Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night . . .
On Monday evening May 23rd the Alex Theater, which was the place Walt Disney used to test screen his Silly Symphonies, became the place where the Walt Disney Animation Crew came to view the film especially about them - DREAM ON SILLY DREAMER.
After being laid off with hundreds of his colleagues in the lay offs of March 25, 2002, young effects animator Dan Lund decided to make a statement by making a film about the experience. Joined by his friend Tony West they created a documentary with clever animated sections on a shoestring budget. The film is a record of how young artists came to Disney with stars in their eyes, were trained by the Nine Old Men and created some of the most memorable hits in film history like THE LITTLE MERMAID, LION KING, ALADDIN and BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Then as things started to change and economics and bureaucracy stifled artistic expression, their final reward was to be laid off.
It is hard to tell people today that the crew who gave life to Ariel, Belle and Simba are mostly all gone. And it wasn't their idea. Assistant animator Jacky Sanchez fearlessly told the execs: "You have the London Philharmonic here, and you are busting it down to a Boy Band!" Other artists interviewed including Dorse Lanpher, Joey Mildenberger, Sue Nichols, Merry Clingen, John Tucker, Brian Ferguson, directing animator Andreas Deja and Carmen Sandersen, a painter with fifty years at Disney. An early admirer of the film was Roy Disney. He said: "I have to say how very human a face it puts on an institutional tragedy. Thanks to Dan and Tony for bringing a tear or three to this eye."
For the LA premiere if Dan & Tony worried if enough people would come their fears were soon allayed. The Alex was packed with hundreds of Disney craftsmen old and young. Animators, assistants, directors, techs, production people, all Disney veterans. It was like a wrap party, except what was wrapping was not one film but a way of life. Roy Disney introduced the film and was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation. An occapella vocal group sang versions of Circle of Life, Kiss the Girl and When you Dream Upon a Star.
After the film concluded, the lights went up, the singers finished, for a moment no one stirred from their seats. It was as if no one wanted to admit it was over. Sometimes we don't understand when we were part of something special until it is over. Like the 300 Spartans, Charlemagne's palladins, Termite Terrace, the Xerox Parc Group- on occasion a band of people come together at the right time and create a legend. The Disney Animation Crew of the 1990's now passes into legend. The future may see new crews and new legacies, but for now I am proud to have been part of their number, and their films will live on forever.
Tom Sito ¶ 4:55 AM
After being laid off with hundreds of his colleagues in the lay offs of March 25, 2002, young effects animator Dan Lund decided to make a statement by making a film about the experience. Joined by his friend Tony West they created a documentary with clever animated sections on a shoestring budget. The film is a record of how young artists came to Disney with stars in their eyes, were trained by the Nine Old Men and created some of the most memorable hits in film history like THE LITTLE MERMAID, LION KING, ALADDIN and BEAUTY & THE BEAST. Then as things started to change and economics and bureaucracy stifled artistic expression, their final reward was to be laid off.
It is hard to tell people today that the crew who gave life to Ariel, Belle and Simba are mostly all gone. And it wasn't their idea. Assistant animator Jacky Sanchez fearlessly told the execs: "You have the London Philharmonic here, and you are busting it down to a Boy Band!" Other artists interviewed including Dorse Lanpher, Joey Mildenberger, Sue Nichols, Merry Clingen, John Tucker, Brian Ferguson, directing animator Andreas Deja and Carmen Sandersen, a painter with fifty years at Disney. An early admirer of the film was Roy Disney. He said: "I have to say how very human a face it puts on an institutional tragedy. Thanks to Dan and Tony for bringing a tear or three to this eye."
For the LA premiere if Dan & Tony worried if enough people would come their fears were soon allayed. The Alex was packed with hundreds of Disney craftsmen old and young. Animators, assistants, directors, techs, production people, all Disney veterans. It was like a wrap party, except what was wrapping was not one film but a way of life. Roy Disney introduced the film and was greeted with a thunderous standing ovation. An occapella vocal group sang versions of Circle of Life, Kiss the Girl and When you Dream Upon a Star.
After the film concluded, the lights went up, the singers finished, for a moment no one stirred from their seats. It was as if no one wanted to admit it was over. Sometimes we don't understand when we were part of something special until it is over. Like the 300 Spartans, Charlemagne's palladins, Termite Terrace, the Xerox Parc Group- on occasion a band of people come together at the right time and create a legend. The Disney Animation Crew of the 1990's now passes into legend. The future may see new crews and new legacies, but for now I am proud to have been part of their number, and their films will live on forever.
Tom Sito ¶ 4:55 AM
