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reviews
By C. W. Oberleitner
November 18, 2008
WALL•E, the hilariously heartwarming tale of the world’s most famous trash compactor, is now available from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in both Blu-ray Disc and standard DVD format. Wanna know if either one, or both, is, or are, a good investment? Read on!
(Discuss)
news & features
 BOLT Media Event Live
By C. W. Oberleitner
November 17, 2008
Live from from Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank a quick point by point summary of today's BOLT press conference With John Travolta, Susie Essman, Mark Walton, John Lasseter, and directors Chris Williams & Byron Howard. (All times PST)
11:25 Disney standard time as we await the 11:00 a.m. start of this mornings press event.
11:30 "Fortunately I'm already in touch with my inner dog." John Travolta on creating the voice of Bolt. Travolta and Miley Cyrus recorded their song togther but not their speaking parts.
For John Lasseter, a question as to why Tinkerbelle was not released theatrically. "When I came in nearly three years ago, in January, there were a number of productions I jumped into. BOLT was one I wanted to make great for the studio and the same goes for Tinkerbelle."
11:35 Regarding the "Pixar Process" at Disney animation. "What we decided to do was make this a filmmaker lead studio...," John Lasseter. "Other than that all the process is kept here and seperate. We're [Disney Animation and Pixar Animation] like cousins. We get toghether every so often and share a lot of information and ideas but we're seperate operations."
"When people say this feels like a Pixar movie we take that as high praise." Byron Howard.
"As Steve Jobs always says, when you do these stories right they last for a long, long time." John Lasseter.
11:40 John Lasseter was asked if he knew how many 3D screens BOLT would open on. "I will in a second," Lasseter replied as he asked one of the studio reps for the exact number. "Over 900 3D screns. The first film we've designed specifically for 3D."
He was also asked if they had begun designing films with Blu-ray Disc distribution in mind as they have with 3D. "We have something up oursleves for BOLT [home release] that we can't announce yet, however, its going to be exceptional."
11:45 Talking about the Mittens - Bolt relationship, Travolta takes Susie Essman's hand and gazes fondly at her. The audience laughs.
When asked about deciding to take the role of Bolt Travolta responded "I knew I could help them the question was it the right thing [for me] to do or not."
11:50 "This is one of the hardest jobs [voice acting] for actors to do," John Lasseter.
"You're dependent on the director and the animator for all the things you can't see or think of," John Travolta.
Time's up. Thank you for coming. Please wait here in the theatre while the talent leaves.—Disney Rep
(Discuss)
columns
By C. W. Oberleitner
November 11, 2008
You may be asking yourself why this week’s column is once again political in nature, especially in view of the fact that Proposition 8 passed and same-sex couples no longer have the right to marry in California. The phrase “no longer have the right” is the reason. I just don’t feel like writing about theme parks and cartoons while I and millions of my fellow tax paying brothers and sisters are denied a basic human right.—Chuck
(Discuss)
reviews
By C. W. Oberleitner
October 14, 2008
It’s been said that as a young man, Walt Disney dreamt of bringing the breathtaking beauty of the artwork found in the galleries and museums of France to life for everyone, everywhere. Although it’s taken 50 years and a quantum leap in technology, it looks as though the DVD and Blu-ray Platinum Edition of Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty may finally have achieved that goal.
[This review was delayed. We’d hoped this would be our first Blu-ray Disc review; however, problems receiving our Blu-ray player made that impossible.—Editor]
(Discuss)
this business of show
By C. W. Oberleitner
September 29, 2008
They say that showmanship is dead. Last week Dick Cook, erstwhile Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, proved “them” wrong. Appearing as talk-show host, comedian, actor, and executive Cook did it all in a manner and a fashion that would have made P. T. Barnum and Steve Jobs proud as he hosted industry players and entertainment media from around the world at the Walt Disney Studios Showcase Event.
(Discuss)
columns
By C. W. Oberleitner
September 23, 2008
Last July, our primary correspondent, C. W. Oberleitner, accepted the position of NFFC Vice President Media Relations and Communications. A few weeks later, he began what he now lovingly refers to as the Web Database project from the nether regions, with which he is still overwhelmingly preoccupied. So while he remains absent from the writing front, we thought it might be nice to take a look back—all the way to July 29, 2003—at how he first became aquatinted with the National Fantasy Fan Club, or NFFC.
(Discuss)
columns
By C. W. Oberleitner
September 9, 2008
The Olympics, Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and Labor Day are now all in the rear view mirror. Our seemingly AWOL correspondent checks in—finally!—with a few observations of his own about this summer past.
(Discuss)
columns
By C. W. Oberleitner
August 19, 2008
If you thought our man in Hollywood had a hard time buying his new Apple iPhone 3G, wait until you hear what he has to say about “the joys of being an iPhone 3G victim...ah, owner!”
(Discuss)
news & features
August 12, 2008
It’s the dog days of August, so, of course, that means our inbox is full of announcements about all sorts of fun activities coming your way this…October? Yep, that’s right! The days may still be sweltering, but the folks who go out of their way to plan group Disney theme park events are already busy promoting this fall’s round of in-park celebrations.
(Discuss)
columns
By C. W. Oberleitner
(with a tip of the hat to Herb)
August 5, 2008
Comic-Con, that annual pilgrimage of the pop culture faithful to Nerdvana, was a “moving” experience for our man in Hollywood. It moved him from San Diego into his bed for nearly a week, where he occupied himself by alternately “sweating out a head cold and bouts of hacking up a lung.”
(Discuss)
recent stories
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WALL•E
Sleeping Beauty
Disney’s Really Big Show: The Showman Must Go On
A Look Back
From Under the Desk Of: Work, Work, Work Edition
i (Phone) Vey!!
Geeks’ Guide: Fall Preview
Back From the Dead…Or, In this Case, Comic-Con