First up, Robert writes in to say:
You write a great column. I am addicted. But I did notice one fact that did not ring true. You commented on “expensive CG extravaganzas as “Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow” in your article on April 25. While it was a great looking picture, I’ve heard it was far from expensive. In fact, the studio supposedly claimed it cost more to produce than it actually did, so it would look like more of a blockbuster. The actual production costs are supposedly as low as 35 million. The actors worked cheap, there was never a physical set, only a tiny production crew, and all the animation was put together by a relatively small team in a converted warehouse. An “extravaganzas”, maybe, but expensive it was not.
Robert —
Thanks for the kind words. But — you know — you’re right. Kerry Conran did deliver one truly spectacular looking film for (what I’ve heard was) under $40 million. So I guess it’s not really fair to lump “Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow” in with “The Polar Express.” Particularly when we’re talking about CG projects that blew through a lot of coin during production.
But — that said — I think that you then have to look past what Kerry actually spent on making “Sky Captain” and talk about what Paramount reportedly spent on promoting “World of Tomorrow.” I’ve heard figures as high as $60 million. And — when you take into account all of the ads that ran on television in the weeks prior to “Sky Captain” ‘s theatrical release — I’d have to say that that figure sounds about right.
So — when you fold what Paramount spent to market this movie into what Conran actually spent to make “Sky Captain” — you’re talking about a Hollywood blockbuster-sized budget, Robert. And for “World of Tomorrow” to only earn $37 million during its initial domestic release (I.E. Not even cover its production costs) … Well, there’s really no other way to paint that but as a disappointment.
Sure, if you factor in “Sky Captain” ‘s overseas ticket sales, pay TV revenues, the sale of the film’s broadcast rights to cable & network television, not to mention DVD sales … I would imagine that “World of Tomorrow” will eventually earn a profit for Paramount. But we’re talking three or four years down the line, Robert.
The only problem was … Viacom wanted a cash cow NOW. They wanted a “Sky Captain” to quickly become a hot property. So that the studio could then turn “World of Tomorrow” into a film franchise, with new installments coming out every three years or so. They also wanted “Sky Captain” to seasonally drive toy sales, to have its characters potentially spun off into theme park attractions for Kings Island & Kings Dominion, etc.
So — as you can see — Viacom had really high hopes for “Sky Captain.” And making a little money a few years down the line wasn’t really part of Paramount’s master plans for this project.
Me personally? I loved the look of the movie. And I have to admit that I’m fascinated by the way Kerry used the technology. Combining CG and greenscreen to create this lush-looking Fleischer-esque feature.
But — that said — “Sky Captain” ‘s story still left me cold … I wonder why that is.
Anyway, I hope the above clarifies what I was trying to say in Monday’s article. It really wasn’t my intention to portray Kerry Conran as a spendthrift. Truth be told, I think that he’s a pretty ingenious film-maker. More importantly, he’s a guy who really knows how to stretch a buck. So I’ll genuinely be intrigued to see what sort of opus he cranks out next.
Speaking of next … Next up is Wayne G., who ask:
Jim.
I was reading the 1998 autobiography of Canadian activist Maude Barlow, and she made a curious comment while referring to the removal of shanty towns around Manila Bay in the Philippines for the 1996 APEC Summit. She wrote: “The land…will house the first Disneyworld of the region.”
Is there any basis for her comment? I know it has never happened, but was it considered?
Thanks,
Wayne
Dear Wayne G.
You’d be surprised to hear where else the Mouse has considered building additional Disneylands over the past 45 years. For example: Just this week, Singapore’s minister of industry and trade Lim Ng Kiang revealed to the press that the Walt Disney Company had been negotiating with his government. With the hope of building a huge new theme park on a 300-hectare parcel in this Southeast Asian country.
Unfortunately, Disney’s negotiations with the government reportedly broke down over the financial terms of the deal. In essence, the Mouse wanted the Singapore version of DL to be Hong Kong Disneyland II. In that the Disney Company wanted the government to cover 90% of the project’s construction costs, but then still cut Mickey in for over 40% of the theme park’s profits.
The Singapore government balked at those financial terms. Which is why the Mouse eventually walked away. Opting instead to go to India, where the Disney corporation’s stiff terms supposedly met with little if any resistance.
Anyway … To finally get back to answering your original question, Wayne: Yes, I’ve heard stories about the Walt Disney Company exploring the idea of building a theme park in the Phillipines. Likewise Australia, South America and even Dubai. Various factors (EX: Insufficent tourism base, political upheaval, unstable currency, etc.) have thus far prevented the Mouse from building theme parks in these corners of the globe. But that isn’t to say that Mickey won’t revisit his decision in the decade yet to come.
In fact, that’s what I keep hearing from my sources inside of WDI: “Wait ’til you see where we’re going to build new theme parks between 2010 & 2020. Particularly if people take to the Hong Kong version of Disneyland with its smaller scale. If that theme park wins over the public, Disney is going global in a really big way.”
So I guess we’ll have to wait & see what the next 15 years brings.
Next up is Angela, who asks:
Hi Jim,
I have thoroughly enjoyed your articles about all things Disney! My question for you (and I’m not sure if it’s been covered already, so sorry if it has) is what is the fate of the PeopleMover attraction? I know the Disneyland one is closed, I haven’t been to WDW since 2002 so I don’t know about it. Also, do you know how this attraction came to be in the first place, and if it was ever changed during it’s ‘life?’ Thanks a bunch!
I’ll say this much: Disney’s PeopleMover really does have a rather interesting origin. I’m told that the late Disney Legend John Hench actually got the idea for the contraption ‘way back the early 1960s, when he was visiting a Ford assembly plant.
During his tour of the facility, John watched as a cauldron full of molten steel was being moved down through the production area on a complex conveyor belt. Hench said that he was impressed by the fact that — even though this container was obviously heavy, what with being filled with white hot metal & all — the cauldron quickly made its way across the factory floor without spilling a drop.
John figured that — if this system could be used to safely transport tons of molten steel through a factory each day — its basic idea could then be adapted for use in a Disney theme park. Which is how the PeopleMover eventually became a key compoment of Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland. Which first opened to the public in July of 1967.
As for the PeopleMover’s future … Well, I’ve been hearing the same rumors that Al Lutz has been hearing. But — that said — let me add a few more pieces to the puzzle.
The real reason that the Imagineers are reportedly looking into bringing back the PeopleMover is that — what with all of the new Tomorrowland shows that have either already been built (I.E. “Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster”), have yet to be officially announced (I.E. Space Mountain’s new night-time only soundtrack, “Rockit Mountain”), are still in the process of being constructed (I.E. The new “Finding Nemo” version of the Subs) and/or are moving rather swiftly through WDI’s developmental process (I.E. “Star Tours II” and the “Cars” -based retheming of Disneyland’s Autopia) … Well, the Imagineers are anticipating that by 2008, Disneyland ‘s Tomorrowland is going to have some very serious traffic problems. With most of the park’s guests trying to cram their way into this very small portion of Disneyland in order to sample all of the new rides & shows.
So — obviously — some people-eating attraction have to be quickly added to this side of the theme park so that Disneyland can then better handle all of these additional bodies. So among the ideas that are currently being kicked around is — yes — bringing the PeopleMover back on line. As well as removing the Astro Orbitor from its current position at the entrance to Tomorrowland (to make it easier for guests to get into this part of the park) and then placing this ride on top of the PM’s old loading station.
Mind you, this isn’t the only idea that WDI currently has in the works. I think all you Douglas Adams fans out there will be pleased to hear that — should the movie version of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” prove to be a hit (More importantly, inspire a sequel or two) — that the Imagineers would then like to replace “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” with a brand new “Hitchhikers” inspired 3D movie.
Now I would imagine that even Marvin the paranoid android couldn’t be depressed about news like that … Anyway … Moving on to our next e-mail now. Chris W. writes in to ask:
Dear Mr. Hill,
I have been a fan of your writings for a long time now and I really appreciate your insite into all things Disney. The reason I am writing you today is because I am graduating from Cal-State Long Beach with a degree in film and for one of my final classes, we need to do an oral report on a theater of some kind. Being a huge fan of the Disney parks and imagineering, I thought it would be interesting to report on The Hyperion at DCA. I was wondering if you had any information about any original concepts or maybe things that changed between the drawing board and the finished project or maybe even an interesting story about its construction. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,Chris W.
Dear Chris W.
As I understand it, DCA’s Hyperion Theater was actually an outgrowth of the Disneyland Bowl. An outdoor performance venue (very similar in construction to the Universal Amphitheatre) that was initially part of the resort’s master plan back when the Imagineers were still planning on building Westcot.
Sadly, the Disneyland Bowl was one of the very first things to get cut out of the $3 billion expansion. As people who actually live in the neighborhoods surrounding the Anaheim theme park zeroed in on the outdoor performance venue as potentially adding to the noise pollution that Disneyland already creates.
So WDI scrubbed its plans for the Disneyland Bowl. But — as Westcot eventually gave way to Disney’s California Adventure — there (in virtually the same place that the Imagineers had originally planned on building the Disneyland Bowl) was the Hyperion Theater.
However, the most interesting feature of this new Disneyland resort theater wasn’t that it was now enclosed. But — rather — as WDI originally designed the place, the Hyperion had two different sets of entrances & lobbies: One that faced into DCA’s Hollywood Pictures Backlot area, while the other one was actually located outside of the theme park. Facing into the Disneyland Plaza area.
Why For did the Imagineers do that? Well, the plan was that — during the day — the Hyperion would be used to present shows for California Adventure’s guests. But — once the theme park closed for the day — the stage of this same 2000-seat hall then could be used for nightly concerts. So that performers like Sheryl Crow & Alanis Morrisette would then have someplace other than the Pond to play the next time they appeared in Anaheim.
Sadly — as happened with virtually everything that was originally planned for Disney’s California Adventure — once the project’s budget began to get cut back, the Imagineers started to simplify DCA’s design. And one of the very first items to go was the Hyperion’s second entrance & lobby.
A lot of the Imagineers that I’ve spoken with still view this as one of the more short-sighted decisions that was made as California Adventure was being built. That — if the project’s managers had just stuck with WDI’s original plans — that the dual entranced version of DCA’s Hyperion Theater could have generated an awful lot of additional revenue for the Disneyland Resort.
Ah, well. Hindsight is always 20/20/ Or so they say. And speaking of looking back, Jesper A. writes in to ask:
Dear Jim!
I’m very interested in almost all Disney rides, but especially the unbuilt rides.
I would really like to buy a book about some of the unbuilt rides (plus the built rides) in Disneyland Paris and/or the other Disney parks.
My question then is… Do you have one that you will recommend to me, and one that is I can buy on the internet?
Sincerely,
Jesper A.
Jesper —
Actually, if you can just hang in there for a year or so, I know just the book you’re looking for, Jesper. It’s called “Neverlands.” And it’s going to be published by Intrepid Traveler Press, a Connectict-based travel publishing company.
“Neverlands” will feature stories about Disneyland “lands” & attractions that never quite made it off the drawing board like “Big City U.S.A.” and “Mythia.” Not to mention entire chapters about never-built theme parks like “Disney’s America” and “Port Disney.” As well as projects like the Mineral King ski area or the Independence Lake resort that got tripped up by the approval process.
Yeah, “Neverlands” should be one hell of an interesting read … If I ever actually get around to finally finishing writing the damn thing!
And — speaking of gratuitous plugs — Jeff Lange wants me to remind you all that we’re still taking names for the offcial notification list for our soon-to-be-released Disneyland History CD. In fact, sometime next week, we plan on sending out an e-mail to everyone who’s already asked to hear more about this disc. In which we reveal how you can get a a price break on the thing.
Sooooo … If you like bargains as well as warts-and-all stories about the “Happiest Place on Earth,” now might be a really good time to send a note to jim@jimhillmedia.com with your name & e-mail address on it.
Anywho … That’s pretty much it for today, folks … Though — if you’re looking for something fun to read this Saturday or Sunday, you might want to follow this link over to o-meon.com. Where you’ll find Chuck Oberleitner’s coverage of last Friday’s “Aladdin” re-union event as well as last Saturday’s screening of “Dream On Silly Dreamer” at the Newport Bay Film Fest.
You folks have a great weekend, okay? Here’s hoping that we see you all here again bright & early next Monday morning. When I (hopefully) have some new stories to share with you.
Til then, you take care, okay?
jrh