when an old man dies a library burns I learned of this African proverb from a
learned of this African proverb from a
learned of this African proverb from a friend of mine who told me that for the
friend of mine who told me that for the
friend of mine who told me that for the majority of my career I’ve been like a
majority of my career I’ve been like a
majority of my career I’ve been like a firefighter putting out the fires of
firefighter putting out the fires of
firefighter putting out the fires of stories that were meant to be told
stories that were meant to be told
stories that were meant to be told have you ever wished that you could have
have you ever wished that you could have
have you ever wished that you could have interviewed somebody before they died
interviewed somebody before they died
interviewed somebody before they died like a grandparent or a parent or think
like a grandparent or a parent or think
like a grandparent or a parent or think about interviewing somebody now but you
about interviewing somebody now but you
about interviewing somebody now but you just haven’t quite gotten around to it
just haven’t quite gotten around to it
just haven’t quite gotten around to it we all have a story and whether we know
we all have a story and whether we know
we all have a story and whether we know it or not we’re shaped by the stories
it or not we’re shaped by the stories
it or not we’re shaped by the stories around this for the last 15 years I’ve
around this for the last 15 years I’ve
around this for the last 15 years I’ve had the greatest opportunities to tell
had the greatest opportunities to tell
had the greatest opportunities to tell stories I’ve traveled to all seven
stories I’ve traveled to all seven
stories I’ve traveled to all seven continents I’ve been given access in the
continents I’ve been given access in the
continents I’ve been given access in the world’s I would never have expected and
world’s I would never have expected and
world’s I would never have expected and interviewed people I would have never
interviewed people I would have never
interviewed people I would have never thought possible
thought possible
thought possible my films have been portrayals of
my films have been portrayals of
my films have been portrayals of visionaries and everyday heroes they’ve
visionaries and everyday heroes they’ve
visionaries and everyday heroes they’ve been stories of creativity and
been stories of creativity and
been stories of creativity and technology
technology
technology they’ve been investigations into
they’ve been investigations into
they’ve been investigations into humanitarian and environmental themes
humanitarian and environmental themes
humanitarian and environmental themes but when I look back now on my career of
but when I look back now on my career of
but when I look back now on my career of filmmaking I realized that my filmmaking
filmmaking I realized that my filmmaking
filmmaking I realized that my filmmaking career was largely inspired by my
career was largely inspired by my
career was largely inspired by my childhood my dad and grandfather both
childhood my dad and grandfather both
childhood my dad and grandfather both Academy Award winners worked at the Walt
Academy Award winners worked at the Walt
Academy Award winners worked at the Walt Disney Studios and they designed and
Disney Studios and they designed and
Disney Studios and they designed and developed the cameras and projection
developed the cameras and projection
developed the cameras and projection systems for the Disney films and theme
systems for the Disney films and theme
systems for the Disney films and theme parks every now and then my dad had to
parks every now and then my dad had to
parks every now and then my dad had to go down at Disneyland to work and if I
go down at Disneyland to work and if I
go down at Disneyland to work and if I was lucky enough he’d take me with him
was lucky enough he’d take me with him
was lucky enough he’d take me with him but we didn’t go in the main entrance
but we didn’t go in the main entrance
but we didn’t go in the main entrance like everybody else we went in the back
like everybody else we went in the back
like everybody else we went in the back entrance and I can tell you going
entrance and I can tell you going
entrance and I can tell you going through that gate was like entering
through that gate was like entering
through that gate was like entering Wonderland pulling back that curtain and
Wonderland pulling back that curtain and
Wonderland pulling back that curtain and seeing that magic backstage was more
seeing that magic backstage was more
seeing that magic backstage was more exciting to me than what was on stage
exciting to me than what was on stage
exciting to me than what was on stage the people that designed the parks were
the people that designed the parks were
the people that designed the parks were called Imagineers and I grew up learning
called Imagineers and I grew up learning
called Imagineers and I grew up learning of their legendary stories of how Disney
of their legendary stories of how Disney
of their legendary stories of how Disney Land was built such as how to get ghosts
Land was built such as how to get ghosts
Land was built such as how to get ghosts to sing and dance in the Haunted Mansion
to sing and dance in the Haunted Mansion
to sing and dance in the Haunted Mansion ride or how to get fireflies to glow and
ride or how to get fireflies to glow and
ride or how to get fireflies to glow and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride or how
the Pirates of the Caribbean ride or how
the Pirates of the Caribbean ride or how to get Abraham Lincoln’s body and hands
to get Abraham Lincoln’s body and hands
to get Abraham Lincoln’s body and hands to move in the great moments with mr.
to move in the great moments with mr.
to move in the great moments with mr. Lincoln attraction in fact this
Lincoln attraction in fact this
Lincoln attraction in fact this is Lincoln’s hand and I grew up with
is Lincoln’s hand and I grew up with
is Lincoln’s hand and I grew up with this hand always lying around our house
this hand always lying around our house
this hand always lying around our house as a kid because my dad’s hands were the
as a kid because my dad’s hands were the
as a kid because my dad’s hands were the actual molds for Lincoln’s hands now my
actual molds for Lincoln’s hands now my
actual molds for Lincoln’s hands now my mom on the other hand did not appreciate
mom on the other hand did not appreciate
mom on the other hand did not appreciate finding this in the freezer but I still
finding this in the freezer but I still
finding this in the freezer but I still blame my sister for that so needless to
blame my sister for that so needless to
blame my sister for that so needless to say I had a great time growing up behind
say I had a great time growing up behind
say I had a great time growing up behind the scenes so by the time I graduated
the scenes so by the time I graduated
the scenes so by the time I graduated from USC film school I got a job as a
from USC film school I got a job as a
from USC film school I got a job as a directors assistant in Hollywood on some
directors assistant in Hollywood on some
directors assistant in Hollywood on some big-budget studio films and it was
big-budget studio films and it was
big-budget studio films and it was exciting because I got a behind the
exciting because I got a behind the
exciting because I got a behind the scenes look at the sausage-making of
scenes look at the sausage-making of
scenes look at the sausage-making of moviemaking but as the film ended and
moviemaking but as the film ended and
moviemaking but as the film ended and production was over I remember my job
production was over I remember my job
production was over I remember my job started to get mundane and I remember
started to get mundane and I remember
started to get mundane and I remember driving across LA morning traffic every
driving across LA morning traffic every
driving across LA morning traffic every day just to do a laundry list of gopher
day just to do a laundry list of gopher
day just to do a laundry list of gopher jobs for the director you know like walk
jobs for the director you know like walk
jobs for the director you know like walk the dog I hate to admit it you know meet
the dog I hate to admit it you know meet
the dog I hate to admit it you know meet the housekeeper get the coffee and I
the housekeeper get the coffee and I
the housekeeper get the coffee and I remember thinking is this what I’m
remember thinking is this what I’m
remember thinking is this what I’m really supposed to be doing with my film
really supposed to be doing with my film
really supposed to be doing with my film school degree so one day on this long
school degree so one day on this long
school degree so one day on this long boring commute an image popped into my
boring commute an image popped into my
boring commute an image popped into my mind a photo that my grandfather took
mind a photo that my grandfather took
mind a photo that my grandfather took back in 1924 when he was driving across
back in 1924 when he was driving across
back in 1924 when he was driving across country to Hollywood this was always
country to Hollywood this was always
country to Hollywood this was always hanging in my grandparents house when I
hanging in my grandparents house when I
hanging in my grandparents house when I was a kid this photograph see my
was a kid this photograph see my
was a kid this photograph see my grandfather had met Walt Disney four
grandfather had met Walt Disney four
grandfather had met Walt Disney four years earlier in Kansas City Missouri
years earlier in Kansas City Missouri
years earlier in Kansas City Missouri they were teenagers and artists working
they were teenagers and artists working
they were teenagers and artists working in an advertising agency
in an advertising agency
in an advertising agency they were both passionate about
they were both passionate about
they were both passionate about animation and they decided to form their
animation and they decided to form their
animation and they decided to form their own business called Iwerks Disney but
own business called Iwerks Disney but
own business called Iwerks Disney but only lasted a month then Walt decided to
only lasted a month then Walt decided to
only lasted a month then Walt decided to go on his own inform his own company
go on his own inform his own company
go on his own inform his own company called laughing Ram’s doing little
called laughing Ram’s doing little
called laughing Ram’s doing little cartoons for the local theaters my
cartoons for the local theaters my
cartoons for the local theaters my grandfather soon joined them and they
grandfather soon joined them and they
grandfather soon joined them and they started innovating little cartoons
started innovating little cartoons
started innovating little cartoons jerry-rigging animation cameras and they
jerry-rigging animation cameras and they
jerry-rigging animation cameras and they came up with some really great
came up with some really great
came up with some really great innovative cartoons including one that
innovative cartoons including one that
innovative cartoons including one that started live-action girl and an animated
started live-action girl and an animated
started live-action girl and an animated backdrop and this had never been done
backdrop and this had never been done
backdrop and this had never been done before but soon Walt’s money ran out and
before but soon Walt’s money ran out and
before but soon Walt’s money ran out and he had to declare bankruptcy so he took
he had to declare bankruptcy so he took
he had to declare bankruptcy so he took off for Hollywood to go find work and my
off for Hollywood to go find work and my
off for Hollywood to go find work and my grandfather returned to the advertising
grandfather returned to the advertising
grandfather returned to the advertising agency for steady employment it was two
agency for steady employment it was two
agency for steady employment it was two years later when my grandfather received
years later when my grandfather received
years later when my grandfather received a letter from Walt asking
a letter from Walt asking
a letter from Walt asking come out to Hollywood to join him as
come out to Hollywood to join him as
come out to Hollywood to join him as chief animator on a new cartoon series
chief animator on a new cartoon series
chief animator on a new cartoon series now my grandfather had a choice at this
now my grandfather had a choice at this
now my grandfather had a choice at this moment he could put this letter in a
moment he could put this letter in a
moment he could put this letter in a drawer and play it safe or he could you
drawer and play it safe or he could you
drawer and play it safe or he could you know uproot his entire life move across
know uproot his entire life move across
know uproot his entire life move across country and go work on some esoteric
country and go work on some esoteric
country and go work on some esoteric cartoon they could totally go bankrupt
cartoon they could totally go bankrupt
cartoon they could totally go bankrupt again but what does he do he trust his
again but what does he do he trust his
again but what does he do he trust his gut listens to his instincts and moves
gut listens to his instincts and moves
gut listens to his instincts and moves across country goes down a long dirt
across country goes down a long dirt
across country goes down a long dirt road into an unknown future this and
road into an unknown future this and
road into an unknown future this and storytelling terms is called the
storytelling terms is called the
storytelling terms is called the inciting incident or the call to action
inciting incident or the call to action
inciting incident or the call to action everything prior to this moment is the
everything prior to this moment is the
everything prior to this moment is the backstory everything ahead of this
backstory everything ahead of this
backstory everything ahead of this moment is the story it’s the moment that
moment is the story it’s the moment that
moment is the story it’s the moment that sets the protagonist in motion and as
sets the protagonist in motion and as
sets the protagonist in motion and as this story goes two years after my
this story goes two years after my
this story goes two years after my grandfather arrived in Hollywood Walt
grandfather arrived in Hollywood Walt
grandfather arrived in Hollywood Walt Disney did go belly-up again on a new
Disney did go belly-up again on a new
Disney did go belly-up again on a new cartoon series called Oswald the Lucky
cartoon series called Oswald the Lucky
cartoon series called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit when his animation staff JumpShip
Rabbit when his animation staff JumpShip
Rabbit when his animation staff JumpShip the one person the one animator has
the one person the one animator has
the one person the one animator has stood by his side was of Iwerks
stood by his side was of Iwerks
stood by his side was of Iwerks he would go on to design and animate the
he would go on to design and animate the
he would go on to design and animate the new cartoon character who would change
new cartoon character who would change
new cartoon character who would change the world
the world
the world Mickey Mouse or toe Polina as you all
Mickey Mouse or toe Polina as you all
Mickey Mouse or toe Polina as you all know him here in Italy so I was one when
know him here in Italy so I was one when
know him here in Italy so I was one when my grandfather died and needless to say
my grandfather died and needless to say
my grandfather died and needless to say I was very bummed that I never got to
I was very bummed that I never got to
I was very bummed that I never got to know him so by the time I got to junior
know him so by the time I got to junior
know him so by the time I got to junior high I was tasked with doing a book
high I was tasked with doing a book
high I was tasked with doing a book report on somebody famous and I decided
report on somebody famous and I decided
report on somebody famous and I decided to do it on up so I started looking
to do it on up so I started looking
to do it on up so I started looking through these books at an animation
through these books at an animation
through these books at an animation history and biographies on Walt Disney
history and biographies on Walt Disney
history and biographies on Walt Disney and what I started finding was that the
and what I started finding was that the
and what I started finding was that the stories I was reading were different
stories I was reading were different
stories I was reading were different than what I was hearing in my own family
than what I was hearing in my own family
than what I was hearing in my own family system you know ABS contribution to
system you know ABS contribution to
system you know ABS contribution to animation and visual effects and his
animation and visual effects and his
animation and visual effects and his contributions to Mickey and Minnie Mouse
contributions to Mickey and Minnie Mouse
contributions to Mickey and Minnie Mouse what I realized there’s a story of
what I realized there’s a story of
what I realized there’s a story of collaboration that was missing and as a
collaboration that was missing and as a
collaboration that was missing and as a result a piece of animation history was
result a piece of animation history was
result a piece of animation history was missing and this discrepancy had always
missing and this discrepancy had always
missing and this discrepancy had always bothered me so here I was driving across
bothered me so here I was driving across
bothered me so here I was driving across town and morning traffic and route to
town and morning traffic and route to
town and morning traffic and route to walk the directors dog and it dawned on
walk the directors dog and it dawned on
walk the directors dog and it dawned on me I could save this library what if I
me I could save this library what if I
me I could save this library what if I go and I interviewed the people that
go and I interviewed the people that
go and I interviewed the people that knew my grandfather before they were
knew my grandfather before they were
knew my grandfather before they were gone and maybe I could write
gone and maybe I could write
gone and maybe I could write a book or make a film a documentary and
a book or make a film a documentary and
a book or make a film a documentary and share his story with the world I didn’t
share his story with the world I didn’t
share his story with the world I didn’t know it at the time but this is my call
know it at the time but this is my call
know it at the time but this is my call to action so shortly thereafter I met
to action so shortly thereafter I met
to action so shortly thereafter I met with Roy Disney the nephew of Walt and I
with Roy Disney the nephew of Walt and I
with Roy Disney the nephew of Walt and I pitched him my idea of a documentary and
pitched him my idea of a documentary and
pitched him my idea of a documentary and he told me that he had great respect for
he told me that he had great respect for
he told me that he had great respect for AB and he felt that AB story was not
AB and he felt that AB story was not
AB and he felt that AB story was not only meant to be told it needed to be
only meant to be told it needed to be
only meant to be told it needed to be told and so he convinced the studio to
told and so he convinced the studio to
told and so he convinced the studio to fund a documentary and before I knew it
fund a documentary and before I knew it
fund a documentary and before I knew it I was on my way to telling my
I was on my way to telling my
I was on my way to telling my grandfather’s story so I spent the next
grandfather’s story so I spent the next
grandfather’s story so I spent the next eight months retracing their footsteps
eight months retracing their footsteps
eight months retracing their footsteps back in Kansas City in Hollywood I
back in Kansas City in Hollywood I
back in Kansas City in Hollywood I visited their old sites like the
visited their old sites like the
visited their old sites like the laugh-o-grams building where they got
laugh-o-grams building where they got
laugh-o-grams building where they got their start and I interviewed the people
their start and I interviewed the people
their start and I interviewed the people that knew him and I learned that up and
that knew him and I learned that up and
that knew him and I learned that up and Walt were like the yin and yang of
Walt were like the yin and yang of
Walt were like the yin and yang of creativity and technology
creativity and technology
creativity and technology Walt pictured left here whenever he had
Walt pictured left here whenever he had
Walt pictured left here whenever he had a story idea that needed to be told I
a story idea that needed to be told I
a story idea that needed to be told I would figure out a technical artistic
would figure out a technical artistic
would figure out a technical artistic solution for it whenever I came out with
solution for it whenever I came out with
solution for it whenever I came out with some technical invention Walt would find
some technical invention Walt would find
some technical invention Walt would find a way to put it to use they were always
a way to put it to use they were always
a way to put it to use they were always pushing the envelope so this is my first
pushing the envelope so this is my first
pushing the envelope so this is my first documentary and I was having a blast but
documentary and I was having a blast but
documentary and I was having a blast but I knew I needed to prove myself so when
I knew I needed to prove myself so when
I knew I needed to prove myself so when the time came for me to show my first
the time came for me to show my first
the time came for me to show my first cut to the studio executives I remember
cut to the studio executives I remember
cut to the studio executives I remember feeling the sense of anxiety I was about
feeling the sense of anxiety I was about
feeling the sense of anxiety I was about to show them a potentially controversial
to show them a potentially controversial
to show them a potentially controversial retelling of the Mickey Mouse origin
retelling of the Mickey Mouse origin
retelling of the Mickey Mouse origin story I mean this is from herbs point of
story I mean this is from herbs point of
story I mean this is from herbs point of view what if they disagreed with it what
view what if they disagreed with it what
view what if they disagreed with it what if they wanted me to change it how would
if they wanted me to change it how would
if they wanted me to change it how would I go she ate this after all Walt’s most
I go she ate this after all Walt’s most
I go she ate this after all Walt’s most famous quote arguably was it all started
famous quote arguably was it all started
famous quote arguably was it all started with a mouse so fortunately because this
with a mouse so fortunately because this
with a mouse so fortunately because this was a balanced and fair and honest
was a balanced and fair and honest
was a balanced and fair and honest retelling the studio not only embraced
retelling the studio not only embraced
retelling the studio not only embraced it they premiered it in Hollywood
it they premiered it in Hollywood
it they premiered it in Hollywood distributed around the world now people
distributed around the world now people
distributed around the world now people everywhere could experience the same
everywhere could experience the same
everywhere could experience the same magic that inspired his life and mine
magic that inspired his life and mine
magic that inspired his life and mine and I got to get to know the grandfather
and I got to get to know the grandfather
and I got to get to know the grandfather I never knew not long after this I ran
I never knew not long after this I ran
I never knew not long after this I ran into John Lasseter the co-founder of
into John Lasseter the co-founder of
into John Lasseter the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and he invited
Pixar Animation Studios and he invited
Pixar Animation Studios and he invited me to come screen my film up at the
me to come screen my film up at the
me to come screen my film up at the studio for the employees and I remember
studio for the employees and I remember
studio for the employees and I remember had a Q&A after the film somebody asked
had a Q&A after the film somebody asked
had a Q&A after the film somebody asked me if I could have done anything
me if I could have done anything
me if I could have done anything differently
differently
differently in the making in my documentary what
in the making in my documentary what
in the making in my documentary what would it have been and I remember
would it have been and I remember
would it have been and I remember thinking you know if I could have gone
thinking you know if I could have gone
thinking you know if I could have gone back in time and been a fly on the wall
back in time and been a fly on the wall
back in time and been a fly on the wall and then creation of Mickey Mouse
and then creation of Mickey Mouse
and then creation of Mickey Mouse recorded those early films and the
recorded those early films and the
recorded those early films and the behind the scenes activity I would love
behind the scenes activity I would love
behind the scenes activity I would love that opportunity so that answer seemed
that opportunity so that answer seemed
that opportunity so that answer seemed to spark something I think in Jon’s mind
to spark something I think in Jon’s mind
to spark something I think in Jon’s mind because afterwards they shared with me
because afterwards they shared with me
because afterwards they shared with me their long risky journey into the
their long risky journey into the
their long risky journey into the creation of computer animation and then
creation of computer animation and then
creation of computer animation and then they invited me to actually be that fly
they invited me to actually be that fly
they invited me to actually be that fly on the wall and go behind the scenes and
on the wall and go behind the scenes and
on the wall and go behind the scenes and actually capture the goings-on and the
actually capture the goings-on and the
actually capture the goings-on and the creative process at Pixar Animation
creative process at Pixar Animation
creative process at Pixar Animation Studios it was very exciting and I
Studios it was very exciting and I
Studios it was very exciting and I remember my interview with Steve Jobs he
remember my interview with Steve Jobs he
remember my interview with Steve Jobs he told me that Pixar had combine the
told me that Pixar had combine the
told me that Pixar had combine the creative culture of Hollywood with the
creative culture of Hollywood with the
creative culture of Hollywood with the hi-tech culture of Silicon Valley two
hi-tech culture of Silicon Valley two
hi-tech culture of Silicon Valley two cultures that previously did not
cultures that previously did not
cultures that previously did not understand each other a place where as
understand each other a place where as
understand each other a place where as John Lasseter says art challenges
John Lasseter says art challenges
John Lasseter says art challenges technology and technology inspires art
technology and technology inspires art
technology and technology inspires art but with all the advancements in
but with all the advancements in
but with all the advancements in computer animation what didn’t change
computer animation what didn’t change
computer animation what didn’t change was a need to create believable worlds
was a need to create believable worlds
was a need to create believable worlds with living breathing characters as the
with living breathing characters as the
with living breathing characters as the classic animators have taught us you
classic animators have taught us you
classic animators have taught us you have to make your characters feel I
have to make your characters feel I
have to make your characters feel I remember thinking if I had been a fly on
remember thinking if I had been a fly on
remember thinking if I had been a fly on the wall during the creation of Mickey
the wall during the creation of Mickey
the wall during the creation of Mickey Mouse would it have looked something
Mouse would it have looked something
Mouse would it have looked something like this this is a scene that I filmed
like this this is a scene that I filmed
like this this is a scene that I filmed during the making of Finding Nemo an
during the making of Finding Nemo an
during the making of Finding Nemo an exchange between director Andrew Stanton
exchange between director Andrew Stanton
exchange between director Andrew Stanton and animator Doug Sweetland
hey guess what all right sea turtles
hey guess what all right sea turtles I met one and he was a hundred and fifty
I met one and he was a hundred and fifty
I met one and he was a hundred and fifty years old you know Nemo should be
years old you know Nemo should be
years old you know Nemo should be looking at his dad at the beginning of
looking at his dad at the beginning of
looking at his dad at the beginning of the shot all the time yeah he looks like
the shot all the time yeah he looks like
the shot all the time yeah he looks like he’s dead give it up he looked at his
he’s dead give it up he looked at his
he’s dead give it up he looked at his dad and I looked at his spin and he
dad and I looked at his spin and he
dad and I looked at his spin and he should be like looking at him for
should be like looking at him for
should be like looking at him for acknowledging the whole time okay fin
acknowledging the whole time okay fin
acknowledging the whole time okay fin they stay looking at each other
they stay looking at each other
they stay looking at each other [Laughter]
I was focusing primarily on father and
I was focusing primarily on father and not on really not on Nemo so I just kind
not on really not on Nemo so I just kind
not on really not on Nemo so I just kind of had Nemo default to this kind of eyes
of had Nemo default to this kind of eyes
of had Nemo default to this kind of eyes forward pose not even thinking about
forward pose not even thinking about
forward pose not even thinking about like how it would read except that
like how it would read except that
like how it would read except that hopefully you’re looking at father right
hopefully you’re looking at father right
hopefully you’re looking at father right but Andrew read it and he was totally
but Andrew read it and he was totally
but Andrew read it and he was totally right that it looks completely
right that it looks completely
right that it looks completely indifferent and so now I have to give
indifferent and so now I have to give
indifferent and so now I have to give this entry when I came father know Nemo
this entry when I came father know Nemo
this entry when I came father know Nemo but you know it’s you know it’s not like
but you know it’s you know it’s not like
but you know it’s you know it’s not like starting over anything but I have to in
starting over anything but I have to in
starting over anything but I have to in view that character with something so
view that character with something so
view that character with something so now what I can do is just go back into
now what I can do is just go back into
now what I can do is just go back into the thumbnails and what I could do is
the thumbnails and what I could do is
the thumbnails and what I could do is just use these same drawings it would be
just use these same drawings it would be
just use these same drawings it would be good so the shot will be a lot better I
good so the shot will be a lot better I
good so the shot will be a lot better I had done all this stuff to where the fan
had done all this stuff to where the fan
had done all this stuff to where the fan is like this symbol of the movie his
is like this symbol of the movie his
is like this symbol of the movie his accepting of his sign is also the
accepting of his sign is also the
accepting of his sign is also the letting go of the past or the loss of
letting go of the past or the loss of
letting go of the past or the loss of the trauma and what is it what is it to
the trauma and what is it what is it to
the trauma and what is it what is it to take someone’s hand not only isn’t an
take someone’s hand not only isn’t an
take someone’s hand not only isn’t an opportunity just to physically kit like
opportunity just to physically kit like
opportunity just to physically kit like touch and connect with his son it also
touch and connect with his son it also
touch and connect with his son it also marks the new relationship
marks the new relationship
marks the new relationship [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I’m so sorry
I’m so sorry
I’m so sorry [Music]
so this behind-the-scenes access really
so this behind-the-scenes access really gave me a deeper understanding for the
gave me a deeper understanding for the
gave me a deeper understanding for the human journey through the creative
human journey through the creative
human journey through the creative process or that courage to create I
process or that courage to create I
process or that courage to create I learned through my own filmmaking that
learned through my own filmmaking that
learned through my own filmmaking that risk-taking is all about sort of
risk-taking is all about sort of
risk-taking is all about sort of trusting your gut and having that
trusting your gut and having that
trusting your gut and having that confidence to go down an unpaved road
confidence to go down an unpaved road
confidence to go down an unpaved road much like my grandfather did and much
much like my grandfather did and much
much like my grandfather did and much like the founders of Pixar did so when I
like the founders of Pixar did so when I
like the founders of Pixar did so when I started receiving letters from students
started receiving letters from students
started receiving letters from students telling me that this film the Pixar
telling me that this film the Pixar
telling me that this film the Pixar story inspired them to pursue a career
story inspired them to pursue a career
story inspired them to pursue a career in animation that gave me more
in animation that gave me more
in animation that gave me more motivation to go out and find more
motivation to go out and find more
motivation to go out and find more stories that were meant to be told more
stories that were meant to be told more
stories that were meant to be told more stories of risk and survival risk and
stories of risk and survival risk and
stories of risk and survival risk and adversity but how do you find these
adversity but how do you find these
adversity but how do you find these stories I can tell you that you will
stories I can tell you that you will
stories I can tell you that you will often find them in the most surprising
often find them in the most surprising
often find them in the most surprising and unexpected places I would never have
and unexpected places I would never have
and unexpected places I would never have guessed that my next film would have
guessed that my next film would have
guessed that my next film would have landed me in the trash literally the
landed me in the trash literally the
landed me in the trash literally the Guatemala City garbage dump the largest
Guatemala City garbage dump the largest
Guatemala City garbage dump the largest landfill in Central America
landfill in Central America
landfill in Central America were thousands of families who had fled
were thousands of families who had fled
were thousands of families who had fled Guatemala’s 36 years civil war had found
Guatemala’s 36 years civil war had found
Guatemala’s 36 years civil war had found refuge recycling the city’s trash
refuge recycling the city’s trash
refuge recycling the city’s trash Outsiders saw these people as
Outsiders saw these people as
Outsiders saw these people as degenerates and I saw them as
degenerates and I saw them as
degenerates and I saw them as hard-working survivors vultures and
hard-working survivors vultures and
hard-working survivors vultures and stray dogs and people were all vying for
stray dogs and people were all vying for
stray dogs and people were all vying for the same half-eaten banana just dumped
the same half-eaten banana just dumped
the same half-eaten banana just dumped from a trash truck yet children were
from a trash truck yet children were
from a trash truck yet children were joyful here they played with broken toys
joyful here they played with broken toys
joyful here they played with broken toys and hula hoops and even Mickey Mouse
and hula hoops and even Mickey Mouse
and hula hoops and even Mickey Mouse dolls we asked one woman what was the
dolls we asked one woman what was the
dolls we asked one woman what was the best thing you ever found in the garbage
best thing you ever found in the garbage
best thing you ever found in the garbage dump
dump
dump she said my husband this was a story of
she said my husband this was a story of
she said my husband this was a story of risk courage survival and dignity I grew
risk courage survival and dignity I grew
risk courage survival and dignity I grew up in the world of Disneyland and this
up in the world of Disneyland and this
up in the world of Disneyland and this was their playground so I was finding
was their playground so I was finding
was their playground so I was finding commonality in a place far from home and
commonality in a place far from home and
commonality in a place far from home and how I grew up when people learned I was
how I grew up when people learned I was
how I grew up when people learned I was doing a documentary about people living
doing a documentary about people living
doing a documentary about people living in a garbage dump they thought I was
in a garbage dump they thought I was
in a garbage dump they thought I was crazy for doing this film but when it
crazy for doing this film but when it
crazy for doing this film but when it was nominated for an Academy Award and
was nominated for an Academy Award and
was nominated for an Academy Award and benefits screenings raised three million
benefits screenings raised three million
benefits screenings raised three million dollars to help build schools in the
dollars to help build schools in the
dollars to help build schools in the surrounding areas of the garbage dump
surrounding areas of the garbage dump
surrounding areas of the garbage dump our film recycled life is proof that
our film recycled life is proof that
our film recycled life is proof that films that are meant to be told can make
films that are meant to be told can make
films that are meant to be told can make a difference I found as we get older we
a difference I found as we get older we
a difference I found as we get older we start to look back at the stories of our
start to look back at the stories of our
start to look back at the stories of our lives
lives
lives we start to want to fill in the blanks
we start to want to fill in the blanks
we start to want to fill in the blanks and answer the questions that we never
and answer the questions that we never
and answer the questions that we never thought to ask because we were so busy
thought to ask because we were so busy
thought to ask because we were so busy living and doing but when we start being
living and doing but when we start being
living and doing but when we start being our own history starts to matter more if
our own history starts to matter more if
our own history starts to matter more if we could just have one more day with
we could just have one more day with
we could just have one more day with that loved one or we could have been
that loved one or we could have been
that loved one or we could have been that fly-on-the-wall to learn about
that fly-on-the-wall to learn about
that fly-on-the-wall to learn about their processes their perspectives and
their processes their perspectives and
their processes their perspectives and their lessons in life stories are all
their lessons in life stories are all
their lessons in life stories are all around us and we have the tools and the
around us and we have the tools and the
around us and we have the tools and the technology today like never before to go
technology today like never before to go
technology today like never before to go out and capture them and share them with
out and capture them and share them with
out and capture them and share them with others I challenge you I dare you go out
others I challenge you I dare you go out
others I challenge you I dare you go out find those magical stories and others
find those magical stories and others
find those magical stories and others and then yourself because when we listen
and then yourself because when we listen
and then yourself because when we listen to our own instincts and we answer our
to our own instincts and we answer our
to our own instincts and we answer our own calls to action our stories become a
own calls to action our stories become a
own calls to action our stories become a gift to everyone they become the tribal
gift to everyone they become the tribal
gift to everyone they become the tribal knowledge to pass down remember that old
knowledge to pass down remember that old
knowledge to pass down remember that old African proverb when an old man dies or
African proverb when an old man dies or
African proverb when an old man dies or a woman a library burns go save some
a woman a library burns go save some
a woman a library burns go save some burning libraries I dare you
burning libraries I dare you
burning libraries I dare you thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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