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CIRQUE DU
SOLEIL SET TO OPEN AT TOKYO DISNEY |
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Friday
September 5, 2008 |
Cirque
du Soleil set to open at Tokyo Disney
Orlando Mayor and Disney Challenge Residents to Get Healthy
Lady Foot Locker Sponsors Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
Weekend
Insider Information On Disneyland Resort Dining
Taking the Mickey
Disney Wants
Fans To 'Unlock More Rock'
Young and Good-Looking, Spying on Her Yakuza Dad
Student
dances her way into a Disney movie
Cookham teen stars
in Disney show
Disney to Bring
Ponyo to U.S. in 2009 |
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Cirque du
Soleil set to open at Tokyo Disney
Gadling - On October 1, 2008, ZED will premier at the brand new
Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo at the Tokyo Disney Resort.
According to the official press release: "ZED is a living poem,
a timeless evocation that draws on the Tarot and its arcana, an
imaginary world that conjures the vitality of the human
condition and holds up a mirror to our true selves. The central,
larger-than-life character Zed represents all of humanity in all
its guises, from wisdom to folly, from discovery to adventure."
While Japan has previously hosted a number of Cirque du Soleil
traveling shows, ZED is an original production that will have
its world premier at Tokyo Disney. The show will also highlight
the capabilities of the purpose-built Cirque du Soleil Theatre
Tokyo, the first dedicated venue for Cirque du Soleil
productions in Japan.
Tickets are currently on sale in the Tokyo metropolitan area,
and range in price from ¥9,800 (US$90) for regular seats to
¥18,000 (US$160) for center stage floor seats.
Despite its humble beginnings as a performing troupe in
Montreal, Canada, Cirque du Soleil or the 'Circus of the Sun' is
currently a global entertainment phenomenon that draws in crowds
of theatergoers from New York to Sapporo. Of course, the stage
troupe's premier billings are mostly located in Las Vegas, which
is home to multiple permanent venues that open up to almost
10,000 people every night.
After the opening of ZED on October 1st however, the Cirque du
Soleil Theatre Tokyo will be able to give Sin City a run for its
money. The purpose built auditorium, which is an architectural
wonder in and of itself, will host an estimated 380 shows per
year.
True to the Cirque du Soleil franchise, ZED will be
characterized by its breathtaking stage antics, colorful
costumes and orchestral performance, and will follow an abstract
storyline incorporating both Western and Asian elements.
The show will focus on the title character of Zed, who turns to
the world of the arcane for inspiration and connection.
Throughout his magical journey, he comes across a cast of
mythological characters from sphinxes to satyrs.
If you're living and working in Japan, or you have plans to pass
through Tokyo in the near future, don't miss out on ZED.
Tokyo Disney Resort, which is actually located in Chiba city at
Maihama station, is just a short ride from central Tokyo on the
JR Keiyo Line. Come out for a dinner and a show, or grab a room
at the adjacent Disney Ambassador Hotel and have yourself a
holiday!
For ticketing information, you can contact the
Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo Information Desk between
the hours of 10:00am and 5:00pm at 0570-02-8777, or check out
their English-language website at
http://www.zed.co.jp/home_en.php. |
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Orlando Mayor and Disney Challenge Residents to Get Healthy
 Disney
News - City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Walt Disney World
President Meg Crofton were joined by dozens of community and
business leaders to announce Project Pressure, a first of its
kind initiative to promote healthier lifestyles for Central
Floridians. Mayor Dyer launched the year-long effort by
challenging one million area residents to check their blood
pressure.
The effort was designed to raise
awareness of the dangers of hypertension and motivate cities
nationwide to step up their blood pressure education efforts.
“We are encouraging our
community and our Cast Members to make one simple step toward a
healthier lifestyle by rolling up their sleeves and getting
their blood pressure checked. Health care and the wellness of
employees and their families is one of the most important issues
that companies face today. Project Pressure will complement the
many resources we are providing Cast Members to help them live
healthier lives,” said Crofton. |
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Lady Foot Locker Sponsors Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
Weekend
Disney News - Lady Foot Locker, the nation’s largest athletic
specialty retailer for women, will be the presenting sponsor of
Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend in March 2009, providing
greater national visibility for the inaugural race and Lady Foot
Locker.
Under the multi-year agreement,
Lady Foot Locker will be involved in the marketing of Disney’s
Princess Half Marathon Weekend in a variety of ways, including a
nationwide sweepstakes, in-store promotions at more than 500
Lady Foot Locker retail stores and a presence on its official
Web site: www.ladyfootlocker.com.
“The Lady Foot Locker brand
appeals to female athletes of all ages and abilities and is
associated with quality and class, which aligns well with the
target demographic of Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend,”
said Kathleen Duran, manager of Disney’s Endurance Series.
“Their reputation makes them an ideal presenting sponsor for the
race and will help us bring to life the ‘princess’ in every
female athlete.”
Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
Weekend debuts March 6-8, 2009, and includes two road races –
the signature 13.1-mile half marathon through Disney’s Animal
Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot, and a family 5K
through Epcot – each themed around Disney’s beloved princess
characters. Another feature of race weekend is Disney’s Fit For
A Princess Health and Fitness Expo, a two-day celebration of
women’s health and fitness at the new Jostens Center at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports Complex.
The event features celebrity
runner appearances, special Disney character appearances,
fitness training seminars, opportunities to experience the
latest running and fitness equipment and a speaker series
involving leading trainers and health experts.
In all, more than 10,000 runners
are expected to participate in race weekend, making it one of
the country’s largest road races geared toward women. The
storybook event will be complete with a fairytale finish that
includes an exclusive post-race celebration with friends and
family at Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party featuring food,
beverages, music, fireworks and “Disney’s Enchanted Adventures
Parade.”
Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
Weekend is the newest edition to the renowned Disney’s Endurance
Series. The series features popular events for people of all
ages and abilities, including Walt Disney World Marathon
Weekend, Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, The Twilight Zone™
Tower of Terror 13K, Disney’s Race for the Taste 10K, and
Expedition Everest Challenge – a mysterious 5K race through the
dark, exotic terrain of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Visit www.disneysports.com for more information.
Disney’s Princess Half Marathon
Weekend will support the Make-A-Wish Foundation by promoting its
presence throughout the event, providing a platform for
Make-A-Wish to interact with runners, increase awareness of its
cause and accept donations. Make-A-Wish will also participate
in the speaker series at Disney’s Fit For A Princess Health and
Fitness Expo.
The event’s support of the
Make-A-Wish Foundation builds on Disney’s long-standing
relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation that stretches more
than 27 years. During that time, Disney has contributed more
than $11 million in cash and in-kind donations each year and
used its magic to grant the wishes of children with
life-threatening medical conditions.
With more than 6,000 wishes
granted every year – including visits to the Disney parks,
Disney cruises, Disney characters visits, attending sporting
events and visiting TV and movie sets – Disney-themed wishes
continue to be the most popular requests by children to the
Make-A-Wish Foundation. |
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Insider Information On Disneyland Resort Dining
Disney News - Where is the best steak, sushi and dining
alfresco? Here are some "insider tips" on Disneyland dining:
Most romantic dinner spot:
It's a toss-up between The Napa Rose at Disney's Grand
Californian Hotel & Spa and a corner table at Steakhouse 55 in
the Disneyland Hotel.
Favorite spots for outdoor
dining: Carnation Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A., the front
porch of Plaza Inn and River Belle Terrace (where we're told
Walt Disney used to have breakfast on Sunday mornings), all in
Disneyland Park; the covered balcony of the Vineyard Room,
Disney's California Adventure; the terrace at The Napa Rose,
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; Uva Bar, Downtown
Disney.
How to order kosher meals:
Kosher meals are available at most table-service restaurants at
Disneyland Resort. A 24-hour notice is required, and the meals
are purchased from an outside vendor. Guests also may bring
their own preferred kosher products.
Allergies, special diets:
Stop in City Hall in Disneyland Park for a list of restaurants
that offer gluten-free and kosher meals. Chefs are happy to
accommodate when guests provide advanced notice by calling
714-781-DINE.
Fill 'er up: Favorite
self-serve, buffet-style restaurants include breakfast at the
Plaza Inn, Disneyland Park; Goofy's Kitchen (brunch and dinner),
the Disneyland Hotel; breakfast at Disney's PCH Grill, Disney's
Paradise Pier Hotel, and breakfast at Storytellers Cafe,
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Where is Mickey Mouse?
The Big Cheese makes a celebrity appearance during "My
Disneyland Birthday Party" every afternoon at the Plaza Inn in
Disneyland Park.
Where to find sushi:
Yamabuki at the Disneyland Hotel. Other signature dishes include
crisp, light tempura and sake-poached Alaskan halibut.
Best steak dinner:
Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel (the generous bone-in
ribeye is always popular). Or try the Angus filet mignon "au
poivre" with cabernet sauvignon-cherry essence at The Napa Rose.
Best vegetarian: All
table-service restaurants offer vegetarian choices, but for
creations with the season's freshest ingredients try the
Vineyard Room at Disney's California Adventure; Catal Restaurant
and Uva Bar at Downtown Disney, or The Napa Rose at Disney's
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Tops for families: Gather
round the table for breakfast or dinner at Goofy's Kitchen at
the Disneyland Hotel, where the Disney characters will have you
dancing. Another favorite is Blue Bayou in Disneyland Park, with
twinkling lights and a magical ambience. Storytellers Cafe at
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa promotes family
conversation with beautiful wall murals that depict tall tales
set in the Golden State's early days.
Grown-up favorites: For
an evening without the kids, favorites include The Napa Rose at
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; Hook's Pointe & Wine
Cellar, and Steakhouse 55, both at the Disneyland Hotel.
Best place to grab a quick
sandwich: Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street, U.S.A.,
Disneyland Park; Baker's Field Bakery, Disney's California
Adventure Park; Croc's Bits 'N' Bites at the Disneyland Hotel;
White Water Snacks at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; La
Brea Bakery or Napolini in Downtown Disney.
Best wine list: The Napa
Rose at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa offers a
selection of 80 wines by the glass from an award-winning list of
more than 450 international wines (80 percent Californian) and a
17,000-bottle wine cellar.
Best Lounges: Steakhouse
55, the cozy Wine Cellar or Lost Bar, all at the Disneyland
Hotel; The Napa Rose or Hearthstone Lounge, both at Disney's
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the intimate lounge at
Yamabuki at the Disneyland Hotel. |
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Taking the Mickey
New
Zealand Herald - For decades it's been as American as apple pie,
but now Disney is adding some local flavor to its approach.
Joanna Hunkin finds out how the Disney Channel is adapting to
Kiwi kids' tastes.As Tuis
sing out from the dense bush, a group of teenagers are mucking
around with some milk crates, trying to build a tower.
"Chuck us another one, bro,"
calls one of the boys atop the towering crate stack.
Behind them, flattened pongas
line a muddy ravine after a recent flash flood. Beside them, fat
dairy cows moo lazily as they squelch around their paddock.
It's a quintessentially New
Zealand scene. Or as these kids might say - it's Kiwi as, bro.
And certainly a far cry from the plastic mouse ears and fantasy
castles most of us associate with Disney.
Yet here we are, in the Hunua
Ranges, on the set of Disney Channel's latest production; a
reality series spin-off of the Jonas Brothers' film Camp Rock.
Hosted by former C4 presenter
Jane Yee, the series features two teams of performing arts
students - 10 Kiwis and 10 Aussies - battling it out in a
transtasman challenge.
Set to screen on Disney Channel
early next year, Camp Rock the Tasman will comprise five
half-hour episodes and marks the network's first long-form local
production. It's part of a growing commitment by the channel to
produce more local Australian and New Zealand content.
While Camp Rock the
Tasman has seen the network move into long-form programming,
the majority of their efforts have come in the form of short,
five-minute episodal series, known as interstitials.
In the past two years Disney has
developed five interstitial formats, including the comedy series
As the Bell Rings, filmed in ABC's Elsternwick Studios in
Melbourne.
Set in the corridors of a local
high school, the comedy series revolves around 10 young teens -
including one New Zealand character - and plays in between
regular programming on both Disney Channel Australia and New
Zealand.
Executive producer Graham
Cousens is at the forefront of the movement, hired in 2006 as
the creative director for the channel.
"My job is to connect to the
local kids," he explains. "That's a huge priority for Disney, to
have a local presence wherever they are and to engage with the
local audience."
Disney has long been synonymous
with happy childhood memories, but for most of us, the brand is
distinctly American. With Disney Channel now screening 24/7 in
countries around the world, the network realized it needed to
diversify its content and reflect its global viewers.
In New Zealand, Disney Channel
began screening in late 2003 as part of the Sky Digital network.
But the closest it came to local content was an Australian
hosted magazine-style show, called Studio Disney.
Though the format was popular,
Disney soon began searching for a better way to reflect local
culture and feature local talent.
General manager Melissa Dixon
explains: "Internationally, all the Disney channels used to have
a live daily magazine format show. A conscious decision was made
to move to a more localized form of production that was
repeatable and interactive in a different way."
The result was five interstitial
series; As the Bell Rings, Undercover Coach, What a
Life!, My High School Musical and Hidden Talents.
Two of the series -
Undercover Coach and What a Life! - feature episodes
filmed in New Zealand and As the Bell Rings recently
wrote a New Zealand character into the script, played by Kiwi
actress Amelia Reynolds.
Both Cousens and Dixon believe
the comedy aspect of the series is key to reflecting our local
culture.
"Comedy is a very local thing,"
says Dixon. "Because of our very dry sense of humor in this part
of the world, some of the things that might have worked in a US
script or a UK script, don't really relate to here."
Cousens adds: "The issues these
kids are facing are pretty much universal. But the dialogue and
all the subtleties of language are Australian and New Zealand.
We do really try and use our own vernacular."
But while Disney is happy to
embrace different accents and language, all productions must
still adhere to the network's universal "brand promises".
"Believe in yourself, follow
your dream, celebrate your family ... quite honestly, it's
drilled into us," laughs Cousens. "There are principles we try
to keep in mind with all our storylines. We don't go into dark
places."
Though the Australian side of
the operation is required to fulfill a local content quota, as
set by the Government, Dixon says the channel is committed to
producing more than the bare minimum. And here in New Zealand,
where there are no quotas, the network aims to film between 30
to 40 per cent of their short-form programs in New Zealand.
New Zealand on Air CEO Jane
Wrightson commends the channel for their efforts, which receives
no funding from her organization.
"It's a great thing when foreign
channels make an effort to include local content. Let's face it
- they don't have to," she says.
"Local content for kids is
important because children need ongoing reinforcement that they
are New Zealanders. That's part of how you build pride and
self-esteem."
Camp Rock , starring the
Jonas Brothers, premieres on Disney Channel (Sky Digital Channel
40) Friday September 26 at 6.30pm. The spin-off series Camp
Rock the Tasman will screen early next year. |
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Disney Wants Fans To 'Unlock More Rock'
andPOP - Fans of The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus can now get
even more from their favorite artists by simply inserting their
CD into the computer.
Disney has set up "Unlock More Rock," a website that features
never-before-seen acoustic performances, interviews,
behind-the-scenes videos and other exclusive content from Disney
performers.
Those who own the artist's album can access the exclusive
content by visiting
www.unlockmorerock.com and
inserting the CD, which unlocks the extras.
Other acts featured on the website include Vanessa Hudgens, The
Cheetah Girls and Demi Lovato.
Also featured is "Disney Mania 6," a compilation album in which
contemporary acts cover songs from such Disney films as
"Monsters, Inc." and "The Little Mermaid." The "Unlock More
Rock" website gives fans a chance to check out the "If I Didn't
Have You" recording session by Emily Osment & Mitchel Musso of
"Hannah Montana" fame, as well as the making of Colbie Caillat's
"Kiss The Girl" music video. |
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Young
and Good-Looking, Spying on Her Yakuza Dad
New York Times - Which would you rather watch, Quentin
Tarantino’s “Little Mermaid” or Walt Disney’s “Kill Bill”?
Those are more or less the
coordinates of “Samurai Girl,” a three-night, six-hour
mini-series beginning Friday. It skews much more closely to
Disney, as you’d expect from an ABC Family product. (That was a
trick question, anyway; another Disney division released “Kill
Bill.”)
The real goal, it appears, was
something along the lines of “Veronica Mars” with ninjas: girl
power, pop songs, martial arts and garden-variety exoticism,
with just a little bit of sex and violence to keep the whole
family watching. (In this case no actual sex, a few skimpy
outfits and some surprisingly realistic violence.)
The samurai girl of the title is
a young Japanese woman who is being forced into a marriage that
will unite two powerful families. At the wedding in San
Francisco smoke bombs go off, ninjas appear, a family member is
killed, and the samurai girl, following her brother’s
instructions, flees with her trusty chauffeur.
She is taken in by various
(white) American friends and strangers, who supply a love
interest, martial arts training and comic relief while she
learns that her adoptive father is actually a yakuza chieftain
and that she, according to an ancient prophecy, is destined to
be a ninja avenger. Recruited by a sketchy “British agent” to
infiltrate her father’s organization, she goes undercover and
reunites with her family. But what about the last part of the
prophecy, the part where the female warrior is killed in battle?
Whether “Samurai Girl” has a
life beyond this mini-series rides on the slender shoulders of
its star, Jamie Chung, a lithe and exceptionally attractive
Korean-American actress. The 25-year-old Ms. Chung easily
bridges the age gap with her 19-year-old character, but she’s
not quite as credible as a naturally gifted swordswoman or,
particularly, as a young Japanese who is new to American
culture. She’s playing basically the same character — the quiet,
hot, hard-working, somewhat blank Asian-American teenager — that
she played in her best-known role to date: as herself in “The
Real World: San Diego.”
That probably won’t bother the
young viewers who are the target audience for this show, though
they may notice that two hours’ worth of story has been
stretched to fill six hours. They also may notice a lack of
humor, which the show strains for. It needs a lot more moments
like the one when the samurai girl bursts through a door to find
her chauffeur on the verge of disemboweling himself.
“Seriously?” she asks, eyeing the knife in his hands. “Seppuku?”
SAMURAI GIRL
ABC Family,
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8, Eastern and Pacific
times; 7, Central time.
Developed for television and
written by Luke McMullen; based on the novel “Samurai Girl: The
Book of the Sword” and the “Samurai Girl” series of novels by
Carrie Asai; directed by Bryan Spicer; Josh Appelbaum, André
Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Frank Spotnitz, Leslie Morgenstein and
Bob Levy, executive producers; Mr. McMullen and Mr. Spicer,
co-executive producers; S. Lily Hui, producer. Produced by Big
Light Productions, Space Floor, Alloy Productions and ABC
Studios in association with ABC Family.
WITH: Jamie Chung (Heaven Kogo),
Brendan Fehr (Jake Stanton), Saige Thompson (Cheryl), Kyle
Labine (Otto), Anthony Brandon Wong (Tasuke Kogo), Steven Brand
(Severin), Kenneth Choi (Sato) and Stacy Keibler (Linda). |
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Student
dances her way into a Disney movie
Intermountain Catholic - Haylee Roderick would like to have a
career in acting or dancing professionally on stage or on the
big screen. She has already had the opportunity to do just that.
Roderick is a senior at Juan Diego
Catholic High School. Out of 800 girls who auditioned for the
movie “High School Musical 3,” Roderick was one of nine who was
selected as a principal dancer for the movie. “High School
Musical 3” was filmed at East High School in Salt Lake City, and
will be in theaters Oct. 24.
“There was a week-long open call
audition for ‘High School Musical 3’ last March,” said Roderick.
“The first day was a private call. My dance instructor told me
about the audition. Tuesday and Wednesday were auditions for
girls, and Thursday and Friday were the audition days for boys.
Friday and Saturday were call back days. The audition took place
at Studio 600 in Salt Lake City last March.
“I got a call the following
Wednesday night telling me I had been selected as a principal
dancer,” said Roderick. “I began working the next day. It was in
the middle of March, so I had to completely check out of school
and get all my credits from Valley High School. I was gone from
Juan Diego the whole fourth quarter of school.
“High School Musical 3” is about
high school seniors Troy and Gabriella who struggle with the
idea of being separated from one another as college approaches.
Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical
to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their
future.
“The stars of the movie are Zac
Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale,” said Roderick.
“Filming was great. We had six weeks of rehearsals where we
learned all the dances and all the singing. But after that, we
had between four and six days of shooting each week, and we had
to learn a new scene each day. Every scene was so fun and it was
really fun working with all the actors every day. We became a
huge family on the set.”
This experience makes Roderick
definitely want to go into the movies.
“I can see myself doing this
forever,” said Roderick.”
Roderick is under 18 years old,
so she is only allowed to work 10 and a half hours each day
including three hours each day for school. Some days she would
return home, or depending on the situation, she would sometimes
stay at the hotel with all the dancers. They were staying at
Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City.
“I became friends with the
dancers and would stay with them,” said Roderick. “We became
great friends. Basically they are from all over the United
States, and one was from England. We became really close because
we were filming every day for three months.”
Roderick takes away from this
experience, a new appreciation for the difficulty and hard work
that goes into making a film.
“It was amazing to learn how
they make a movie and how the cameras are set up, and what it
was like to work with a movie director, a choreographer, and a
producer,” said Roderick. “You really have to be on your game
and ready to shoot every day.
“Kenny Ortega is the director
and he is a genius and so creative,” said Roderick. “He had a
say in everything. He helped choreograph the dancing as well. I
have a new appreciation for directors and how creative they have
to be. They do it all.”
Roderick is a member of the
Dance Company and a student body vice president at Juan Diego
this year. The Dance Company has a winter and a spring concert.
The numbers for the dance concerts are chosen in the dance
classes.
“Each student auditions a piece
she has choreographed, and the officers and the director select
the dances they want performed in the concert,” said Roderick.
“If your dance is selected, you get to pick the dancers you want
for your number. Everybody gets to perform.”
Roderick started dancing when
she was 6 years old. She studied ballet, jazz, hip hop, and tap.
She now takes lessons at Center Stage in Orem. Her instructor is
well aware of her aspirations and is very supportive of what
Roderick wants to do.
Roderick already has an agent
from the D. D. Agency in Los Angeles, Calif.
“My dream is to be in the
movies, to dance on television, act, or dance professionally on
stage, or do commercials,” said Roderick. “I have always had an
interest for working in the movie industry.”
Being selected for “High School
Musical 3” was a dream come true for Roderick. Now with some
experience to add to her resume, Roderick is going to continue
to follow her dream. |
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Cookham teen stars in Disney show
Maidenhead Advertiser - A 18 year-old from Cookham will be
having his five minutes of fame when he pops up on television
tomorrow.Benedict Smith,
the son of Father Michael Smith, will star as Harvey in Disney's
Life Bites.
The former student of Desborough
School and Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, will play the
15 year-old in the UK comedy sketch series that focuses on
everyday adventures of a brother and sister.
The five minute sketches will
hit television sets on the Disney Channel on Saturday at 10.25am
and 5.30pm, which will be repeated on Sunday at the same time. |
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Disney to Bring Ponyo to U.S. in 2009
Animation Magazine - Reporting on the Venice Film Festival
screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated opus, Time
Magazine confirms that Disney will release Pony on the Cliff By
the Sea in North America sometime in 2009. Frank Marshall and
Kathleen Kennedy, who last year brought Marjane Satrapi’s
Persepolis to U.S. auds, are producing the English-language
version.
Ponyo centers on a five-year-old
boy’s friendship with a “girl-fish” who wants to be human and
ventures out of her underwater world. The plot echoes elements
from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid fairy tale, as
well as traditional Japanese folklore, and boy’s character is
based on Miyazaki’s own son, Goro. Miyazaki was reportedly
directly involved in many aspects of the animation himself,
preferring to draw the sea and waves himself. The movie debuted
in Japan on July 19 and opened to roughly $17 million.
The pic has been a big hit with
critics and fans in Venice. No U.S. release date has been
announced, though some say we could see begin its limited
release it in April. |
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Thursday
September 4, 2008 |
Disney cast member sent back to
Africa over picture
HSM3 Fans Invited to Red-Carpet Movie Premiere
The Mouse Searching for 16 Parents for 2009 Moms Panel
Disney Online SVP: 'If It Doesn't Matter To Kids, It Just
Doesn't Matter'
Celeb designs auctioned for charity
Disney cruise ship to get Fantasia-themed splash pool, LCD TVs
Changes in Epcot's Candlelight Processional lineup include
Angela Bassett, Courtney Vance
Matt Lucas in Plymouth Disney film
Brio signs Disney line
Animator Bill Melendez dies at 91
Disney embarks on a quest to seduce black people
Disney to air dance-along 'Camp Rock' |
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Disney cast member sent back to Africa over picture
Orland Sentinel - A Walt Disney World cast member from Botswana
who was fired over allegations of sexual harassment is being
sent home tomorrow morning even though he wants to stay in
Orlando long enough to fight the allegation through a union
grievance process.
Ordirile "Jojo" Rammoni, 25, was
a cultural representative at Disney's Animal Kingdom, where he
discussed his country's culture and talked about the wildlife on
exhibit at Animal Kingdom's Pangani Forest. He'd been at Disney
since March. Rammoni said he recently posed for some publicity
photos with other Disney cultural representatives. When the
photos were examined later, one shot captured his hand touching
the breast of the woman standing next to him. He insisted it was
not on purpose, saying the photographer instructed them to clown
around in front of the camera, and in that one shot his hand
must have incidentally touched her in the wrong place at the
wrong time.
But Disney did some
investigation, and he was fired.
"I did nothing wrong, and I want
to fight this," Rammoni said.
His union, Unite HERE Local 362
intervened and filed a grievance saying that Disney did not
follow its own procedures in firing him. Union spokesman Dick
Hatch said Disney policies normally called for a reprimand, a
warning, and education, in cases involving sexual harassment
allegations, and he said none of those was given to Rammoni.
Hatch said there were no prior complaints against Rammoni.
Earlier today he said the union was conducting an independent
investigation and then would seek a hearing.
But Disney revoked Rammoni's
visa, meaning he must leave soon. Disney bought him a plane
ticket. This evening, he said he was to leave tomorrow morning.
Disney World officials do not
publicly discuss personnel matters, so a spokeswoman said they
would decline to comment.
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 Disney News - When the Disney characters dress up for Mickey’s
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this September and October, Mickey
Mouse and Minnie Mouse will be debuting a whole new look. Mickey
has traded his scarecrow costume for stunning purple and orange
eveningwear fit for a Halloween ball. Not to be outdone,
Mickey’s best girl, Minnie Mouse, exchanged her witch costume
for a party dress to complement Mickey’s attire.
For Mickey, it’s a top hat and purple tails. For Minnie, it’s a
party dress with a purple hat with an orange ribbon – bright and
colorful, befitting the fun on 26 evenings between Sept. 5 and
Oct. 31 when Magic Kingdom hosts the popular after-hours party.
Guests are invited to dress up
as well for the 7 p.m.-midnight party which features two
scheduled entertainment extravaganzas guests can see at no
other time: the “Boo-to-You” Halloween parade and the
bewitching “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks
spectacular. There’s trick-or-treating galore and also a
chance to experience popular attractions throughout the
evening.
Parties are slated for Sept. 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28,
30 and Oct. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24,
26, 28, 30, 31. To
purchase advance tickets, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY or
visit
disneyworld.com/halloween.
October 31st
is Sold Out.
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HSM3 Fans Invited to Red-Carpet Movie Premiere
MarketWatch - Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is getting
High School Musical fans from across the country to join in the
HSM3 celebration this fall by inviting hundreds of lucky fans to
walk the red carpet at the exclusive Hollywood premiere of "High
School Musical 3: Senior Year" alongside the movie's all-star
cast, including ZAC EFRON, VANESSA HUDGENS, ASHLEY TISDALE,
LUCAS GRABEEL, CORBIN BLEU and MONIQUE COLEMAN. Fans can log
onto Disney.com/hsm3/sweepstakes beginning Sept. 5, 2008, to
enter to win. Chosen at random, winners will receive four
tickets each to attend the Los Angeles premiere, sponsored by
Sara Lee Soft & Smooth bread, on Oct. 16, 2008, at the Galen
Center basketball arena at the University of Southern
California. HSM3 marks the first movie premiere ever hosted at
the Galen Center.
"'High School Musical 3'--with
its larger-than-life musical numbers--comes to the big
screen thanks to the fans who've made 'High School Musical'
such a huge phenomenon," said Jim Gallagher, president of
marketing, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. "We want to
give the fans an opportunity to be a part of the movie's
premiere, alongside their favorite stars."
The contest will run
through midnight Sept. 14, 2008. Entries are limited to ten
per day, per participant. Void where prohibited. No purchase
necessary. Potential entrants should log onto
Disney.com/hsm3/sweepstakes for official rules.
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The Mouse Searching for 16 Parents for 2009 Moms Panel
Disney News - Disney Parks today announced its search for a
group of park-savvy parents to be named the 2009 Walt Disney
World Moms Panel, following in the footsteps of the
first-ever online Walt Disney World Moms Panel which has
been fielding and answering thousands of vacation questions
in 2008.
The quest is for 16 parents who pride themselves on
being Walt Disney World “know-it-alls” and have an
undying passion to share their Disney knowledge with
others at
www.disneyworldmoms.com.
From Sept. 8 through Sept. 19, interested applicants
can visit
www.disneyworldmoms.com/2009
to apply for the
panel. The application process begins with a series of
questions and three brief essays – about their family,
why they are a great Walt Disney World vacation planner
and their favorite Disney vacationing tip.
“The first-ever Disney Moms Panel has responded to more
than 9,000 questions from vacation planners this year.
They have offered our guests countless tips to plan a
magical vacation at our resort,” said Meg Crofton,
president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We thank the
2008 panel for their contributions and look forward to
working with a new group of parents.”
Since the launch of
www.disneyworldmoms.com
in January 2008, the current 12-person panel has
responded to questions covering just about anything from
how to sign up for a character dining experience to what
items are allowed in the parks. In exchange for serving
up their Disney expertise online in 2009, the expanded,
16-person panel will each receive a 5-night, 6-day
vacation at Walt Disney World Resort for four people.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of being on the Walt
Disney World Moms Panel has been the opportunity to use
my travel experiences in ways that help other families
plan the most magical vacations ever,” said Darcie
Maranich, a panelist and mother of four from Vail, Ariz.
“I encourage anyone who has valuable pointers for
vacation planning to apply – for me, it is a dream come
true being a part of the Moms Panel, and I look forward
to the information the next round of panelists will
share.”
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Disney
Online SVP: 'If It Doesn't Matter To Kids, It Just Doesn't
Matter'
Washington Post - The "Disney ( NYSE: DIS) difference" lies in
the company's ability to weave its deep and familiar library of
content into virtual worlds that give kids the opportunity to
participate in their own storytelling, Steve Parkis, SVP
of Disney Online, said at his closing keynote here at the
Virtual Worlds conference and expo in Los Angeles today. Over
the past eight years, Disney's online portal has transitioned
into a place where people come to participate in a community.
"It creates a place where you never have to leave Disney." The
underlying mantra at Disney Online is: "If it doesn't matter to
the kids, it just doesn't matter."
Neo-storytelling: A
sense of place is important for Disney's online audience.
"Giving you no reason or specific subject to talk about
makes it difficult to do our job," Parkis said. "If you take
that casual game player, you mix in our ability to take you
to places you've never been ? add to that your friends ? and
you end up with amazing results? We think this is the next
version of storytelling." Parents are getting involved too.
At 8 p.m. Disney typically sees usage flip over from kid to
parent after children go to bed. The former Atari-fanboy and
now proud parent of two added: "I don't have the time to
train for these games anymore? I stink, I just can't train
enough to get good at these games so that's turned me onto
casual games."
Technology:"We took technology and applied it to
storytelling," Parkis said. "This is very exciting. This is
a new way to introduce characters." Disney began its online
pursuits with a heavy bend on technology that outpaced its
competitors and the industry norm. "Our R&D was so far
ahead of the curve that PCs are just catching up to where we
were six years ago."
Security: For the past seven years, Disney has utilized
a technology that looks at every conversation taking place
on its online properties, but also has live human moderation
24/7/365. "We've operated very, very big worlds. We've also
moderated billions of lines of text."
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Celeb designs auctioned for charity
The Press Association - Fairy wings designed by pop star
Leona Lewis and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will be up
for auction on eBay next week.Walt Disney asked various
celebrities to customize a pair of wings to raise money for
Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Presenters Tess Daly and
Vernon Kay, designers Nicole Farhi and Orla Kiely, sportsmen
James Cracknell, Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman, supermodel
Agyness Deyn and The Duchess of York have also decorated a
pair of wings by hand.
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Disney cruise ship to get Fantasia-themed splash pool, LCD
TVs
Orlando Sentinel - As reported here earlier this week, The
Disney Magic cruise ship will get a splash pool
themed around the movie "Fantasia," new 22-inch, LCD
television sets in cabins and a series of other upgrades
during a nearly three-week stay in dry dock later this
month.
Disney says the
385-square-foot "Mickey's Splash Zone" will be added onto
the Mickey Pool on the ship's deck nine. Themed around the
"Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment in Fantasia, it will feature
star- and moon-shaped fountains and splash zones (including,
Disney says, an area for "children not yet toilet trained
and in swim diapers").
The new televisions,
meanwhile, will be mounted on swivel arms so they can be
watched from different spots in a stateroom.
Other upgrades to the
2,700-passenger Magic, according to a release
Disney issued earlier this week, will include new waterfalls
from a pair of hot tubs in the pool at the adult-oriented
"Quiet Cove;" plush new chairs at the nearby "Cove Cafe;"
and new registration areas to allow "radio frequency
identification" at the kid-focused "Oceaneer Club" and
"Oceaneer Lab" that will ultimately allow children to check
in and out by tapping a sensor with with tag-embedded
wristbands.
Disney also plans to apply a
new hull coating during the dry dock in Norfolk, Va., that
is designed to reduce surface resistance in the water and
improve fuel efficiency.
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Changes in Epcot's Candlelight Processional lineup include
Angela Bassett, Courtney Vance
Theme Park Rangers - Actors
Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance have joined the lineup of
narrators for Candlelight Processional, the part of Epcot's
holiday offerings. The couple, who have been married since
1997, will read during the performances of Dec. 28-30,
according to
www.disneyworld.com.
Bassett is lending her voice to the upcoming Walt Disney
Pictures animated project, The Princess and the Frog,
currently set to be released Dec. 25, 2009.Bassett and Vance will also
be appearing together as a married couple in the upcoming
season of ER on NBC.
Their addition at Epcot
moves Marlee Matlin earlier in the lineup. She'll now be at
Candlelight Dec. 10-12, which in turn relocates Monique
Coleman a few days to Dec. 13-15.
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Matt Lucas in Plymouth Disney film
Plymouth Evening Herald - Comic Matt Lucas could be visiting
Torpoint to star alongside Johnny Depp in Disney's Alice in
Wonderland, according to reports.The 34-year-old Little
Britain actor is being lined up to play Tweedle Dum and
Tweedle Dee in the Hollywood movie, according to the Sun.
He caught the eye of
director Tim Burton while filming Little Britain USA, it has
been reported.
Depp, aged 45, is heavily
rumored to be playing The Mad Hatter in the blockbuster,
some of which is being filmed at Antony House near Torpoint.
The National Trust property
closed on Monday for filming which is expected to take place
until October 14. Its garden and the Woodland Garden are all
likely to be used.
Up to 250 city extras are expected to be chosen for
the big-screen adaptation of Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel.
The film, due for release in
2010, will be shown in 3-D, and has all the hallmarks of a
massive box office hit. Little-known Mia Wasikowska, 18,
will play Alice.
Director Burton made his
name on a string of hit films, including Edward Scissorhands
and Sweeney Todd – both of which starred A-lister Depp.
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Brio signs Disney line
ToyNews - Brio is teaming up with Disney to produce a wooden
range based on its Playhouse Disney shows.
The new range sees the arrival of 11 new products based on
Playhouse Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and My Friends
Tigger & Pooh’TV shows.
The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse range includes solving problems
while learning pre-math skills. The items feature Mickey
Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto - and
Toodles - a computerised flying machine that helps the team
when needed. The characters help solve specific
age-appropriate problems, utilising basic skills, such as
identifying shapes and counting to ten.
The My Friends Tigger & Pooh range invites children to
resolve social and emotional situations that arise in the
hundred acre wood. The products incorporate the show’s story
line which encourages curiosity, problem-solving, teamwork
and imagination.
Deluxe Play Table Set is the ultimate Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
experience, featuring the Clubhouse playset, a deluxe train
and track set, Mickey, Minnie and Donald characters as well
as other accessories. This set also comes with a special
play table that can store all the pieces, with a guide
retail price of around £79.99.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Set, brings alive the TV show with
the actual Clubhouse, complete with wooden track and sorting
pieces, a Mousekedoer and Mickey’s slide. The Club House Set
has a guide retail price of around £29.99.
Pathfinder Turntable Set, just a twist of the turntable can
send the train off in the direction of the pointing arrow.
The set features the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. It comes
with Daisy, Donald Duck, a clubhouse train, wagons and
wooden track. The Turntable Set has a guide retail price of
around £19.99.
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Animator Bill Melendez dies at 91
AP - Bill Melendez, the animator who gave life to Snoopy,
Charlie Brown and other "Peanuts" characters in scores of
movies and TV specials, has died. He was 91.
Melendez died of natural
causes Tuesday at St. John's Health Center, according to
publicist Amy Goldsmith.
Melendez's nearly seven
decades as a professional animator began in 1938 when he was
hired by Walt Disney Studios and worked on Mickey Mouse
cartoons and classic animated features such as "Pinocchio"
and "Fantasia."
He went on to animate TV
specials such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and was the
voice of Snoopy, who never spoke intelligible words but
issued expressive howls, sighs and sobs.
Melendez was born in 1916 in
Hermosillo in the Mexican state of Sonora. He moved with his
family to Arizona in 1928 and then to Los Angeles in the
1930s, attending the Chouinard Art Institute.
Melendez took part in a
strike that led to the unionization of Disney artists in
1941, and later moved to Warner Bros., where he worked on
Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck shorts.
In 1948, Melendez left
Warner Bros. and over the next 15 years worked as a director
and producer on more than 1,000 commercials and movies for
United Productions of America, Playhouse Pictures and John
Sutherland Productions.
At UPA, he helped animate
"Gerald McBoing-Boing," which won the 1951 Academy Award for
best cartoon short.
Melendez met "Peanuts"
creator Charles M. Schulz in 1959 while creating Ford Motor
Co. TV commercials featuring Peanuts characters.
The two became friends and
Melendez became the only person Schulz authorized to animate
his characters.
Melendez founded his own
production company in 1964 and with his partner Lee
Mendelson went on to produce, direct or animate some 70
"Peanuts" TV specials, four movies and hundreds of
commercials.
The first special was 1965's
"A Charlie Brown Christmas." The show reportedly worried CBS
because it broke so much new ground for a cartoon: It lacked
a laugh track, used real children as voice actors, had a
jazz score and included a scene in which Linus recited lines
from the New Testament.
However, the show was a
ratings success and has gone on to become a Christmastime
perennial.
Melendez created
Emmy-winning specials based on the cartoon characters Cathy
and Garfield, and was involved in animated versions of the
Babar the elephant books and the C.S. Lewis book, "The Lion,
the Witch and the Wardrobe."
He also was co-nominee for
an Academy Award in 1971 for the music for "A Boy Named
Charlie Brown."
In all, his productions
earned some 19 Emmy nominations, including six awards.
Melendez is survived by his
wife Helen; sons Steven Melendez and (Ret.) Navy Rear Adm.
Rodrigo Melendez, six grandchildren and 11
great-grandchildren.
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Disney embarks on a quest to seduce black people
afrik - Emotions have never run amok with such intensity in
black communities, both in the United States and across the
Atlantic to the United Kingdom. For the first time in the
history of Walt Disney an animated musical fairy tale set in the
legendary birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, and featuring the
studio' first black princess will be released in 2009.
Once upon a time, there was a
poor African-American girl, Maddy, who lived amid the charming
elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter of New
Orleans, and worked for a rich land owner ... The new
african-american fairy tale, "the Frog Princess", may not begin
until the necessary changes have been made ...
After the, Lion King, an
animated musical which reduced africa to a vast arid zoo
overflowing its boundaries with wildlife hanging on the edge,
Walt Disney is out with its first black princess. A new and
strong marketing statement to seduce a niche market is in full
force.
But not so fast. The fairy tale
has become the house of horrors for the hollywood production
company. The black community sees the main character depicted in
a stereotypical role, a strong reminder of the old, annoying and
frustrating images of poor black maids at the beck and call of
rich white masters in the "negro" southern states of the United
States.
Steve Pope, Editor in Chief of
The Voice, a British weekly, explains that black people have
dreams and would like to see them well presented. He also thinks
that this is a very sensitive issue and should therefore be
dealt with carefully.
Walt Disney at the heart of
controversy
The discontentment which was
made manifest in England crossed the atlantic to the other side,
the United States. Joan Gosier, a mother of two, talked about
the effect the animated fairy tale had on her children in the
South Florida Times. "I was excited that there was going to be a
black princess. When my two daughters, who love Disney films,
saw her picture and asked me who she was, I told them it was
Maddy, the Frog Princess, and they frowned. [...] My 3-year-old
said, 'I don't want to be a frog,' and tears welled up in her
eyes. The more I tried to explain to them, the more disgusted
their faces were looking ... I knew at that point,
psychologically, this was harmful."
Thanks to her blog as well as
many other petitions sent to the producers, Joan Gosier's wishes
were granted. To cool down boiling tensions before the release
of the "Frog princess", Disney made the necessary changes. First
of all the popular slave name, Maddy, was changed to Tiana. Next
to undergo a face lift was the title of the animated movie
itself, The Frog Princess. The Frog Princess which hinted on a
history reminiscent of the colonial french, nick named "frogs
eaters" or "froggies" was renamed The Princess and the Frog.
A heritage smeared in
embarrassment
This is not the first time
Disney has faced this type of hostility. With a White
Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) founder, the production company is
burdened with an embarrassing past. In 1933, The Three Little
Pigs caused a stir when the sly wolf was decorated in an
"Israelite" disguise. More recently, in 1993, the release of
Alladin raised a controversy when Middle Easterners accused the
film of negative propaganda.
After eliminating the film's
racial undertones, does the Princess and the frog promise a
happy ending?
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Disney to air dance-along 'Camp Rock'
UPI - A dance-along version of the popular U.S. television movie
"Camp Rock" is to air later this month, the Disney Channel said
Wednesday.
"Camp Rock Freestyle Jam" is an
encore presentation of "Camp Rock," featuring two of the movie's
stars, Alyson Stoner and Roshon Fegan, in pop-ups encouraging
viewers to create their own dance moves.
The new edition is set to air
Sept. 20 on the Disney Channel.
The channel also said that since
premiering in the United States June 20, "Camp Rock" has reached
more than 45.4 million unduplicated viewers worldwide.
It is set to debut later this
month in India, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe,
highlighted by a premiere and concert appearance in London by
the movie's co-stars the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
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Wednesday
September 3, 2008 |
Hong Kong Disneyland needs to expand, attract Chinese
PSA Launched to Help
Amphibians
DCP enters frozen food
market
Bruckheimer
and Disney snap up war novel
Disney Renegs On Ride Injury Payment Promise, Reader Wins With
EECB
Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Storybook Surprises on
DVD
Disney My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Hundred Acre Wood Haunt on
DVD
Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fourth Season Sizzling
Secrets Edition on DVD
Eli
Stone: The Complete First Season on DVD
Dancing with the Stars Misty May-Treanor Gets Role on Disney
Show
Alan Bergman, President, Walt Disney Studios, to Speak at the
Merrill Lynch 2008 Fall Preview Conference
Christopher Robin
Given the Axe
Mickey Mouse Gets Greater Recognition Than U.S. Marines
Program will open door to students interested in working for
Disney |
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Hong Kong Disneyland needs to expand, attract Chinese
AFP - Hong Kong Disneyland's new managing director said
Wednesday the troubled theme park needed to build more
attractions in order to thrive, but a government funding dispute
had not yet been resolved.
Andrew Kam said Disney were hoping to resolve the dispute
with the Hong Kong government over how to fund future expansion
as soon as possible.
"Both shareholders are very much interested in growing the
business. They want Hong Kong Disneyland to be a tourist
destination in Asia," he told reporters just two days after
taking up his job.
"They have an interest in making this park work and expansion
is part of the strategy that will make this park work for Hong
Kong."
The government owns 57 percent of the theme park and reports
have said the expansion plan could see a further one billion US
dollars invested.
Kam declined to put a timetable on resolving the dispute,
which has been rumbling for about 18 months. The park celebrates
its third anniversary next week.
Legislators are reluctant to hand over more public money to
the park and have been critical of its performance, saying it
has failed to attract enough visitors.
Kam, who moved to Disney after a long career marketing
Coca-Cola in China, also said they would be expanding their
promotion operation in the mainland.
He said they would be focusing efforts on encouraging Chinese
travel agents to include Disney on any tourist visits to Hong
Kong.
"By working with the trade more closely... and having their
sales people recommending us into their customers' itineraries
-- that alone will create tremendous opportunities for us," he
said.
The park switched its marketing campaign several months ago
to target a more Chinese audience, as many mainlanders were
unfamiliar with the Disney brand.
Reports have said visitor numbers were expected to hit 5.6
million when the park reaches the end of its third year of
operation, up from 4.2 million the previous year, but Kam said
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PSA Launched to Help
Amphibians
PR Web - Disney, Amphibian Ark, Conservation International (CI)
and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) have launched a
Public Service Announcement (PSA) starring Kermit the Frog and
Selena Gomez from Disney Channel’s “The Wizards of Waverly
Place” calling attention to the plight of the world’s
amphibians.
The PSA began airing on Disney Channel this week and asks people
to visit
www.yearofthefrog.org to get
involved in amphibian conservation.
This year has been declared the Year of the Frog to mark a major
conservation effort to address the amphibian crisis and to
engage the public in conservation efforts. Frogs, toads,
salamanders and other amphibians are in danger. The
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
predicts that at least one-third of known amphibian species are
in danger of disappearing from the earth for good.
“We are honored to have the help of Kermit and Selena to spread
the message of amphibian conservation,” said AZA President and
CEO Jim Maddy. “Amphibian Ark, Conservation International and
zoos and aquariums around the world are working hard to save
amphibians.”
“The disappearance of amphibians around the world is not only
a symptom of our impact on the planet, it is also an opportunity
to unite in the challenge to do something about it. With nearly
two decades of intensive research into the causes of amphibian
declines, we are well positioned to implement conservation
projects to save even Critically Endangered frogs, salamanders,
and caecilians from extinction," said Claude Gascon, Executive
Vice President of Conservation International and Co-Chair of the
Amphibian Specialist Group.
"I cannot say it any better than Kermit did so many years
ago: 'It seems to me that if you wait until the frogs and toads
have croaked their last to take some action, you've missed the
point,'” said Amphibian Ark Program Director Kevin Zippel. “This
is the greatest extinction event amphibians have ever
experienced and humans have ever witnessed. Since we are the
cause, we must also be the solution.”
Amphibian Ark is a partnership between the World Association
of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding
Specialist Group, and IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. It
was formed to develop, promote, and guide short term captive
management of threatened amphibians, making possible the
long-term survival of species for which adequate protection in
the wild is not currently possible. For additional information
about Amphibian Ark please visit
www.amphibianark.org.
Conservation International (CI) applies innovations in
science, economics, policy and community participation to
protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal
diversity in the biodiversity hotspots, high-biodiversity
wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems. With headquarters in
the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, CI works in more than 40
countries on four continents. For more information about CI,
visit
www.conservation.org.
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization dedicated to the advancement
of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education,
science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you
visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are
supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care
for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for
all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members,
the AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your
link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more
information, please visit
www.aza.org. |
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DCP enters frozen food
market
Licensing.biz - Disney Consumer Products and McEvoy Foods have
launched a new range of frozen foods starring Mickey Mouse.
The first phase consists of four products: Mickey Chicken
Nuggets, Mickey Potato Shapes and two varieties of Mickey-shaped
pizzas, cheese and tomato and Hawaiian style with ham and
pineapple.
Each product is shaped in the iconic image of Mickey's head and
ears, while the character is also prominently featured on the
packaging. The range has been developed to comply with The Walt
Disney Company's nutritional guidelines which control calories,
fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar, and eliminate trans fats
altogether.
For example, the firm says that the Mickey Chicken Nuggets
contain 25 per cent fewer calories and 55 per cent less
saturated fat than other equivalent products, and both pizzas
contain 28 per cent less fat than other equivalent pizzas in the
frozen food section.
The range launched in Morrisons supermarkets earlier this week
and will move into wider retail from November.
"Disney Consumer Products is committed to giving parents food
choices they can approve of while at the same time exciting
their kids," explained Dan Dossa, director, DCP, food, healthy
and beauty UK. "These frozen food products are important
additions to our growing range of healthier food options, which
we hope will make it easier for parents to get their kids to
consume a more balanced diet."
Howard McEvoy, MD at McEvoy Foods, added: "We are really pleased
to be working with Disney, using our expertise in frozen foods
to develop healthier products that kids love, while still
retaining the great taste.
"This is the first time we have developed products in the iconic
shape of Mickey Mouse's head and ears, but we are really happy
with the results and we are confident parents and kids will be
too." |
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Bruckheimer
and Disney snap up war novel
Hollywood News - Uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney have
snapped up the rights to the novel Killing Rommel by author
Steven Pressfield.
Trade newspaper Variety are reporting that the book is about a
British battalion’s attempt to thwart German Field Marshal Erwin
Rommel’s desert campaign. It was published in the spring by
Doubleday.
Randall Wallace who pushed pencil across paper to pen Braveheart
and We Were Soldiers, which he also directed, will write the
screenplay for this movie. Wallace previously worked with
Bruckheimer on the World War II flick Pearl Harbor.
Pressfield himself has previously written screenplays for the
Will Smith starrer The Legend of Bagger Vance and Gates of Fire. |
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Disney Renegs On Ride Injury Payment Promise, Reader Wins With
EECB
The Consumerist - Disney, inventors of childhood itself, told
Daniel they would foot the bill after he got injured on their
California Adventure ride. Then when Daniel and his wife Jane
tried to collect, they got strung along for months by Garth
Steever in guest claims. When they finally locked him down 11
months after the incident, Garth told them Disney changed its
mind. By this time, the medical bills had already been sent to
collections. Then Jane read about how to send an EECB on The
Consumerist, and stormed the ramparts of Cinderella Castle.
Here's her letter, and success story.
Dear Disney,
My name is Jane [redacted]. On
September 28th, 2007, my husband, Daniel, and I went to
California Adventure on the 2nd day of our two-day Disney pass.
Around 11 a.m. we rode the Maliboomer. After our ride was over,
I got off the attraction, but Daniel stayed to ride again. While
I waited on a bench, Daniel went to get back on and in the
process fell and hit his head on the ground, knocking him
unconscious and cutting his forehead open. Almost instantly,
numerous park officials were at the ride helping him. The care
he was given at the park was comprehensive and prompt, and for
that we are appreciative. While waiting for the ambulance, he
and I had a conversation with a very kind Disney nurse. We
discussed the process of how Disney would handle this incident,
and she said not to worry, that we should give the hospital
Daniel’s health insurance information and Disney would reimburse
the insurance company (United Health Care). In addition, she
said Disney would send us two passes to the parks to make up for
the day we missed due to the incident. I don’t remember her
name, and I apologize for that, but I’m sure you can understand
I was distraught. We went to Western Medical Center where Daniel
was treated and released several hours later.
Several months later, we started
receiving bills from the hospital and ambulance service for the
co-pays and deductibles that Daniel’s insurance did not satisfy.
Thinking what we were told about the billing to be the truth, we
called the companies and advised them that they would receive
payment from Disney. We kept receiving bills, so finally in
February we were able to get in touch with Disney Guest Claims,
and they advised us that the claim had been assigned to Mr.
Garth Steever.
From February to August, we
tried over and over to get in touch with Mr. Steever to have a
complete conversation about Disney’s position on the incident.
Mr. Steever would occasionally return a call or email and ask
when a good time was to call us back to discuss. We would give
him a date and time, but he would not call back. This finally
came to a head last Friday (August 15th) when we were contacted
by a collection agency. Daniel and I are both hard workers and
have spent our entire lives building good credit, so to have our
credit harmed by something that should have been settled almost
a year ago is absolutely unacceptable. I left an urgent
voicemail for Mr. Steever, and when I still had not heard back
from him after several hours, I got in touch with his manager,
Mr. Bob Weise. Mr. Weise apologized for Mr. Steever’s continuous
lack of response and scheduled a teleconference for Mr. Steever,
my husband, and myself for 1:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, August
19th.
By the time Mr. Steever did call
on the 19th it was almost 2 p.m. EST. He advised us that Disney
investigated and decided that it was not liable for the
incident, so they would not pay the lien the insurance company
served them (which occurred on Feburary 20th, but coincidentally
we heard nothing about until this phone conversation), and
therefore could not make a good faith payment to us. He also
explained that if the insurance company had not served a lien
against Disney, then Disney would have more “flexibility” to pay
the claim. We asked him if that meant that if Daniel didn’t have
insurance that Disney would pay the claim, and he said “yes.”
Does this make sense to you? It
doesn’t to us. Essentially, Disney is punishing us for being
hard-working, conscientious people who have the foresight to
protect ourselves by purchasing health insurance.
We asked how Disney determined
that it was not liable, and Mr. Steever advised that he
researched a state inspection of the ride (that was conducted a
few days after the incident occurred) and also interviews with
Disney employees. This was the first we heard about any of this,
and when I told him that we would need copies of the state
inspection and the employee interviews, he told me that we are
not allowed to receive copies of the interviews because they are
confidential Disney property. Once again, this does not make
sense. We are not allowed access to documents concerning my
husband and his injury?
When I asked Mr. Steever when
they determined that Disney was not liable and therefore not
willing to pay the claim, he advised it was “sometime in April.”
Again, this conversation took place on August 19th, so that is a
full four months that we were left in the dark about this. When
I asked him why it took him so long to let us know, he said he
was sorry, but he “dropped the ball.” I’m sure you will agree
that any “dropped ball” that damages someone else’s credit is a
pretty serious ball to drop. Is it standard Disney practice to
wait four months to let an injured party know that their claim
has been denied? Clearly we are infuriated. If we had not been
told in the first place that Disney would pay the costs arising
out of the incident, this never would have happened. But more
importantly, if Mr. Steever had done his job and notified us
promptly about Disney’s decision, our credit would not have been
harmed.
Daniel and I are not out to gain
financially from this. We want the bills paid and this situation
to be rectified immediately as we were told it would be from the
beginning. So we expect Disney to reimburse Daniel’s insurance
company for what they have paid and to pay the deductible
amounts that have been billed to us. A summary of the totals is
below.
Billing Company | Amount Paid by
Insurance | Amount Billed to Us
Pacific Shores Radiology Medical
Group | $120.00 | $80.00
CARE Ambulance Service, Inc. | $379.20 | $344.80
JJ&R Emergency Medical Group of California, Inc. | $214.81 |
$53.70
Western Medical Center Anaheim | $897.26 | $299.31
TOTAL | $1,611.27 | $777.81
In addition, we expect Disney to
cooperate and provide any documentation we may need in order to
repair our credit. Coincidentally, we never received those park
passes we were promised, either.
I am copying this email to
several companies that make customer service a priority. I can
be reached any weekday after 4:30 p.m. EST and any time during
the weekend at [redacted]. Thank you for your time, and I look
forward to a quick and satisfactory resolution to this issue.
Sincerely,
Jane
This email did just the trick
and we got a call the next day. Disney advised they will pay all
the bills AND give us the passes to Disney.
We got the idea from your
website. Thanks so much!
It's easy to send an EECB like
Jane and so many other Consumerist readers have to done, solving
the seemingly irresolvable. |
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Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Storybook Surprises on
DVD
 Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - It's time to rewrite the
storybook! Get ready for an all-new quadruple-length magical
odyssey through your favorite fairytales with Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse: Mickey's Storybook Surprises.
The stars in this latest DVD
from hit Playhouse Disney are none other than Mickey and his
pals Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto. This fun-loving
gang takes on some classic fairytales, giving each their own
individual twist. From enchanted spells and 100-year sleeps to
magical frogs, the ingredients are all there for a thrilling
journey through your very own storybook!
In never-before-seen episode
Minnie's Mystery, the gang needs YOUR help to solve the mystery
when some things mysteriously go missing from the Clubhouse.
Who's been eating the cookies? It's time to help our heroes
figure it out! In Donald the Frog Prince, there's a twist on a
magical tale as Donald is turned into a frog and only a kiss
from the imprisoned Princess Daisy can rescue him. Inspired by
another classic story in Minnie Red Riding Hood, Mickey and
Minnie set out to visit a sick Goofy, but face challenges along
the way they must solve with imagination and teamwork. In
Sleeping Minnie, Mickey must collect the right tools to rescue
Minnie from a 100-year sleep.
This fun-filled DVD includes
bonus interactive story telling game Tales from Toodles that
allow you to create your own fairytales at home and read along
with the gang. Toodles is waiting to show you the way!
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is
cable's #1 rated show with kids 2-5 (Source: Nielsen Media
Research, 7/2/07-9/30/07) and features the iconic characters of
Mickey and friends while encouraging preschoolers to learn
simple and engaging lessons of teamwork and problem solving.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's
Storybook Surprises, is available for U.S. $19.99 (SRP), Canada
$24.99 (SRP) from Walt Disney Home Entertainment. |
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Disney My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Hundred Acre Wood Haunt on
DVD
 Walt
Disney Studios Home Entertainment - Bring home the best
trick-or-treat of the season with My Friends Tigger & Pooh:
Hundred Acre Wood Haunt.
No case is too hard for the
Super Sleuths this spooky season! From scary thunderstorms to
the quest for the perfect pumpkin, Tigger and Pooh and the gang
are ready for action. With four Halloween-inspired stories and a
bonus Halloween Disney Handy Manny episode, Hundred Acre Wood
haunt is the perfect gift for all little trick-or-treaters this
Fall.
*In Piglet's Lightening
Frightening it's fright time for Piglet as the Sleuths try to
cheer him up during a scary thunderstorm. Join in with the songs
and fun and help Piglet smile again! *Competition is in the air
with Rabbit's Prized Pumpkin when Rabbit finds a perfect pumpkin
growing in his garden – but can he protect it before the fair?
*It's off, off and away in Eeyore's Trip to the Moon when the
Sleuths find a moon rock and build a rocket ship to return it to
the moon. *The fun keeps going at home, where kids and parents
can play along with the immersive game Super Sleuth Fall Harvest
Festival and guess which characters are dressed in their
favorite holiday costumes, dunk for apples and more Fall Fun!
Joining in the holiday mischief
is everyone's favorite hombre Disney Handy Manny in a bonus
Halloween episode. Come celebrate Halloween with Manny and his
gang of talking tools in Sheetrock Hills with spooky episodes
the family will enjoy over and over again.
My Friends Tigger & Pooh:
Hundred Acre Wood Haunt available for U.S. $19.99 (SRP), Canada
$24.99 (SRP) from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
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