I’ve given presentations in the past where I’ve celebrated our
where I’ve celebrated our
where I’ve celebrated our accomplishments of blue sky or talked
accomplishments of blue sky or talked
accomplishments of blue sky or talked about the process beats behind some of
about the process beats behind some of
about the process beats behind some of the movies we make or some technical
the movies we make or some technical
the movies we make or some technical aspect of the work but one of the
aspect of the work but one of the
aspect of the work but one of the suggestions I had for today was just to
suggestions I had for today was just to
suggestions I had for today was just to talk about building the company what I
talk about building the company what I
talk about building the company what I have is a is a story from my own
have is a is a story from my own
have is a is a story from my own perspective chapter that well I think I
perspective chapter that well I think I
perspective chapter that well I think I learned a lot about collaboration but
learned a lot about collaboration but
learned a lot about collaboration but also some of the difficult the ways that
also some of the difficult the ways that
also some of the difficult the ways that we finding creative clarity in an
we finding creative clarity in an
we finding creative clarity in an environment when where there’s just a
environment when where there’s just a
environment when where there’s just a lot of input in the fall of 2001 blue
lot of input in the fall of 2001 blue
lot of input in the fall of 2001 blue sky was about 15 years old and we were
sky was about 15 years old and we were
sky was about 15 years old and we were months away from accomplishing something
months away from accomplishing something
months away from accomplishing something that was just our grandest goal and that
that was just our grandest goal and that
that was just our grandest goal and that was to deliver an animated feature film
was to deliver an animated feature film
was to deliver an animated feature film the name of that movie was ice age and I
the name of that movie was ice age and I
the name of that movie was ice age and I was directing it and like most efforts
was directing it and like most efforts
was directing it and like most efforts on this scale it had been a tremendous
on this scale it had been a tremendous
on this scale it had been a tremendous collaboration and one that I had felt
collaboration and one that I had felt
collaboration and one that I had felt completely prepared for I’d been making
completely prepared for I’d been making
completely prepared for I’d been making little animated movies from the time I
little animated movies from the time I
little animated movies from the time I was 12 or 13 years old I’d gone to film
was 12 or 13 years old I’d gone to film
was 12 or 13 years old I’d gone to film school I’d won little prizes for my
school I’d won little prizes for my
school I’d won little prizes for my short films I I’d landed one of the
short films I I’d landed one of the
short films I I’d landed one of the first jobs that ever existed in making
first jobs that ever existed in making
first jobs that ever existed in making animation with computers I had a company
animation with computers I had a company
animation with computers I had a company called Magi we did a lot of the
called Magi we did a lot of the
called Magi we did a lot of the animation for the Disney movie Tron were
animation for the Disney movie Tron were
animation for the Disney movie Tron were the first movies to make extensive use
the first movies to make extensive use
the first movies to make extensive use of this and even after working on like
of this and even after working on like
of this and even after working on like what was it then the bleeding edge of
what was it then the bleeding edge of
what was it then the bleeding edge of this above this technology I went back
this above this technology I went back
this above this technology I went back to school to learn more about it I just
to school to learn more about it I just
to school to learn more about it I just want to know more about the technique in
want to know more about the technique in
want to know more about the technique in the in the
the in the
the in the technology then in 1987 a group of
technology then in 1987 a group of
technology then in 1987 a group of former colleagues and friends and I
former colleagues and friends and I
former colleagues and friends and I started our decided to start our own
started our decided to start our own
started our decided to start our own company we had some very specific ideas
company we had some very specific ideas
company we had some very specific ideas about how to do it right so we pulled
about how to do it right so we pulled
about how to do it right so we pulled our life savings and we bought some of
our life savings and we bought some of
our life savings and we bought some of the first workstation computers and and
the first workstation computers and and
the first workstation computers and and some cheap office furniture and we had
some cheap office furniture and we had
some cheap office furniture and we had at it that was the beginning of blue sky
at it that was the beginning of blue sky
at it that was the beginning of blue sky now this was an era when if you’re gonna
now this was an era when if you’re gonna
now this was an era when if you’re gonna make animation with computers you had to
make animation with computers you had to
make animation with computers you had to develop the technology to do it so it
develop the technology to do it so it
develop the technology to do it so it was a couple of years before we even had
was a couple of years before we even had
was a couple of years before we even had enough imagery to go out and peddle our
enough imagery to go out and peddle our
enough imagery to go out and peddle our wares and then time after that before
wares and then time after that before
wares and then time after that before we were getting little bits and pieces
we were getting little bits and pieces
we were getting little bits and pieces of commercial work and then you know a
of commercial work and then you know a
of commercial work and then you know a little bit more time went by and we
little bit more time went by and we
little bit more time went by and we finally had more work than we could
finally had more work than we could
finally had more work than we could handle
handle
handle yeah which was great but we had you know
yeah which was great but we had you know
yeah which was great but we had you know with that and expenses and and and we
with that and expenses and and and we
with that and expenses and and and we had underbid all the work and the first
had underbid all the work and the first
had underbid all the work and the first place thing to get it I remember driving
place thing to get it I remember driving
place thing to get it I remember driving back to the studio one night after
back to the studio one night after
back to the studio one night after having had a quick dinner with my family
having had a quick dinner with my family
having had a quick dinner with my family feeling sorry for myself thinking about
feeling sorry for myself thinking about
feeling sorry for myself thinking about all the mountains of nonsense I had to
all the mountains of nonsense I had to
all the mountains of nonsense I had to get through before I was slept again and
get through before I was slept again and
get through before I was slept again and and pulling into the into the parking
and pulling into the into the parking
and pulling into the into the parking lot I saw there was a light on and I
lot I saw there was a light on and I
lot I saw there was a light on and I remembered we’d hired a freelancer and
remembered we’d hired a freelancer and
remembered we’d hired a freelancer and we weren’t paying ourselves yet but we
we weren’t paying ourselves yet but we
we weren’t paying ourselves yet but we were paying them and they’d been there
were paying them and they’d been there
were paying them and they’d been there while I was gone for dinner and they
while I was gone for dinner and they
while I was gone for dinner and they were gonna stay with me through the
were gonna stay with me through the
were gonna stay with me through the night until work was done and from that
night until work was done and from that
night until work was done and from that moment I and my colleagues dedicated
moment I and my colleagues dedicated
moment I and my colleagues dedicated ourselves to developing and nurturing a
ourselves to developing and nurturing a
ourselves to developing and nurturing a crew you know we started depending on
crew you know we started depending on
crew you know we started depending on other people to help us and and and and
other people to help us and and and and
other people to help us and and and and people joined us that shared the vision
people joined us that shared the vision
people joined us that shared the vision understood the vision and this the crew
understood the vision and this the crew
understood the vision and this the crew grew and the company grew ultimately
grew and the company grew ultimately
grew and the company grew ultimately that vision was bigger than the one we
that vision was bigger than the one we
that vision was bigger than the one we had started with which was great there
had started with which was great there
had started with which was great there were enough people doing the work so
were enough people doing the work so
were enough people doing the work so that I for one was left to do the things
that I for one was left to do the things
that I for one was left to do the things that interested me the most I’ve been
that interested me the most I’ve been
that interested me the most I’ve been working on a short film from the day we
working on a short film from the day we
working on a short film from the day we started the company and in 1998 would
started the company and in 1998 would
started the company and in 1998 would help a lot of blue sky people we
help a lot of blue sky people we
help a lot of blue sky people we finished it
finished it
finished it and bunny went on to win awards around
and bunny went on to win awards around
and bunny went on to win awards around the world including an Oscar for best
the world including an Oscar for best
the world including an Oscar for best animated short film that year so with so
animated short film that year so with so
animated short film that year so with so with the success of bunny and the
with the success of bunny and the
with the success of bunny and the maturity of our our technology and our
maturity of our our technology and our
maturity of our our technology and our crew we were given the opportunity to
crew we were given the opportunity to
crew we were given the opportunity to make a feature film so ice age is the
make a feature film so ice age is the
make a feature film so ice age is the story of three completely different
story of three completely different
story of three completely different characters through completely different
characters through completely different
characters through completely different animals that bond over what to do with a
animals that bond over what to do with a
animals that bond over what to do with a human baby once a knuckleheaded sloth
human baby once a knuckleheaded sloth
human baby once a knuckleheaded sloth one is a kind of duplicitous
one is a kind of duplicitous
one is a kind of duplicitous saber-toothed tiger one is a
saber-toothed tiger one is a
saber-toothed tiger one is a curmudgeonly mammoths it turns out they
curmudgeonly mammoths it turns out they
curmudgeonly mammoths it turns out they have a heart of gold yeah I always from
have a heart of gold yeah I always from
have a heart of gold yeah I always from the beginning I like the themes in the
the beginning I like the themes in the
the beginning I like the themes in the movie about finding family where all the
movie about finding family where all the
movie about finding family where all the members didn’t look like each other and
members didn’t look like each other and
members didn’t look like each other and and being able to accomplish something
and being able to accomplish something
and being able to accomplish something together that no one individual could on
together that no one individual could on
together that no one individual could on their own the only caveat was that the
their own the only caveat was that the
their own the only caveat was that the studio that was financing the movie 20th
studio that was financing the movie 20th
studio that was financing the movie 20th Century Fox wanted us to take what was
Century Fox wanted us to take what was
Century Fox wanted us to take what was at the at that time a fairly straight
at the at that time a fairly straight
at the at that time a fairly straight forward adventure movie and and turning
forward adventure movie and and turning
forward adventure movie and and turning it into a comedy
it into a comedy
it into a comedy there was no mean feat because well for
there was no mean feat because well for
there was no mean feat because well for one thing the tiger wanted to eat the
one thing the tiger wanted to eat the
one thing the tiger wanted to eat the baby
baby
baby this was the Ice Age things were kind of
this was the Ice Age things were kind of
this was the Ice Age things were kind of rugged you know we in the script we had
rugged you know we in the script we had
rugged you know we in the script we had characters dropping off every other page
characters dropping off every other page
characters dropping off every other page but we took this as a challenge and and
but we took this as a challenge and and
but we took this as a challenge and and and we had at it now just a word about
and we had at it now just a word about
and we had at it now just a word about the way animations made most people know
the way animations made most people know
the way animations made most people know that to make a movie you write a script
that to make a movie you write a script
that to make a movie you write a script and you gonna shoot it and you cut it
and you gonna shoot it and you cut it
and you gonna shoot it and you cut it together and you have a movie
together and you have a movie
together and you have a movie well animations made almost in reverse
well animations made almost in reverse
well animations made almost in reverse order of this an animation we cut the
order of this an animation we cut the
order of this an animation we cut the movie then we animate it ie to this
movie then we animate it ie to this
movie then we animate it ie to this because it’s animations time-consuming
because it’s animations time-consuming
because it’s animations time-consuming and it’s expensive what we do is we draw
and it’s expensive what we do is we draw
and it’s expensive what we do is we draw little storyboards little quick drawings
little storyboards little quick drawings
little storyboards little quick drawings of every shot of the movie or a
of every shot of the movie or a
of every shot of the movie or a significant moment or you know
significant moment or you know
significant moment or you know significant character pose or expression
significant character pose or expression
significant character pose or expression we cut these all together into like a
we cut these all together into like a
we cut these all together into like a comic book version of the movie it’s a
comic book version of the movie it’s a
comic book version of the movie it’s a quick way to see how the whole thing is
quick way to see how the whole thing is
quick way to see how the whole thing is it’s gonna is going to
it’s gonna is going to
it’s gonna is going to it’s an iterative process you know it’s
it’s an iterative process you know it’s
it’s an iterative process you know it’s easy to change things but imagine you’ve
easy to change things but imagine you’ve
easy to change things but imagine you’ve been working on this for months
been working on this for months
been working on this for months sometimes up to a year thousands of
sometimes up to a year thousands of
sometimes up to a year thousands of drawings pouring all of your genius
drawings pouring all of your genius
drawings pouring all of your genius ideas into all this and then putting it
ideas into all this and then putting it
ideas into all this and then putting it up and watching it for the first time
up and watching it for the first time
up and watching it for the first time which is what I recommend the next time
which is what I recommend the next time
which is what I recommend the next time you do this and and seem like you know I
you do this and and seem like you know I
you do this and and seem like you know I put all my great ideas into this if it’s
put all my great ideas into this if it’s
put all my great ideas into this if it’s not playing exactly the way I thought it
not playing exactly the way I thought it
not playing exactly the way I thought it was you know that that that joke right
was you know that that that joke right
was you know that that that joke right there just isn’t funny because there’s
there just isn’t funny because there’s
there just isn’t funny because there’s one awfully similar in the sequence
one awfully similar in the sequence
one awfully similar in the sequence before it and and this in this moment
before it and and this in this moment
before it and and this in this moment here isn’t playing as emotionally as I
here isn’t playing as emotionally as I
here isn’t playing as emotionally as I thought it would because we haven’t
thought it would because we haven’t
thought it would because we haven’t spent the time developing the characters
spent the time developing the characters
spent the time developing the characters that enter that scene so you know you
that enter that scene so you know you
that enter that scene so you know you can go back and work on it and get to
can go back and work on it and get to
can go back and work on it and get to fix those little things and even make
fix those little things and even make
fix those little things and even make them a little different but usually what
them a little different but usually what
them a little different but usually what happens is after a little bit of time
happens is after a little bit of time
happens is after a little bit of time the the the the movie starts moving into
the the the the movie starts moving into
the the the the movie starts moving into places that you hadn’t anticipated and
places that you hadn’t anticipated and
places that you hadn’t anticipated and now now what do you do when kids are
now now what do you do when kids are
now now what do you do when kids are really little
really little
really little then they imprint on you they mimic you
then they imprint on you they mimic you
then they imprint on you they mimic you remembers my daughter saying something
remembers my daughter saying something
remembers my daughter saying something to me once and I don’t remember exactly
to me once and I don’t remember exactly
to me once and I don’t remember exactly what it was but but the effect for me
what it was but but the effect for me
what it was but but the effect for me was was of my own voice coming back from
was was of my own voice coming back from
was was of my own voice coming back from a tape recorder and I thought I’m like
a tape recorder and I thought I’m like
a tape recorder and I thought I’m like no no no no that doesn’t sound right
no no no no that doesn’t sound right
no no no no that doesn’t sound right coming out of your little face you know
coming out of your little face you know
coming out of your little face you know you have to be use your own voice you
you have to be use your own voice you
you have to be use your own voice you have to find your you know become your
have to find your you know become your
have to find your you know become your own person
own person
own person and in the same way you know I I went
and in the same way you know I I went
and in the same way you know I I went back and I looked at these reels and I
back and I looked at these reels and I
back and I looked at these reels and I realized I had to let the movie become
realized I had to let the movie become
realized I had to let the movie become what it kind of what it wanted to and
what it kind of what it wanted to and
what it kind of what it wanted to and become more of a guard and guard
become more of a guard and guard
become more of a guard and guard Guardian to it and and just like just
Guardian to it and and just like just
Guardian to it and and just like just try to try to nurture it and you know
try to try to nurture it and you know
try to try to nurture it and you know and try to keep bad influences away from
and try to keep bad influences away from
and try to keep bad influences away from it you never know I mean that was not to
it you never know I mean that was not to
it you never know I mean that was not to let no influences on it because a spirit
let no influences on it because a spirit
let no influences on it because a spirit of collaboration you never know when the
of collaboration you never know when the
of collaboration you never know when the next best idea is is going to come from
next best idea is is going to come from
next best idea is is going to come from but but you know you you know anyone I
but but you know you you know anyone I
but but you know you you know anyone I want to impose your strict will on it to
want to impose your strict will on it to
want to impose your strict will on it to keep it out of trouble to keep it safe
keep it out of trouble to keep it safe
keep it out of trouble to keep it safe keep it alive now the most
keep it alive now the most
keep it alive now the most interactive conversation I was having
interactive conversation I was having
interactive conversation I was having about the story yeah at that point was
about the story yeah at that point was
about the story yeah at that point was with the studio executives from from
with the studio executives from from
with the studio executives from from 20th Century Fox now these are the
20th Century Fox now these are the
20th Century Fox now these are the people that are responsible for not only
people that are responsible for not only
people that are responsible for not only the creative success of the movie but
the creative success of the movie but
the creative success of the movie but the financial success of the movie so
the financial success of the movie so
the financial success of the movie so it’s a real rubber meets the road thing
it’s a real rubber meets the road thing
it’s a real rubber meets the road thing it’s not it’s not an easy job and for
it’s not it’s not an easy job and for
it’s not it’s not an easy job and for the most part you know we were trying to
the most part you know we were trying to
the most part you know we were trying to make the same movie better as we went on
make the same movie better as we went on
make the same movie better as we went on but you know I’ll admit more than a few
but you know I’ll admit more than a few
but you know I’ll admit more than a few times we had disagreements over things
times we had disagreements over things
times we had disagreements over things like whether a joke was funny or not
like whether a joke was funny or not
like whether a joke was funny or not explain why a jokes funny or you know
explain why a jokes funny or you know
explain why a jokes funny or you know how much you know cartoon violence or
how much you know cartoon violence or
how much you know cartoon violence or sarcasm or slow pacing a family audience
sarcasm or slow pacing a family audience
sarcasm or slow pacing a family audience could tolerate now in the couple of
could tolerate now in the couple of
could tolerate now in the couple of years two or two-and-a-half years that I
years two or two-and-a-half years that I
years two or two-and-a-half years that I had been working on the movie that word
had been working on the movie that word
had been working on the movie that word audience was probably not one that had
audience was probably not one that had
audience was probably not one that had passed my lips but the studio knew they
passed my lips but the studio knew they
passed my lips but the studio knew they were out there and the day came when
were out there and the day came when
were out there and the day came when they they scheduled an audience preview
they they scheduled an audience preview
they they scheduled an audience preview for the movie now an audience preview
for the movie now an audience preview
for the movie now an audience preview for those of you that don’t know is it’s
for those of you that don’t know is it’s
for those of you that don’t know is it’s where you it’s a screening where you
where you it’s a screening where you
where you it’s a screening where you recruit an audience that that matches a
recruit an audience that that matches a
recruit an audience that that matches a demographic that you think the film is
demographic that you think the film is
demographic that you think the film is intended for and you sit and you watch
intended for and you sit and you watch
intended for and you sit and you watch it with them and afterwards often they
it with them and afterwards often they
it with them and afterwards often they fill out a questionnaire or sometimes
fill out a questionnaire or sometimes
fill out a questionnaire or sometimes they sit in a focus group and this
they sit in a focus group and this
they sit in a focus group and this happens on just about every movie that
happens on just about every movie that
happens on just about every movie that you see but this was this was my first
you see but this was this was my first
you see but this was this was my first movie and part of me was thinking wow
movie and part of me was thinking wow
movie and part of me was thinking wow there are a lot of opinions a lot of
there are a lot of opinions a lot of
there are a lot of opinions a lot of opinion swarming around this right now
opinion swarming around this right now
opinion swarming around this right now do they disagree with mine so much that
do they disagree with mine so much that
do they disagree with mine so much that they’re gonna leave it up to an audience
they’re gonna leave it up to an audience
they’re gonna leave it up to an audience to decide what to do with this movie so
to decide what to do with this movie so
to decide what to do with this movie so I’ve given you a lot of this background
I’ve given you a lot of this background
I’ve given you a lot of this background you know building the company up from
you know building the company up from
you know building the company up from nothing and my lifelong you know quest
nothing and my lifelong you know quest
nothing and my lifelong you know quest to get to this moment to help you
to get to this moment to help you
to get to this moment to help you understand my perspective in this moment
understand my perspective in this moment
understand my perspective in this moment you know the
you know the
you know the you know my deserving feeling of being
you know my deserving feeling of being
you know my deserving feeling of being in a tour on the movie wasn’t gonna be
in a tour on the movie wasn’t gonna be
in a tour on the movie wasn’t gonna be somebody in the audience that knew more
somebody in the audience that knew more
somebody in the audience that knew more about my movie than I did and plus at
about my movie than I did and plus at
about my movie than I did and plus at this point it’s not finished you know
this point it’s not finished you know
this point it’s not finished you know it’s only half animated and so the rest
it’s only half animated and so the rest
it’s only half animated and so the rest is in those story reels I was talking
is in those story reels I was talking
is in those story reels I was talking about how are they even going to
about how are they even going to
about how are they even going to understand it well the night before we
understand it well the night before we
understand it well the night before we left on the preview for the preview we
left on the preview for the preview we
left on the preview for the preview we sat and we watched the movie in
sat and we watched the movie in
sat and we watched the movie in editorial and I just had the flattest
editorial and I just had the flattest
editorial and I just had the flattest experience of it that I had had to that
experience of it that I had had to that
experience of it that I had had to that point you know with the anxiety of my
point you know with the anxiety of my
point you know with the anxiety of my excited about losing control and after
excited about losing control and after
excited about losing control and after hearing the same jokes over and over
hearing the same jokes over and over
hearing the same jokes over and over again a million times it just was it was
again a million times it just was it was
again a million times it just was it was completely lifeless and I thought oh my
completely lifeless and I thought oh my
completely lifeless and I thought oh my god you know they know something I don’t
god you know they know something I don’t
god you know they know something I don’t know they’re there right you know I’m
know they’re there right you know I’m
know they’re there right you know I’m headed for a fall here so that Saturday
headed for a fall here so that Saturday
headed for a fall here so that Saturday morning we pull up to a multiplex in a
morning we pull up to a multiplex in a
morning we pull up to a multiplex in a suburb of Los Angeles and I see a line
suburb of Los Angeles and I see a line
suburb of Los Angeles and I see a line of people sneaking out the entrance and
of people sneaking out the entrance and
of people sneaking out the entrance and around the back of the building and
around the back of the building and
around the back of the building and people of matching polo shirts and
people of matching polo shirts and
people of matching polo shirts and clipboards and walkie-talkies walking
clipboards and walkie-talkies walking
clipboards and walkie-talkies walking around and one of the producers said to
around and one of the producers said to
around and one of the producers said to me well there’s your audience so I
me well there’s your audience so I
me well there’s your audience so I walked up to them and there’s I got
walked up to them and there’s I got
walked up to them and there’s I got close my my heart sank into my shoes
close my my heart sank into my shoes
close my my heart sank into my shoes here were hundreds of people who at
here were hundreds of people who at
here were hundreds of people who at first glance were and true to my
first glance were and true to my
first glance were and true to my suspicions were completely different
suspicions were completely different
suspicions were completely different than me you know different shapes and
than me you know different shapes and
than me you know different shapes and sizes just to get started but but you
sizes just to get started but but you
sizes just to get started but but you know different different clothes you
know different different clothes you
know different different clothes you know different languages and and kids
know different languages and and kids
know different languages and and kids running around in their own tiny worlds
running around in their own tiny worlds
running around in their own tiny worlds distracting their parents I sat in the
distracting their parents I sat in the
distracting their parents I sat in the back of this theater and it didn’t have
back of this theater and it didn’t have
back of this theater and it didn’t have an objective view of the of the room and
an objective view of the of the room and
an objective view of the of the room and maybe to be close to the exit as these
maybe to be close to the exit as these
maybe to be close to the exit as these kids climbed over seats and you know
kids climbed over seats and you know
kids climbed over seats and you know some parents took them to get more soda
some parents took them to get more soda
some parents took them to get more soda and candy and other parents just leaned
and candy and other parents just leaned
and candy and other parents just leaned back and close their eyes and my career
back and close their eyes and my career
back and close their eyes and my career and the future of our company was just
and the future of our company was just
and the future of our company was just crumbling down around me yeah
crumbling down around me yeah
crumbling down around me yeah the lights went down and that familiar
the lights went down and that familiar
the lights went down and that familiar 20th Century Fox logo
20th Century Fox logo
20th Century Fox logo the fans that you know the klieg lights
the fans that you know the klieg lights
the fans that you know the klieg lights giant thing a fanfare you know for my
giant thing a fanfare you know for my
giant thing a fanfare you know for my poor half-finished movie hiding behind
poor half-finished movie hiding behind
poor half-finished movie hiding behind the curtains you know just ready to get
the curtains you know just ready to get
the curtains you know just ready to get walk out and give it all it had but you
walk out and give it all it had but you
walk out and give it all it had but you know they started watching and and
know they started watching and and
know they started watching and and before too long I realized that although
before too long I realized that although
before too long I realized that although I had all these emotional histories and
I had all these emotional histories and
I had all these emotional histories and you know knots and facial tics
you know knots and facial tics
you know knots and facial tics associated with every beat that was
associated with every beat that was
associated with every beat that was going by it was just another movie to
going by it was just another movie to
going by it was just another movie to them and as they started reacting an
them and as they started reacting an
them and as they started reacting an amazing thing started happening my
amazing thing started happening my
amazing thing started happening my perspective aligned with theirs and and
perspective aligned with theirs and and
perspective aligned with theirs and and the movie came to life they it it was
the movie came to life they it it was
the movie came to life they it it was like they were interacting with with the
like they were interacting with with the
like they were interacting with with the movie like it wasn’t no it wasn’t a one
movie like it wasn’t no it wasn’t a one
movie like it wasn’t no it wasn’t a one way street it was like they were
way street it was like they were
way street it was like they were projecting their imaginations into it
projecting their imaginations into it
projecting their imaginations into it and in inflating it in so it seemed
and in inflating it in so it seemed
and in inflating it in so it seemed almost as if the characters were you
almost as if the characters were you
almost as if the characters were you know we’re like reaching off the screen
know we’re like reaching off the screen
know we’re like reaching off the screen and the space between the seats and the
and the space between the seats and the
and the space between the seats and the screen was filled with this very
screen was filled with this very
screen was filled with this very palpable energy of engagement and the
palpable energy of engagement and the
palpable energy of engagement and the fluctuation of that or the intensity of
fluctuation of that or the intensity of
fluctuation of that or the intensity of it became the only measure of creative
it became the only measure of creative
it became the only measure of creative integrity that I was you know cared
integrity that I was you know cared
integrity that I was you know cared about from from from from that moment
about from from from from that moment
about from from from from that moment forward you know they didn’t realize it
forward you know they didn’t realize it
forward you know they didn’t realize it but they were collaborating with me at
but they were collaborating with me at
but they were collaborating with me at that point it was probably the most
that point it was probably the most
that point it was probably the most vivid moment of collaboration I had on
vivid moment of collaboration I had on
vivid moment of collaboration I had on the whole project and it wasn’t coming
the whole project and it wasn’t coming
the whole project and it wasn’t coming from you know like an average of
from you know like an average of
from you know like an average of different voices it was coming out of
different voices it was coming out of
different voices it was coming out of this kind of communal intuition that was
this kind of communal intuition that was
this kind of communal intuition that was coming out of this crowd of people that
coming out of this crowd of people that
coming out of this crowd of people that I had seen so disparate only 20 minutes
I had seen so disparate only 20 minutes
I had seen so disparate only 20 minutes before so I went right back to work on
before so I went right back to work on
before so I went right back to work on it we worked hard with a renewed sense
it we worked hard with a renewed sense
it we worked hard with a renewed sense of focus and confidence and by the time
of focus and confidence and by the time
of focus and confidence and by the time we were done
we were done
we were done we knew we had it you know the last
we knew we had it you know the last
we knew we had it you know the last screening a kid in front of me literally
screening a kid in front of me literally
screening a kid in front of me literally fell out of his chair laughing and and
fell out of his chair laughing and and
fell out of his chair laughing and and there was a lady behind us I heard make
there was a lady behind us I heard make
there was a lady behind us I heard make that little gasp when like one of them
that little gasp when like one of them
that little gasp when like one of them you know one of our characters was
you know one of our characters was
you know one of our characters was reunited with his heard and I and I you
reunited with his heard and I and I you
reunited with his heard and I and I you know I don’t say any of this to for my
know I don’t say any of this to for my
know I don’t say any of this to for my own self aggrandizement it was you know
own self aggrandizement it was you know
own self aggrandizement it was you know in order for it to work I had to get out
in order for it to work I had to get out
in order for it to work I had to get out of the way a couple years ago later we
of the way a couple years ago later we
of the way a couple years ago later we were we were approaching the end of our
were we were approaching the end of our
were we were approaching the end of our next movie and we finally had some
next movie and we finally had some
next movie and we finally had some finished footage to show to the CRO and
finished footage to show to the CRO and
finished footage to show to the CRO and up it went and they owed and odd and
up it went and they owed and odd and
up it went and they owed and odd and it’s validated everything we’d been
it’s validated everything we’d been
it’s validated everything we’d been going after and helped them understand
going after and helped them understand
going after and helped them understand where we were going and one of the
where we were going and one of the
where we were going and one of the artists on the staff walked up to me
artists on the staff walked up to me
artists on the staff walked up to me afterwards
afterwards
afterwards a recent member to our crew but a but a
a recent member to our crew but a but a
a recent member to our crew but a but a but a but a veteran of many other
but a but a veteran of many other
but a but a veteran of many other animated movies and he said with a
animated movies and he said with a
animated movies and he said with a wizened grin he said well here’s where
wizened grin he said well here’s where
wizened grin he said well here’s where the movie gets bigger than the people
the movie gets bigger than the people
the movie gets bigger than the people that made it yeah bigger the people who
that made it yeah bigger the people who
that made it yeah bigger the people who made it and then I thought that’s deep
made it and then I thought that’s deep
made it and then I thought that’s deep that’s like what what what what what
that’s like what what what what what
that’s like what what what what what does that mean I you know I couldn’t
does that mean I you know I couldn’t
does that mean I you know I couldn’t figure out it stuck with me and it felt
figure out it stuck with me and it felt
figure out it stuck with me and it felt like kind of important and I’ve always
like kind of important and I’ve always
like kind of important and I’ve always had it in my head and I’ve never quite
had it in my head and I’ve never quite
had it in my head and I’ve never quite understood why you know is it that ok
understood why you know is it that ok
understood why you know is it that ok you know you gather enough people and
you know you gather enough people and
you know you gather enough people and together they put in more man-hours than
together they put in more man-hours than
together they put in more man-hours than any one person has in a lifetime
any one person has in a lifetime
any one person has in a lifetime there’s bigger than oh I get that you
there’s bigger than oh I get that you
there’s bigger than oh I get that you know or is it that intangible you know
know or is it that intangible you know
know or is it that intangible you know whole is greater than the sum of its
whole is greater than the sum of its
whole is greater than the sum of its parts and I think yeah well maybe you
parts and I think yeah well maybe you
parts and I think yeah well maybe you know if you leave the movie alone do you
know if you leave the movie alone do you
know if you leave the movie alone do you let it with all the influences around it
let it with all the influences around it
let it with all the influences around it and all the help from everybody it
and all the help from everybody it
and all the help from everybody it becomes something distinct from every
becomes something distinct from every
becomes something distinct from every you know from the rest of it you know
you know from the rest of it you know
you know from the rest of it you know but when I think about it you know after
but when I think about it you know after
but when I think about it you know after working after all that work and they all
working after all that work and they all
working after all that work and they all the effort it’s like sitting in that
the effort it’s like sitting in that
the effort it’s like sitting in that group in that audience you know in a
group in that audience you know in a
group in that audience you know in a group of people that are completely
group of people that are completely
group of people that are completely different on the outside you know and
different on the outside you know and
different on the outside you know and you’re all feeling the same thing
you’re all feeling the same thing
you’re all feeling the same thing together on the ends
together on the ends
together on the ends that’s that’s like the point to me
that’s that’s like the point to me
that’s that’s like the point to me that’s when it’s working that’s when
that’s when it’s working that’s when
that’s when it’s working that’s when it’s bigger than everybody and that’s
it’s bigger than everybody and that’s
it’s bigger than everybody and that’s what I’ve been going with so thanks
what I’ve been going with so thanks
what I’ve been going with so thanks [Applause]
”
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