoting a movie that you weren't entirely sure that you actually wanted to
see (EX: "Angry Birds," which Sony Pictures Entertainment / Columbia
Pictures will be releasing to theaters on May 20, 2016). But then you remembered that Clay Kaytis —
who's this hugely talented former Walt Disney Animation Studios animator — is
riding herd on "Angry Birds" with Fergal Reilly. And you'd think
"Well, if Clay's working on 'Angry Birds,' I'm sure this animated feature
will turn out fine."
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, there were reminders at this year's Licensing Expo
of great animated features that we're never going to get to see now. I still
can't believe — especially after that brilliant proof-of-concept footage
popped up online last year — that Sony execs decided not to go forward
with production of Genndy Tartakovsky's
"Popeye" movie. But that's the
cruel thing about the entertainment business, folks. It will sometime break
your heart.
Photo by Jim Hill
And make no mistake about this. The Licensing Expo is all
about business. That point was clearly driven home at this year's show when —
as you walked through the doors of the Mandalay
Bay Convention Center
— the first thing that you saw was the Hasbros Booth. Which was this gleaming,
sleek two story-tall affair full of people who were negotiating deals &
signing contracts for all of the would-be summer blockbusters that have already
announced release dates for 2019 & beyond.
Photo by Jim Hill
"But what about The Walt Disney Company?," you
ask. "Weren't they represented on the show floor at this year's Licensing
Expo?" Not really, not. I mean, sure. There were a few companies there hyping
Disney-related products. Take — for example — the Disney Wikkeez people.
Photo by Jim Hill
I'm assuming that some Disney Consumer Products exec is
hoping that Wikkeez will eventually become the new Tsum Tsum. But to be blunt,
these little hard plastic figures don't seem to have the same huggable charm
that those stackable plush do. But I've been wrong before. So let's see what
happens with Disney Wikkeez once they start showing up on the shelves of the
Company's North American retail partners.
Photo by Jim Hill
And speaking of Disney's retail partners … They were
meeting with Mouse House executives behind closed doors one floor down from the
official show floor for this year's Licensing Expo.
Photo by Jim Hill
And the theme for this year's invitation-only Disney shindig? "Timeless
Stories" involving the Disney, Pixar, Marvel & Lucasfilm brands that
would then appeal to "tomorrow's consumer."
Photo by Jim Hill
And just to sort of hammer home the idea that Disney is no
longer the Company which cornered the market when it comes to little girls
(i.e., its Disney Princess and Disney Fairies franchises), check out this
wall-sized Star Wars-related image that DCP put up just outside of one of its
many private meeting rooms. "See?," this carefully crafted photo
screams. "It isn't just little boys who want to wield the Force. Little
girls also want to grow up and be Lords of the Sith."
Photo by Jim Hill
One final, kind-of-ironic note: According to this banner,
Paramount Pictures will be releasing a movie called "Amusement Park"
to theaters sometime in 2017.
Photo by Jim Hill
Well, given all the "Blackfish" -related issues
that have been dogged SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment over the past two years, I'm
just hoping that they'll still be in the amusement park business come 2017.
Your thoughts?
General
It takes more than three circles to craft a Classic version of Mickey Mouse
You know what Mickey Mouse looks like, right? Little guy,
big ears?
Truth be told, Disney's corporate symbol has a lot of
different looks. If Mickey's interacting with Guests at Disneyland
Park (especially this summer, when
the Happiest Place on Earth
is celebrating its 60th anniversary), he looks & dresses like this.
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved
Or when he's appearing in one of those Emmy Award-winning shorts that Disney
Television Animation has produced (EX: "Bronco Busted," which debuts
on the Disney Channel tonight at 8 p.m. ET / PT), Mickey is drawn in a such a
way that he looks hip, cool, edgy & retro all at the same time.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights
reserved
Looking ahead to 2017 now, when Disney Junior rolls out "Mickey and the
Roadster Racers," this brand-new animated series will feature a sportier version
of Disney's corporate symbol. One that Mouse House managers hope will persuade
preschool boys to more fully embrace this now 86 year-old character.
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved
That's what most people don't realize about the Mouse. The
Walt Disney Company deliberately tailors Mickey's look, even his style of
movement, depending on what sort of project / production he's appearing in.
Take — for example — Disney
California Adventure
Park's "World of Color:
Celebrate!" Because Disney's main mouse would be co-hosting this new
nighttime lagoon show with ace emcee Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Goldberg really had
to step up Mickey's game. Which is why this master Disney animator created
several minutes of all-new Mouse animation which then showed that Mickey was
just as skilled a showman as Neil was.
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved
Better yet, let's take a look at what the folks at Avalanche Studios just went
through as they attempted to create a Classic version of Mickey & Minnie.
One that would then allow this popular pair to become part of Disney Infinity
3.0.
"I won't lie to you. We were under a lot of pressure to
get the look of this particular version of Mickey — he's called Red Pants
Mickey around here — just right," said Jeff Bunker, the VP of Art
Development at Avalanche Studios, during a recent phone interview. "When
we brought Sorcerer Mickey into Disney Infinity 1.0 back in January of 2014,
that one was relatively easy because … Well, everyone knows what Mickey Mouse
looked like when he appeared in 'Fantasia.' "
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved
"But this time around, we were being asked to design
THE Mickey & Minnie," Bunker continued. "And given that these Classic
Disney characters have been around in various different forms for the better
part of the last century … Well, which look was the right look?"
Which is why Jeff and his team at Avalanche Studios began watching hours &
hours of Mickey Mouse shorts. As they tried to get a handle on which look would
work best for these characters in Disney Infinity 3.0.
Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
"And we went all the way back to the very start of Mickey's career. We began
with 'Steamboat Willie' and then watched all of those black & white Mickey shorts
that Walt made back in the late 1920s & early 1930s. From there, we
transitioned to his Technicolor shorts. Which is when Mickey went from being
this pie-eyed, really feisty character to more of a well-behaved leading
man," Bunker recalled. "We then finished out our Mouse marathon by
watching all of those new Mickey shorts that Paul Rudish & his team have
been creating for Disney Television Animation. Those cartoons really recapture
a lot of the spirit and wild slapstick fun that Mickey's early, black &
white shorts had."
But given that the specific assignment that Avalanche Studios had been handed
was to create the most appealing looking, likeable version of Mickey Mouse
possible … In the end, Jeff and his team wound up borrowing bits & pieces
from a lot of different versions of the world's most famous mouse. So that
Classic Mickey would then look & move in a way that best fit the sort of
gameplay which people would soon be able to experience with Disney Infinity
3.0.
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved
"That — in a lot of ways — was actually the toughest
part of the Classic Mickey design project. You have to remember that one of the
key creative conceits of Disney Infinity
is that all the characters which appear in this game are toys," Bunker
stated. "Okay. So they're beautifully detailed, highly stylized toy
versions of beloved Disney, Pixar, Marvel & Lucasfilm characters. But
they're still supposed to be toys. So our Classic versions of Mickey &
Minnie have the same sort of thickness & sturdiness to them that toys have.
So that they'll then be able to fit right in with all of the rest of the
characters that Avalanche Studios had previously designed for Disney Infinity."
And then there was the matter of coming up with just the
right pose for Classic Mickey & Minnie. Which — to hear Jeff tell the
story — involved input from a lot of Disney upper management.
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved
"Everyone within the Company seemed to have an opinion
about how Mickey & Minnie should be posed. More to the point, if you Google
Mickey, you then discover that there are literally thousands of poses out there
for these two. Though — truth be told — a lot of those kind of play off the
way Mickey poses when he's being Disney's corporate symbol," Bunker said.
"But what I was most concerned about was that Mickey's pose had to work
with Minnie's pose. Because we were bringing the Classic versions of these
characters up into Disney Infinity 3.0 at the exact same time. And we wanted to
make sure — especially for those fans who like to put their Disney Infinity
figures on display — that Mickey's pose would then complement Minnie.
Which is why Jeff & the crew at Avalanche Studios
decided — when it came to Classic Mickey & Minnie's pose — that they
should go all the way back to the beginning. Which is why these two Disney icons
are sculpted in such a way that it almost seems as though you're witnessing the
very first time Mickey set eyes on Minnie.
Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc. All rights reserved
"And what was really great about that was — as soon as
we began showing people within the Company this pose — everyone at Disney
quickly got on board with the idea. I mean, the Classic Mickey that we sculpted
for Disney Infinity 3.0 is clearly a very playful, spunky character. But at the
same time, he's obviously got eyes for Minnie," Bunker concluded. "So
in the end, we were able to come up with Classic versions of these characters
that will work well within the creative confines of Disney Infinity 3.0 but at
the same time please those Disney fans who just collect these figures because
they like the way the Disney Infinity characters look."
So now that this particular design project is over, does
Jeff regret that Mouse House upper management was so hands-on when it came to
making sure that the Classic versions of Mickey & Minnie were specifically
tailored to fit the look & style of gameplay found in Disney Infinity 3.0?
Copyright Lucasfilm / Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
"To be blunt, we go through this every time we add a new character to the
game. The folks at Lucasfilm were just as hands-on when we were designing the
versions of Darth Vader and Yoda that will also soon be appearing in Disney
Infinity 3.0," Bunker laughed. "So in the end, if the character's
creators AND the fans are happy, then I'm happy."
This article was originally posted on the Huffington Post's Entertainment page on Tuesday, June 9, 2015
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