He Who Must Not Be Named
Every once in a while, I get asked about the mail here at o-meon. Some of you folks have noticed that we haven’t run a Reader Mail column for quite some time. There’s a reason for this, and it’s not that we don’t receive any email.
A little more than a year ago, we opened a discussion forum for our articles on MiceChat.com. Shortly after doing so, an odd thing happened. Our volume of reader mail slowed to a trickle. Additionally, the types of messages we do receive changed dramatically as well.
Since opening the o-meon MiceChat forum, virtually all of our reader email is both positive and extremely complimentary. We don’t even hear from the folks who used to regularly point out my appalling use of English language grammar, such as using lead when what I should have used was led, or lose instead of loose.
No, now when readers take exception to something we’ve published, they post their comments on the o-meon MiceChat forum. It also appears our presence on MiceChat has contributed to an increase in the number of o-meon-related discussions that take place on other discussion boards as well, at least one of which is extremely loyal to the fan site that hosts it.
Last February, I wrote a story about the Disney Company’s plans to build a new hotel modeled after San Diego’s famous Hotel Del Coronado on the grounds of the Disneyland Resort. This sparked a lively discussion not only on the o-meon MiceChat forum but on several Disney-related discussion boards as well.
One board in particular had 65 posts regarding the relative merits of my journalistic skills. Not once in those 65 posts did anyone ever refer to me by name. I was “the columnist,” or “this writer,” or “that guy.” They didn’t even mention the name of our site, although to be fair, the first post did contain a link back to my original story.
While at Disneyland covering the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Grand Opening events earlier this week, I told a colleague about my status as an unknown columnist on this particular fan site’s discussion board. A short while later, she pointed out to me that my picture was up on that same site as part of their coverage of the Finding Nemo celebration. A photographer from the site had taken a picture of Disney/Pixar’s chief creative officer John Lasseter and captured me in the background.
After returning to my office, I went back to the web page with the picture of Lasseter and me to get the URL to send to Pat Holtz, our Senior Editor in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Low and behold, the picture of Lasseter was still up on the site, but my face had been digitally blurred beyond recognition. Now I’m trying to figure out what I’ve ever said or done to these folks to become the Lord Voldemort of their site.
Chief Creative Officer Disney/Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter and
He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named-or-Seen our very own C. W. Oberleiter.
And, no we aren’t gonna tell you which site this is from.
On Track at WDAS
Just like Bruce Willis, old names die hard. Quietly, some time in the early days of this year, the Walt Disney Company stopped referring to its animation division as Walt Disney Feature Animation, most commonly and lovingly referred to simply as WDFA. After buying Pixar Animation Studios, most commonly and loving referred to simply as Pixar, and “rebranding” the entire operation. Disney/Pixar Animation Studios, the name of the Burbank half of the new franchise, was changed to Walt Disney Animation Studios. Additionally, the Disney half of the combined operation got a spiffy new on screen logo featuring Mickey Mouse in his debut-starring role as Steamboat Willie.
So far, the new Walt Disney Animation Studios are most commonly and lovingly referred to simply as WDFA. You read that right. From mainstream media to the “Internets” journos of every stripe are still speed writing the acronym “WDFA” into anything they write about Disney’s Burbank animation division.
The only reason I mention all of this is that for a company seemingly obsessed about branding and brand name recognition, Disney doesn’t seem to be doing much to anchor its new studio name in the public mind.
Which brings us to the good news!
Steve Hulett, labor union business representative for The Animation Guild— most commonly and lovingly referred to simply as TAG—one of the few outsiders legitimately entitled to roam the corridors of Walt Disney Animation Studios, confirms the latest online and coffee house buzz about the progress of Disney’s upcoming animated features.
And that is that things couldn’t be more productive and upbeat around Mickey Mouse’s Mouse Factory if Walt himself were walking the corridors.
At WDFA Story Department
...where House of Mouse story development seems to be going swimmingly. Bolt (the CGI-animated feature formerly known as American Dog), is heading for its second pass, after a successful first pass, with the Disney/Pixar brain trusts.
And as The Princess and the Frog story crew is pressing pedal to the metaphorical metal as the first screening of the whole feature, bow to stern, sails closer and closer (like next week?), I heard references made to "fried brains" and some long hours at wacom tablets...among other work-related things.—TAG Blog
By the way, the link included in Hulett’s TAG blog entry for Disney’s upcoming Bolt feature is from Wikipedia. The Wikipedia article describes the history of the film’s origins as a project originally to be written and directed by Chris Sanders, called American Dog. Additionally, the article includes among its references a link to our December 21, 2006 article about Sanders departure from the project, Disney Animation Update: Story and Style, Not Format, at Root of Recent Upheaval.
The still logo for the new Walt Disney Animation Studios features a classic version of Mickey Mouse used on the sign above Walt Disney's Hyperion Avenue studios.
Image courtesy and copyright© Disney Enterprises.
So Now You Know
Ever wonder how the movie industry can tell the difference between an animated feature film and a CG effects-laden live action feature? Trust me, in the wake of such CG-heavy productions as Peter Jackson’s King Kong and this year’s Spartans in Spandex action epic 300, it’s getting harder and harder to tell.
Sure, there’s absolutely no question that films like DreamWorks Shrek the Third, Sony’s Surf’s Up, and Disney/Pixar’s soon to be released Ratatouille are animated films. However, if mo-cap (motion capture) assisted films like last year’s Monster House, which relied heavily on performances of live actors, are unquestionably categorized animated films, what’s to keep the 300’s 1,800 digitally-enhanced abs from being considered an animated film as well?
Believe it or not, many a producer and director here in Hollywoodland frequently debate this very topic. That’s why this week’s announcement by the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) of the 80th Academy Awards Rules made for must reading among the cinemagencia.
This is how the Academy’s RULE SEVEN defines an animated feature film, as it pertains to the selection of films for the Best Animated Feature Film Award:
An animated feature film is defined as a motion picture of at least 70 minutes in running time, in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. In addition, a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.
For the truly geeky among you, RULE SEVEN is printed out in its entirety at the end of this column, along with a link to the Academy’s complete list of rules for the 80th Academy Awards.
There’ll Be a Change in Me…or Us
A few weeks ago I joined the two entertainment industry experts who serve as advisors and contributors to o-meon, under the pseudonyms Dixon Ticonderoga and A. B. DeLine, for A. B.’s birthday dinner gathering at Los Angeles’ famous El Cholo Restaurant. During the course of the meal, Dixon, as he’s want to do, took me to task for beginning the title of all my movie reviews with the term “UnReview.”
“It’s silly,” he said between bites of green corn tamale. “You’re obviously watching these films and reporting back to your readers your thoughts and observations about how well they’re made. Just call it a review.”
And he didn’t stop there.
“And what’s with this ‘A 7 on a Scale of 1 to 10,’ thing? That’s to big a scale for people to figure out what you mean by it. Use something more straightforward like an ‘A, B, C, D,’ grading system,” Ticonderoga said.
Following the reaction I got to my recent UnReview, or should I say review, of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, I have to admit that Dixon had a point. Opinions were all over the place with many folks believing I loved the movie and still others thinking I’d savaged it. For the record, if we’d used Dixon’s “A, B, C,” scale, I would have given POTC: AWE a C+.
So after giving the matter careful consideration, and picking up the check for Dixon’s dinner, I’ve decided to expand our list of article categories to include a special section for reviews. Associate Editor Ken Larsen is currently working on a review of the DVD release of Disney’s Bridge to Terabithia, and very soon I will post my review of Ratatouille. Yes, we’ll now grade movies like term papers on a scale of “A” thru “F.”
And you’re invited to join the party! We welcome submissions of all kinds, and not just Disney movies, DVDs, and games. We would love to have reviews up for more of this summer’s geek-fare. If you’re planning on seeing a film on opening day, or if you’re lucky enough to see an advanced screening and want to write a review, send it along to us.
Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation. That’s what we have Pat in The Bay Area for. (Oh thanks a bunch!—Pat) We’ll post a notice of your review to the o-meon MiceChat forum and include a poll to see how others agree, or disagree, with your thoughts and observations.
Send your submissions to chuck@obe-mediaone.com. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
C’ya real soon!
AMPAS rules for the 80thAcademy Awards >>
RULE SEVEN
SPECIAL RULES FOR THE BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM AWARD
I. DEFINITION
An animated feature film is defined as a motion picture of at least 70 minutes in running time, in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. In addition, a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.
II. ELIGIBILITY
1. Except as indicated above, films in this category must meet all the requirements in Academy Awards Rules Two, Three and Four.
2. The Executive Committee of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch shall meet prior to the last Board of Governors meeting of the calendar year. At this meeting, a Reminder List of the animated feature films released during the year shall be reviewed. If the committee finds that there are eight (8) or more eligible animated feature films that warrant a category, it may choose to recommend to the Board of Governors that there be a Best Animated Feature Film Award given this year. If the Governors accept this recommendation, the following nomination process shall be set in motion.
III. SUBMISSION
1. An entry form naming the intended award recipient and including the signatures of all the credited producer(s) and director(s) is required. (This is to assure that all parties are properly informed, and that agreement on the designated award recipient is settled prior to submission.)
2. The award recipient(s) shall be designated by those responsible for the production of the film. The designated recipient must be the KEY CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL most clearly responsible for the overall achievement OR a TWO-PERSON TEAM with shared and equal directing credit. (The shared director credit must be approved by the Branch Executive Committee.) A maximum of two statuettes will be awarded.
3. The print or copy submitted for Academy Award consideration must be identical in content and length to the print or copy utilized for the qualifying exhibition. All entries submitted must include an English-language synopsis of the film.
4. Prints should be marked ANIMATED FEATURE FILM ENTRY and shipped PREPAID to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90211. Those entries not chosen as nominations for final balloting will be returned to the sender at Academy expense. PRINTS SUBMITTED WILL BE RETAINED BY THE ACADEMY UNTIL THE VOTING PROCESS IS COMPLETED AND WILL NOT BE LOANED FOR USE BY OTHERS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE VOTING PROCESS.
5. THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING THE ENTRY FORM, SYNOPSIS, CAST AND CREDITS LIST, FILMOGRAPHIES [of the key creative individual(s) named for award purposes] AND STILLS IS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007. THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING THE FILM PRINT IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2007.FOREIGN ENTRIES MUST ALSO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE.
6. Films submitted in the Best Animated Feature Film category may qualify for Academy Awards in other areas, including Best Picture, provided they meet the rules criteria governing those categories.
7. A film may be submitted in only one awards year for Academy Award consideration.
IV. VOTING
1. A Chairperson, appointed by the Academy President, shall head one or more Best Animated Feature Film Award Screening Committee(s). An invitational letter will be sent from the Chairperson to a list of active and life Academy members requesting their participation. Those serving on the screening committee(s) will be required to see 80% of the submitted eligible films at meetings of the committee(s) or in a theatrical setting. Viewing Animated Feature Film entries on videocassette or DVD will NOT qualify a member for voting purposes in this category.
2. All submissions sent to the Academy will be screened by the Academy’s Animated Feature Film Award Screening Committee(s). After the screenings, the committee(s) will vote by secret ballot to nominate from 3 to 5 films for this award. In any year in which 8 to 15 animated features are released in Los Angeles County, a maximum of 3 films may be nominated. In any year in which 16 or more animated features are submitted and accepted in the category, a maximum of 5 films may be nominated.
a) The Committee(s) will view all films entered and mark all entries 10, 9, 8, 7 or 6 with the guidelines of 10 (excellent), 8 (good), 7 (fair) or 6 (poor). Those films receiving an average score of 7.5 or more shall be eligible for nomination.
b) If only one production receives an average score of 7.5 or more, the committee(s) shall recommend to the Board of Governors that a Special Achievement Award for Animated Feature Film be made to that production.
c) If no production receives an average score of 7.5 or more, the committee(s) shall recommend to the Board of Governors that no award be made for Animated Feature Film this year.
3. Final voting for the Best Animated Feature Film Award shall be restricted to active and life Academy members.
4. The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Executive Committee shall have the right and responsibility to resolve all questions of eligibility, rules interpretations and the designation of award recipients.
5. It remains within the sole and confidential discretion of the Board of Governors to determine if any Best Animated Feature Film Award shall be given for a particular year, and to make all final determinations regarding this category.
