Jeffrey Katzenberg on Hollywood changes:
I think a real seismic shift is occurring. Anytime you're in the center of these shifts, it's maybe not the wisest thing to try and be predictive of where it all is going. But in the pastplus or minus—and I'm referring to the last 30 or 40 years—every time a new platform has come along, the motion picture industry as a whole has usually done a fantastic job of transitioning to it and ultimately gaining revenue. And many different platforms have come along, whether it was free TV or pay TV or VHS or DVDs. Clearly, the next major transformation is going to be from hard goods to digital. There's a lot of uncertainty and caution as to how best to get there. Moving from analog to digital has been disastrous for the music industry. Hopefully our industry has learned from the music business ...
Say what you will about Mr. Katzenberg, he's headed up and run the viable half of DreamWorks for a decade and a half, the part that hasn't been swallowed up by a conglomerate.
And face it. He's performed a high wire act that is almost impossible in the modern age: he's run a successful stand alone animation studio. Which is extraordinary, when you think about it. When he left the Disney Company beneath a dark thunderhead named Michael Eisner, most believed his glory days were behind him. (Cheeky story artists had caricatures of him in a real estate salesman's blue blazer, selling houses to reluctant couples in the forceful Katzenberg style. ("This is the greatest house in the entire neighborhood! Honestly. This is the one you want! I wouldn't steer you wrong!")
Yet here he is, fifteen years later, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, while his ex-friend Michael Eisner runs Tornante.
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18 comments:
Maybe he should go back to Disney and show Lasseter how its done.
Hehe.
I'll be honest. When "The Chairman" took over Disney Animation I thought it was the end of the world. Jeffrey proved me wrong, and I actually enjoyed working for him.
Just think. If the CEO hadn't been such a bonehead, Disney could be reaping the benefits of a successful animation division today.
So true, Mr. Norman. When I heard about Katzenberg's ouster, I had a baaaddd feeling about it. From what I'd heard, Katzenberg had a real handle on what made a Disney film a Disney film. He once said that the best ones had a "moral resonance" that made them relevant yet timeless. He was the one who fearlessly fixed Aladdin, and made the animators redo the fight scene between Simba and Scar in the Lion King (he thought the fire looked too fake). Katzenberg helped Disney regain its glory. Eisner sold it all for a buck. And then started buying up worn-out properties like the Muppets and Power Rangers (good god). The question now is: is Iger any better? Frankly, I don't think so.
Hollywood has done a great job of adapting to new platforms? Is this the same Hollywood who fought home video tooth and nail? Going back further, the same Hollywood who refused to participate in the early days of television, save for Disney? The same Hollywood who now sues anyone who provides a way to rip content from DVDs, even for legitimate personal use?
Katzenberg may be an animation genius, but he's not much of a Hollywood historian.
He's not saying Hollywood didnt fight it, he said Hollywood overcame it and made ways of gaining revenue from it.
Dummy.
Katzenberg was also the one that claimed that Pocahontas was a guaranteed smash.
So? He and everyone else thought LionKing would bomb. Does that mean animation still doesn't owe him a HUGE debt of gratitude?
Most of you newbies wouldn't be fans or in the biz if it wasn't for what he accomplished at Disney.
Remember Frank Wells wanted to shut down the feature animation unit and just re-release the old films every few years.
Katzenberg is no "animation genius," but he was GOOD for Disney Animation at that time. There was more of a sense of "give" and "take." He saw things animation folks would not have, and he challenged them in a healthy way (most of the time!).
Whatever, Jeffrey single handedly killed Tradigital animation.
Hey Anon Midnight,
You don't "adapt" to something by trying to destroy it before embracing it. "Adapting" means changing behavior to react to the new reality, not trying to deny or destroy that reality.
You're welcome.
"Whatever, Jeffrey single handedly killed Tradigital animation"
Really? You don't think the collossal failures of Atlantis and Treasure planet had anything to do with that? Just because JK decided he wanted to stop making 2D at DW that shouldn't have influenced Disney. In fact, they should have been thrilled since their biggest rival had decided to not compete in 2D. If you want someone to blame for the demise of 2D (hopefully the temporary demise) there's plenty of blame to go around. I personally lay it at the feet of the audience...
But if you just want to piss all over JK for being JK and actually being the one to make you an animation fan since he created those childhood memories (I'm assuming you grew up watching all of Disney's big 90's hits since you sound so young and immature)then it sounds like you might have some Oedipal issues...
Hey Anon Midnight
Who's Anon Midnight? No one posted at midnight.
Jeez, you really ARE a dummy.
You're welcome.
I'm guessing these forums are dropping comments. Is it a moderator, or a bug in the software? A post I posted a day ago has mysteriously disappeared, and there was nothing "controversial" about it.
The midget gets plenty of what he deserves, believe me. Too bad he can't make better films.
yeah, he's crying all the way to the bank and so are his employees (who get paid a hulluva lot better than JL's)
You should be so unfortunate...
JK is awesome! He's the guy who predicted musicals are to the 90's what action films were to the 80's. Visionary! I believe this announcement is more about keeping shareholders calm and optimistic in this economic climate.
Anon Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:59:00 AM
Nice ad hominem, douche. How about addressing the post, rather than the fact that the guy misread the time?
Loser.
Nah. Id rather just get under your skin. Its more fun.
Besides, this topic is boring. Fighting adaptation vs finding it being a source of revenue is a moot argument anyway. Hollywood will find a way, whether they bitch about it or do it willingly.
Ultimately, who gives a shit.
Signed,
Gainfully employed, mega-talented, highly-paid animator.
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