I know, I know. Normally, this is where I answer the questions you send in. But — given that so many JHM readers have written in over the past couple of weeks, offering up their insights about various “Why For” questions — I wanted to share some of this extremely cool info with you.
So let’s start with that “Does Disney have the theme park rights to Harry Potter?” questions that we dealt with back on August 15th. The evidence still seems to point in all sorts of interesting directions. For example, a veteran Imagineer passed along this somewhat depressing tidbit:
Jim,
There has been NO indication here that Disney has any involvement with Harry Potter. We’re having enough trouble trying to get the company to back worthwhile projects for (“Finding Nemo.”) If corporate has struck some kind of deal, they (are) certainly not sharing it with their creative resources. If they DO have something (in the works), let’s hope it doesn’t fail like their Marsupilami character rights (deal) did (back in the 1980s).
But then Bill Zanetti — the owner of MagicalEars.com — chimed in with this really intriguing Harry Potter/Disney related story to share:
Hello Jim.
I’ve been reading your columns for a long time now, and I love them.
There is something I’d like to add to your Harry Potter article from the 15th of Aug. My friend and I went (to Epcot) on a weekend sometime earlier this year … This was the day when Mr. Eisner was in the park. He had come to ride the new improved “Journey into Imagination with Figment,” which was the same reason we were there. Mind you, we didn’t know he was in the park at the time, or we would have gone to look for him.
(Anyway) It was about lunch time, so we were heading toward the Land’s food court from Spaceship Earth. As we walked, we encountered a man who was on a cell phone. (Everyone is on one nowadays) But this guy was walking very quickly. And it wasn’t his walking that caught our attention. It was what he was saying.
Now, remember, we were having trouble keeping up with this guy because he was moving so quickly, but we did hear him say the following, and I quote, “Okay, well, I need the Harry Potter Ride Storyboards done by next week… ok.” At that point we started following him, but he then hung up and just left and headed toward the Imagination pavilion… which we found out was where Mr. Eisner was at the time.
Bill Zanetti – MagicalEars.com
Now, given Bill Z.’s reputation (plus the fact that his website — MagicalEars.com — has been around since June of 1996. So this is clearly not a fly-by-night operation. Nor is Mr. Zanetti a flake), I’m extremely reluctant to automatically dismiss what Mr. Z says he heard.
But here’s my problem, people. Just because Bill overheard someone inside a Disney theme park talking about a Harry Potter ride doesn’t automatically mean that Zanetti was listening to a Disney World employee. For all I know, the person talking on that cell phone could have been a Warner Bros. employee who was on vacation in Orlando. Rather than some Imagineer.
“Why a Warner Brothers employee?” you ask? Well, as Joe Kleiman, the editor of “The SFC Review” was nice enough to write and point out:
Jim,
I find it interesting that nowhere in the discussion of Disney having (the) theme park rights to the Harry Potter characters (on your site or others) have I found mention of his previous two theme park experiences:
A Harry Potter attraction at Warner Brothers MovieWorld, a joint venture between Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow in Australia, closed this past May.
Harry Potter also appeared in the Bill and Ted show during Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights in 2001.
It is possible that the rights may be split by territory (I.E. Sesame Street is held by Busch Entertainment in the US, but by Universal Recreation Group in Japan).
Best,
Joe K.
Joe is right, folks. It *IS* possible that multiple parties could hold the theme park rights to the Harry Potter characters. With one corporation holding the stateside rights, while J.K. Rowling could have awarded the overseas rights to an entirely different company.
But — if that’s really the case — then why does everyone keep associating Harry Potter with the Walt Disney Company? Perhaps it’s Gene L. who has the answer:
I wanted to chime in on the Harry Potter thing, and remind everyone that Disney acquired the rights to broadcast the Potter movies as they come out. The first one will be airing in May. The big debate right now at the network is over airing the movie in a 7-11pm block on a Saturday night, or splitting it up into two parts 7-9pm on Sat and Sun night. The network would love to split the film into two bits, since most kids can’t stay up ’till 11pm and they can pack more internal commercials into the movie. But they’re balking at pre-empting regular programming on a Sunday during May sweeps.
So maybe it was all this talk about ABC acquiring the American television broadcast rights for “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” that initially caused all the confusion. That mistakenly made people think that it was the Walt Disney Company that had somehow acquired the theme park rights to J.K. Rowling’s characters.
I know, I know. This is yet another of those non-answer answers. But I promise you that the crew at JimHillMedia.com will continue to work at the does-Disney-have-the-theme-park-rights-to-Harry-Potter story. And — if and when we learn definitive about the subject — we’ll be sure to post it here.
Moving on now …
Another recent JHM article that generated a lot of reader mail was our August 11th story on “Captain Eeyore.” Well, as it turns out, I’m not the only one who looks back fondly on this weird little Disneyland cast member produced film. For David wrote to my ex, Michelle Smith (AKA The Fabulous Disney Babe, and co-founder of this here website), to share his memories of the project:
Hey Michelle,
Just read the article on Captain Eeyore. It’s funny because I worked on it. I was the assistant director to XXXX XXXXX, who directed (the film). I did the design of all the costumes (in “Captain Eeyore”), including the demented Minnie Mouse with pens and pencils attached to her fingers. (The female cast member who played that role) was a scheduler of dubious popularity. I can’t remember her name now…
I (also) remember going through all the costume bits in the back storerooms (at Disneyland and using that material to create the “Captain Eeyore”) character costumes.
Oh, and Captain Eeyore himself. XXXXXX XXXX was the man’s name, and he had seen “Captain Eo” so many times, he could reenact the entire movie. He was perfect for the part.
I hadn’t seen it in years and years. I used to have a video copy, but it disappeared somewhere along the moves.
David
In my “Captain Eeyore” article, I remarked that it seemed kind of a shame that more of these cool cast-member-only movies weren’t made. Well, according to C from WDW, more films WERE made:
I read with great interest you article on Disneyland Videos. There have been a few more produced, especially at Epcot in 1992, 1994, and 1995-6. Also Animal Kingdom Entertainment in 1999. (These special cast-member-only production were created) for Entertainment Banquets. The only caveat was (that) no copies could ever get out. (But) — of course — they did. (These films) are out there. Most do contain amateurish scripts, and bad video. But — (what the) hey — we wanted to see characters in UNCONVENTIONAL situations. A few of the segments (featured in these films included):
“Showcase Girls” (a takeoff on Showgirls) featured various Face Characters (Disney Princesses) in a strip club.
A Pocahontas sketch, filmed in Epcot’s Canada, where Pocahontas gets dumped by a gay John Smith.
Beavis and Butthead tour Epcot.
“Speed”, where an Epcot Omnibus full of Characters cannot drop below 5mph or it will blow up. This sketch ended spectacularly with Tigger getting his head knocked off when it smashed the top of the water tunnel on Backstage Lane behind France.
“Jurasservice Park”, a take off comparing Animal Kingdom to Jurassic Park.
“When Artimals Attack”- remember “March of the Artimals?”
Another great sketch had many straight, male Entertainment managers dressed in drag as various Disney Princesses. Too much.
And many more, with performers with heads off, making fun of guests, etc.
These have faded from memory. Most managers these days would NEVER allow this to happen anymore … It’s sad, really… We used to have some fun times. (Nowadays) Everyone is too afraid anymore to let loose.
C at WDW
And — based on some of the other e-mail I’ve received — it would appear that the tradition of creating these kooky sorts of cast-member-only movies is also alive and well in Anaheim. Or should I say it was. At least until recently. Alice’s good friend wrote in to reminisce:
Two years ago we (shot) a light saber battle on top of the castle (between) Mickey and a manager! We have (also) done a “Survivor” spoof, a remake of the “Wizard of Oz” called the “Sorcerer of Toons”, and even a Twilight Zone in Toon Town called (what else) “The Toon Zone.” It’s about what happens to a bratty child guest that gets trapped there after the park closes. Just to name a few (of the cast-member-only films that we’ve produced over the years).
This year will be the first year we are not allowed to make a character movie and probably never be able to again. (Why for? Because the Disneyland) character dept. banquet is no longer being funded or recognized by the (Walt Disney) company. So we (no longer) have access to shoot in the park or (or the right to ) use company property — like costumes — (in these productions). So what fun would that be?
Well, I’m sorry to hear that the tradition of the cast-member-only movies is fading away. But — man! — would I love to see some of those older films! I mean, even some of the ones that have been produced by cast members at Disneyland-Paris sound like they would be a lot of fun to watch. Take for example, this sequence that Scott A. describes:
… This one made me laugh a lot for some reason. Filmed at the loading area for the “Pays de Contes Fees” (The DLP Storybookland Canals). You see the cast member walking on the loading turntable in the normal state of boredom that accompanies these types of attractions. He looks up at the stairs that lead the guests down to load as a female Cast Member is coming down the steps, presumably to bump into position. The loading cast member does a double take. But — when he looks back — the music to the song “My Heart Will Go On” from (the Academy Award winning movie) “Titanic” starts playing. And the girl is dressed up in an outfit like the one that Kate Hudson wore in the movie.
(Next) we cut to the big “Near, Far, Wherever you are….” part of the song. Now imagine the guy cast member in the Storybookland costume (little blue and white striped shirt, straw hat, etc.). And he and the woman are in the position like in the movie “Titanic” where Kate and Leonardo are on the bow of the boat with her arms outstretched, his arms around her. You know the scene. All recreated on the front of a Storybookland Canal boat!
Scott A.
Sounds like some funny, funny stuff. Which I’d dearly love to see someday. If anyone would ever send me a copy of some of these cast-member-only movies (hint, hint).
But what am I saying? Surely some of you JHM readers out there would also like to check out one of these cast-member-only productions. Well — if that’s really the case — then I suggest that you check out this QuickTime movie.
What exactly are you looking at here? Well, maybe we’d better let Jack P. explain
Huge fan of the site, been reading for a while… I missed your story about “Captain Eeyore” and I have to say that some films still get made…
I myself created a film for the Great Movie Oscars (an annual event held by and for Great Movie Ride cast members). One day before opening I went and filmed the Munchkins doing their thing and then re-dubbed the audio and worked with the film to sync their lips to the Budweiser “Whassup” commercial.
Anyways, it got great response, and I’d love for you to see it. (If you do like it and want to share it, you are more than welcome to.)
Well, I really did enjoy it, Jack. Which is why I’m sharing it this morning with JimHillMedia.com readers.
By the way, Jack P.’s company — Monkibrand Productions — doesn’t just make short subjects starting obnoxious Munchkins. They’re also a web savvy group of artists who produce high quality t-shirts as well as longer form films. You can find more information about Monkibrand Productions over at their web site.
Okay. That’s it for this week, folks. In next week’s “Why For,” I promise that we’ll deal with the origins of that whole “Applecore … Baltimore” thing. Plus address what’s actually going on with those “Wuzzles” character costumes that keep popping up on MTV, in print ads and even in mainstream non-Disney movies like “Old School” and “The Sweetest Thing.” It’s a pretty wild story.
Also … before I forget: My apologies for promising that “Post Eisner Era” story for last Tuesday and then not delivering. But I got tripped up by the Labor Day weekend, folks. Which is why this sure-to-be-controversial story will now be bowing on JHM on Monday, September 8th. So be sure to come by the site early next week to check that one out. And we’ve got a special wrap up for Jim Korkis’s history of the American comic book series; the last four parts will be published on the site starting today and over the next three days, so be sure to catch those.
Beyond that … have a great weekend, okay?
jrh