tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post116154804182298516..comments2024-03-26T22:42:06.412-07:00Comments on TAG Blog: Screenwriting Expo 5 -- Pixar Storytelling 1Steve Huletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-49391434511352687562007-07-04T12:07:00.000-07:002007-07-04T12:07:00.000-07:00These comments have been invaluable to me as is th...These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank you for your comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161889328261449882006-10-26T12:02:00.000-07:002006-10-26T12:02:00.000-07:00Awesome notes! Really great reading. Jerm, over at...Awesome notes! Really great reading. Jerm, over at captainyolk.blogspot.com has a bunch of drawings from the event, you should check out!<BR/><BR/>Can't wait for the rest of the notes ! ! !samacleodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735331967593059455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161794709683669892006-10-25T09:45:00.000-07:002006-10-25T09:45:00.000-07:00I wonder why folks who think Pixar spent the day "...I wonder why folks who think Pixar spent the day "kissing their own asses" invested the time, money, and effort to attend the panels. The day was billed as Pixar describing their story process, which they did. Those who feel they were self-aggrandizing obviously had an agenda going in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161794360280143382006-10-25T09:39:00.000-07:002006-10-25T09:39:00.000-07:00Kevin, Anon #2 here.The problem with the mics wasn...Kevin, Anon #2 here.<BR/><BR/>The problem with the mics wasn't the shyness of the users; it was a bad audio mix that got progressively worse as it moved down the panel table. The audio folks clearly knew it was an issue when they brought in the wireless mics during the second panel. Suddenly, we could hear the speakers, yet their approach to the mics wasn't any different. In short, you're wrong.<BR/><BR/>And, with all due respect, if you had a seat in the main room, you have no clue what it was like trying to hear what was being said over the simulcast in the overflow rooms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161792112080428572006-10-25T09:01:00.000-07:002006-10-25T09:01:00.000-07:00The comment about making the audience work for the...The comment about making the audience work for their entertainment reminds me of a favorite quote from Truffaut, "Filmmaking is the art of leading the thoughts and connotations of the audience." In the Pixar sense, the film leads them but does not fully disclose the meaning, the viewer has to make the final leap to their own meaning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161747693177808172006-10-24T20:41:00.000-07:002006-10-24T20:41:00.000-07:00thanks for sharing!thanks for sharing!Andrew Chanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14960027425741543570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161740097708242952006-10-24T18:34:00.000-07:002006-10-24T18:34:00.000-07:00Melissa, I mentioned "2+2" in my second post here....Melissa, I mentioned "2+2" in my second post <A HREF="http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/pixar-storytelling-2.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>. Check it out.<BR/><BR/>Brad, I had a very different reaction to Mike Arndt's lunchtime talk than I did to Andrew Stanton's morning session. I'm not sure I should post on it, since I disagreed with a lot of it (and because my notes are much less detailed). I might just leave things at the end of Andrew's talk, unless people want me to post about the rest of the day.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161738966305808042006-10-24T18:16:00.000-07:002006-10-24T18:16:00.000-07:00I felt that the Pixar team was just excited about ...I felt that the Pixar team was just excited about how their studio works and seemed eager to spread the word so that maybe such structures could work in other kingdoms. During the talks they hinted at a number of times where story was a major obstacle.<BR/>In fact Stainton said that he really didn't know what he was doing. Lee Unrich suggested that writing has been a tough issue at the studio, and that was clearly why they hired Mike Arndt the screenwriter of "little Miss Sunshine" to analize future projects. Brad Bird also suggested something similar when he announced that he had completely rewritten the entire script for Ratatouille when he took over its direction.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02743751586338362556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161737539707831472006-10-24T17:52:00.000-07:002006-10-24T17:52:00.000-07:00I don't think Pixar was tooting their own horns. T...I don't think Pixar was tooting their own horns. They got asked to speak, so they told the truth. It might not have been what everyone wanted to hear, but that's all they know. And they're not stupid; they know when to keep their secrets sacred (e.g. when Stanton was talking about finding the right voice cast, I had a feeling he might go into what talent might not have worked so well, but he didn't). However, I did hear a recently retired Pixar worker (who was sitting next to me) laugh when Stanton mentioned there wasn't politics. And no, I didn't believe that, either, and I'm a pretty hard-core Pixar pusher.<BR/><BR/>PLEASE don't forget to mention 2+2!! I think that was one of the most important concepts Stanton talked about on Saturday.<BR/><BR/>And yes, I was in the room and I couldn't hear the panelists half the time. Some of them needed to move closer to the mic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161676139948375492006-10-24T00:48:00.000-07:002006-10-24T00:48:00.000-07:00Really interesting post, thanks for sharing stuff ...Really interesting post, thanks for sharing stuff like this.Luca Tierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06863967090007610427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161669936802787752006-10-23T23:05:00.000-07:002006-10-23T23:05:00.000-07:00"Only in-house original ideas are used"I clearly r..."Only in-house original ideas are used"<BR/><BR/>I clearly remember Brad Bird saying that the idea and characters for The Incredibles had been developed in the early to mid 90's and was even pitched to WB at one point. Yes, it was his own idea and it came to fruition at PIXAR, but it's life surely began outside of PIXAR.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161662170640485642006-10-23T20:56:00.000-07:002006-10-23T20:56:00.000-07:00Thanks for the insight.Thanks for the insight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161653026983756452006-10-23T18:23:00.000-07:002006-10-23T18:23:00.000-07:00Anon # 1, I had exactly the same thoughts, 'though...Anon # 1, I had exactly the same thoughts, 'though Pixar does seem to have less of the noxious politics than most studios.<BR/><BR/>Anon #2, the problem with the microphones was that many of the panelists were too shy or polite to really grab 'em. Even when the microphones were pushed close to some speakers, they would still pull back till they could barely be heard. It did help to have a good seat in the room where they were speaking.<BR/><BR/>To everyone, when I get home tonight I'll put up the second half of Andrew Stanton's talk. Glad you're enjoying it so far.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161652434317016872006-10-23T18:13:00.000-07:002006-10-23T18:13:00.000-07:00Sincere thanks for the entertaining and knowledge ...Sincere thanks for the entertaining and knowledge packed post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161651902161352212006-10-23T18:05:00.000-07:002006-10-23T18:05:00.000-07:00It's not unlike the hubris which pervaded Walt Dis...It's not unlike the hubris which pervaded Walt Disney Feature Animation right before their dramatic fall.<BR/><BR/>Then, as now, the principals involved had all the box office justification in the world for their self-congratulatory "can-do-no-wrong" perspective, and couldn't imagine the turn of events in store for them. :-)<BR/><BR/>Those who have never gone through a full cycle like to believe that they are immune to cycles, but what goes up inevitably comes down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161649631112998612006-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:002006-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00It was awesome listening to Pixar kiss their own a...It was awesome listening to Pixar kiss their own asses all day long.. They're good at making movies but come on Pixar show some humility... The only saving grace was "King Ego" of the "BrainClick" Andrew Stanton had some good info, as well Michael Arndt was very informative...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161644106833320622006-10-23T15:55:00.000-07:002006-10-23T15:55:00.000-07:00It'd be great to have a DVD of these panels, if fo...It'd be great to have a DVD of these panels, if for no other reason so that those of us who were in the overflow rooms can hear what the people with the barely-functioning mics during the second and third panels had to say. The venue managed to correct the problem for most of the second panel, but the third panel was a disaster. We could only hear half the panel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161643662286675832006-10-23T15:47:00.000-07:002006-10-23T15:47:00.000-07:00This is a great summary so far of Stanton's talk. ...This is a great summary so far of Stanton's talk. It was, for me, by far the most inspiring of the day. I'm glad to have such a great summary of it in order to help cement it in my head.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161643256683207422006-10-23T15:40:00.000-07:002006-10-23T15:40:00.000-07:00With all due respect to the fine folks up at Pixar...With all due respect to the fine folks up at Pixar, there ain't no such thing as "No politics." :-)<BR/><BR/>Where there's people, there's politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161641351401668062006-10-23T15:09:00.000-07:002006-10-23T15:09:00.000-07:00Thank you Kevin! Stanton's opening joke made me ...Thank you Kevin! Stanton's opening joke made me laugh so hard, I forgot to take notes during the first 15 minutes. So I'm glad you did. <BR/><BR/>Another book reference he made was American Pastoral by Philip Roth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161630307962741512006-10-23T12:05:00.000-07:002006-10-23T12:05:00.000-07:00Great talk! Great notes! Thanks Kevin!I heard tha...Great talk! Great notes! Thanks Kevin!<BR/><BR/>I heard that a DVD of the talks will be available in December.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161627470958399512006-10-23T11:17:00.000-07:002006-10-23T11:17:00.000-07:00He also referenced the Art of Dramatic Writing by,...He also referenced <BR/><BR/>the Art of Dramatic Writing by, I think, Lajos Egri.<BR/><BR/>David Mamet in general<BR/><BR/>Robert Mckee<BR/><BR/>and <BR/><BR/>Sandy MackendrickDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939742688624537664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161624777931015842006-10-23T10:32:00.000-07:002006-10-23T10:32:00.000-07:00Kevin,I also attended and want to thank you for ta...Kevin,<BR/>I also attended and want to thank you for taking notes! I was a bit too <BR/>shortsighted to do so myself. I do however remember that Andrew made reference <BR/>to a few of his favorite resources such as <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Spoon-Anthology-Signet-Classics-Paperback/dp/0451525302/sr=8-1/qid=1161623310/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5785003-6858463?ie=UTF8&s=books" REL="nofollow">The Spoon River Anthologies</A> for <BR/>character design ideas. Did anyone make note of any of his other references?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161622397199645882006-10-23T09:53:00.000-07:002006-10-23T09:53:00.000-07:00Hey kevinI too was at the lectures by Pixar guys, ...Hey kevin<BR/><BR/>I too was at the lectures by Pixar guys, and will be putting together my own posts over the next few days. Hopefully, a few more people will do the same so that all everyone who missed it will have a chance to see what it was all about.<BR/><BR/> It's a real shame that recorders weren't allowed in, nor are that making an audio cd available for purchase. Between Andrew Stanton and Michael Arndt, there was a great amount of info between the two.<BR/><BR/>Anyways, looking forward to your next post.<BR/><BR/>DanDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939742688624537664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-1161557177366948832006-10-22T15:46:00.000-07:002006-10-22T15:46:00.000-07:00It's always nice to get positive feedback, Rocco, ...It's always nice to get positive feedback, Rocco, so thanks for that.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.com