The two young executives stood admiring the impressive
artwork that lined the walls of the studio conference room. Of course, it's a
studio that shall remain nameless. Clearly taken aback by the beautiful artwork
and the stellar concept designs on display, the managers were eager to know the
person responsible. The senior executive wearing the "serious" dark suit turned
to her colleague with an important question.
True story. Actually overheard this conversation by two
executives
"Who managed this incredible project?"
And, that my friend is the problem with present day
management. Apparently, the talented artists whose work they clearly admired
were not even worth knowing. It would appear the talented staff that made the
project possible were not worthy of a mention. They were nothing more than
"hired hands," "fruit pickers" or a few other unflattering terms. The person
who should truly be noted, respected and admired was – you guess it – the
manager.
As an old timer in this crazy business of creating media I
often stand in amazement at how much management has encroached on the business
of creativity. Today, the tail wags the dog as clueless managers rule the roost
and take credit ( not to mention compensation) for the hard work of others.
But, I've gotta confess the managers have always had a edge. they're excellent
at exploiting and co-opting the work of others. While artists and other
creatives have their nose to the grindstone creating product, the managers more
often than not have plenty of time to plan and scheme their way to the top.
(L to R) Charlie Downs and Ken Peterson at Bob Youngquist's
retirement lunch in December 1970. Please note that Ken is
holding a picture of
himself as he looked when he first
began working for Walt Disney Studios back
in 1936.
If you're a manager I'm sure you think I'm out of line. Put
your mind at ease because I'm well aware of the importance of management. For a
number of years I ran my own company and I know the value of a good manager.
However, at the moment I talking about excess management, and we've plenty of
that these days. Consider the old days of animation film making where the
studio management was lean and mean. Most small studios employed a production
boss and a maybe a secretary who ran herd over the projects in house. Should
you want to consider what things were like at a much larger facility such as
The Walt Disney Studios, you might be in for a surprise. Even Walt's cartoon
factory employed a very lean management team even though multiple projects were
at work inside the magic factory. Besides Roy O. Disney and his upper level
management team, the animation studio was able to operate efficiently with
production boss Ken Peterson and Andy Engman running a department that
numbered in the hundreds. How could Ken, Andy and their secretaries handle such
a daunting task? Why didn't these Disney bosses have assistants and why didn't
their assistants have assistants? It's very simple actually. They simply
weren't needed.
Of course, I was clueless to the business side of animation
when I was a young artist at the Mouse House back in the 1960s. However, being
promoted to Walt's Story Department gave me a closer view of Disney's
production process. Here we were creating a major motion picture that would
mobilize the considerable resources of the entire studio. Yet, Walt Disney
didn't need an "army of managers" to accomplish that task. We didn't even have
"producers" in the old days. The job of running the project was left to a
production manager and his management team. When it came to production, each
art department pretty much managed themselves. It made sense, actually. Because
they knew what had to be done and what would be required to accomplish it. It
was very simple way of working. Yet, it was a very effective solution to the
oft complicated task of production.
Making outrageous demands is easier when you have no
knowledge of the process
You can imagine what a jaw dropping experience it was
returning to the business of animation in the early 1990s after a ten year
absence from film. I returned to film making with the expectation of seeing a
producer, associate producer and production manager. However, something strange
had happen while I was away. It would appear the influence of corporate
thinking had finally infected animation and the number of managers began to
multiply like roaches. Not only did the production have multiple managers, but
each department could boast of several managers, production assistants and the
like. Who were all these people, I wondered?
But aren't dozens of people necessary to run a production,
you ask? Perhaps so. Still, it makes me wonder how a studio like Disney managed
to produce film after film over a period of decades and accomplish all this
free of excess management. Adding insult to injury, most of today's management
completely lack an understanding of the job they're managing. Then again, what
else is new?
Our two well dressed executives had no regard for the talent
that created the art they admired. They saw only opportunity. Opportunity for
themselves to climb the corporate ladder on the backs of others. This is why I
often have complete distain for studio managers. Until these self-important
opportunists respect the artists who keep them employed – I guarantee they'll
get no respect from me.
Guess who's going to be in San Diego later this week?
Did you enjoy today's Toon Tuesday column? Well, if you'd
like to learn more about the many amazing & amusing adventures that this
Disney Legend has had over the course of the 40+ years that he's worked in the
animation industry, then you definitely want to check out some of the books
which Mr. Norman has written.
Floyd's most recent effort – "Disk Drive: Animated
Humor in the Digital Age" – is available for purchase through blurb.com.
While Mr. Norman's original collection of cartoons and stories — "Faster!
Cheaper! The Flip Side of the Art of Animation" – is still for sale over
at John Cawley's Cataroo. And if you still haven't had your fill of Floyd, feel
free to move on over to Mr. Fun. Which is where Mr. Norman posts his musings
when he's not writing for JHM.
More to the point, if you're going to be among the throng
down in San Diego later this week, keep your eyes peeled for Floyd. For Mr.
Norman is once again coming to Comic-Con International.