worker_bee
10-12-2005, 12:22 AM
"The allegedly creative VPs at Disney Feature Animation. Those people in WDFA management who have little or no experience when it comes to storytelling. But since they occupy large offices in the Sorcerer Mickey building and feel like they have to do something every now & then to justify their over-sized paychecks, these corporate weasels meddle. They mumble & mutter. But -- more importantly -- they bad-mouth.
And this time around, these empty suits chose to bad-mouth "Fraidy Cat." Saying that the premise of the picture was far too obscure. "I mean, who today even remembers who Alfred Hitchcock was? So why would kids in 2009 pay good money to see an animated film that pays tribute to an old, fat, dead movie director?"
And those WDFA VPs ... They kept whispering and whispering. Saying things like "This project has such limited commercial appeal. There's no way that we're going to be able to persuade a major manufacturer to make 'Fraidy Cat' toys" and "How is this film going to expand the Disney brand? Are there characters here that we can use for a Saturday morning spin-off? Or for a home premiere sequel?" And eventually, Stainton started listening to the whisperers.
In short, the head of Disney Feature Animation lost confidence in "Fraidy Cat." Based on the way all his lieutenants kept bad-mouthing this project, Stainton began to wonder if this was really the sort of picture that WDFA should be producing at this time. Whether it wouldn't be wiser instead for Walt Disney Studios to greenlight some other project that had much broader commercial appeal.
So never mind the fact that David had two proven hit-makers -- Ron Clements & John Musker -- riding herd on "Fraidy Cat." Or that this picture was clearly getting better with each new version of the FC story reel that Ron'n'John's editorial team produced. Stainton still chose to listen to his allegedly creative VPs instead (A group of people who have never actually written or directed any movies) and just shut down development of this WDFA project.
In short, David chickened out. The head of Disney Feature Animation was actually afraid to go ahead & greenlight production of "Fraidy Cat." Just because a bunch of MBAs told him it would probably be a bad idea.
o is it any wonder now that Ron'n'John have decided to leave Disney? After all, why should these two stay at a studio where they thought they had a proven track record as gifted filmmakers ... When Musker & Clements' opinion on a picture isn't considered as important as those of some 30-year-old accountant? Some empty suit who isn't actually looking to build a career at Disney Feature Animation. But -- rather -- is just passing through the Mouse House on his way to landing a corner office at Reebok or the Gap.
Me personally ? I miss the old days at Disney Feature Animation. When the animators in that building actually out-numbered the accountants. And the people who were deciding which movies got made at Walt Disney Studio had to know a little something about storytelling. When the decision to greenlight a picture didn't hinge on something as ridiculous as "Do you think that kids will really respond to a 'Fraidy Cat' Happy Meal?"
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1604
And this time around, these empty suits chose to bad-mouth "Fraidy Cat." Saying that the premise of the picture was far too obscure. "I mean, who today even remembers who Alfred Hitchcock was? So why would kids in 2009 pay good money to see an animated film that pays tribute to an old, fat, dead movie director?"
And those WDFA VPs ... They kept whispering and whispering. Saying things like "This project has such limited commercial appeal. There's no way that we're going to be able to persuade a major manufacturer to make 'Fraidy Cat' toys" and "How is this film going to expand the Disney brand? Are there characters here that we can use for a Saturday morning spin-off? Or for a home premiere sequel?" And eventually, Stainton started listening to the whisperers.
In short, the head of Disney Feature Animation lost confidence in "Fraidy Cat." Based on the way all his lieutenants kept bad-mouthing this project, Stainton began to wonder if this was really the sort of picture that WDFA should be producing at this time. Whether it wouldn't be wiser instead for Walt Disney Studios to greenlight some other project that had much broader commercial appeal.
So never mind the fact that David had two proven hit-makers -- Ron Clements & John Musker -- riding herd on "Fraidy Cat." Or that this picture was clearly getting better with each new version of the FC story reel that Ron'n'John's editorial team produced. Stainton still chose to listen to his allegedly creative VPs instead (A group of people who have never actually written or directed any movies) and just shut down development of this WDFA project.
In short, David chickened out. The head of Disney Feature Animation was actually afraid to go ahead & greenlight production of "Fraidy Cat." Just because a bunch of MBAs told him it would probably be a bad idea.
o is it any wonder now that Ron'n'John have decided to leave Disney? After all, why should these two stay at a studio where they thought they had a proven track record as gifted filmmakers ... When Musker & Clements' opinion on a picture isn't considered as important as those of some 30-year-old accountant? Some empty suit who isn't actually looking to build a career at Disney Feature Animation. But -- rather -- is just passing through the Mouse House on his way to landing a corner office at Reebok or the Gap.
Me personally ? I miss the old days at Disney Feature Animation. When the animators in that building actually out-numbered the accountants. And the people who were deciding which movies got made at Walt Disney Studio had to know a little something about storytelling. When the decision to greenlight a picture didn't hinge on something as ridiculous as "Do you think that kids will really respond to a 'Fraidy Cat' Happy Meal?"
http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1604