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 May 1 - 2, 2009 |
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Saturday May 2, 2009 |
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Star Tours 2.0 now Filming HK Close To Deal With Disney On Disneyland Expansion -Source Disney's Hulu Deal Raises Questions About YouTube Model Disney Announces 3-D Jonas Brothers Exclusively For Blu-Ray Jonas Brothers play it safe in new Disney Channel sitcom Cody Fry is OK about not being Radio Disney's Next Big Thing |
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Star Tours
2.0 now Filming So what is LucasFilm shooting? The good news is that George Lucas isn’t making a another Star Wars movie (not yet anyways) or additional scenes for some super duper special edition. And No, the Star Wars live-action television series has yet to begin production. So what is it?LucasFilm is shooting new footage for the Disney’s Star Tours ride. The ride really hasn’t been updated since it opened in 1987. It’s not the total podracer reboot that was rumored a few years back, thank God. I’m hearing that its essentially the same ride but updated. It sounds to me like they might be shooting the footage in 3D, but I’m not sure. Our source reveals that the revamp will incorporate prequel characters (like Naboo citizens and Geonosians) along with many aliens from the original trilogy (Aqualish. Bith, Rodians, etc). In the action sequence, the Star Tours vehicle is now going to be chased by Boba Fett. C3PO and R2-D2 are still the hosts, and Anthony Daniels will be recording his parts this week. Admiral Ackbar holographically communicates with the Star Tours vehicle. Right now they’re shooting mostly green screen footage, as it is the middle part of the production timeline. I was a huge fan of this ride as a kid, but when I revisited it a few years back, it did feel dated. Not in a “Back to the Future… The Ride” way. The experience of entering the Star Wars universe was still there, it was the technology that felt dated, especially compared to some of the rides that have been opened in the last decade. If the revamp incorporates 3D as I suspect (there is a convergence tech on set) and features new action sequences (ie Boba Fett), it would add new life to the aging theme park attraction. |
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HK Close To Deal With Disney On Disneyland Expansion -Source Wall Street Journal - Hong Kong is close to reaching a deal with Walt Disney Co. (DIS) to expand the city's Disneyland park, a person familiar with the situation said Saturday, in an agreement that will allow the government to keep a controlling stake in the venture. Disney and the Hong Kong government have been in protracted discussions over financing an expansion to the first phase of Hong Kong Disneyland, which is 54%-owned by the government and 46%-owned by Disney. At stake in the talks is the government's desire to keep its controlling stake in the theme park, given Disney's willingness to inject capital into the joint venture to fund the expansion. The person familiar with the situation said Saturday that the sides are very close to a deal. As part of the proposed agreement, Disney will finance the expansion project, while the government will convert earlier loans to the joint venture into equity in order to keep a controlling stake. The person said Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang met with senior Disney executives in Los Angeles on Friday to discuss the expansion plans, though no agreement was signed during the meeting. The person declined to provide financial figures for the expansion, but said construction of the expansion will begin soon after the deal closes. The Hong Kong Economic Times reported Thursday that a likely option would be Disney investing HK$7 billion for the expansion, reducing the government's stake to 51%. Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest of Disney's theme parks, and has been criticized for its size and lack of major attractions since its 2005 opening. The company also has parks in the U.S., Japan and France. Disney said earlier the expansion plans being negotiated involve increasing Disneyland's themed areas by a third of its current size. Disney officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment. |
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Disney's Hulu Deal Raises Questions About YouTube Model Wall Street Journal - Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS) deal to put ABC TV shows on Internet video site Hulu suggests Google Inc.'s (GOOG) YouTube may have to rethink its revenue-sharing business model. Google is under increasing pressure to add more premium content to YouTube in order to attract advertisers - and revenue - from the site. But on Thursday, rival Hulu scored a big victory when Disney agreed to take a nearly 30% stake in Hulu and put full episodes of its ABC TV shows on the site. With the deal, Hulu will be able to distribute content from three of the top four U.S. television broadcasters, giving it a commanding lead in the online premium content market. Hulu is a joint venture of General Electric Co.'s (GE) NBC Universal and News Corp. (NWS). News Corp. owns Fox Broadcasting, The Wall Street Journal and this newswire. Neither video site provides financial details. Some analysts have estimated Hulu could have revenues of about $120 million this year, while YouTube may top $200 million. But CreditSuisse analyst Spencer Wang sparked controversy earlier this month when he said he expects YouTube to incur a $470 million loss this year. The structure of Disney's deal with Hulu, particularly the equity stake, suggests content creators want more involvement in online distribution businesses than Google has offered them with YouTube. Some observers say the Internet giant may be forced to offer more than just a share of the advertising revenue to attract more premium content, like television programs, to YouTube. "Content providers don't want to give (YouTube) content because the advertisers aren't there yet," said Edward Jones analyst Andy Miedler. "To get someone to jump, it may take some payments from Google." Forrester Research analyst Bobby Tulsiani noted that online video rental service Netflix Inc. (NFLX) recently made an undisclosed cash payment in exchange for the rights to stream Viacom Inc.'s (VIA) irreverent "South Park." He said the recent deals suggest Google might have to tweak its business model in order to get the content it needs to monetize YouTube. "I don't think (YouTube) can get into the premium space with revenue-share only," said Tulsiani. "They are going to have to make upfront payments or equity deals." YouTube, which Google bought for $1.6 billion in 2006, has recently added content from Sony Pictures Entertainment (SNE), MGM Studios Inc. and others. It also struck a less-comprehensive pact with ABC for clips of sports highlights and other content, and a person familiar with the situation said Google and Disney had also been in talks to put long-form content on YouTube. It wasn't immediately clear why Disney opted for Hulu, but the person noted Google would not be willing to offer any content provider an equity stake in YouTube. Google said Disney's deal with Hulu brings more content online in more places, which is a win for consumers and provides further validation of the growth of the online video market. "The average YouTube viewer spends nearly 150 minutes a month watching videos on YouTube. We expect numbers like this to grow on our site and across the Web as more niche and mainstream video content continues to be uploaded and enjoyed," Google said in a statement. YouTube attracted more than 100 million viewers in March, but advertisers have remained wary about putting up their ads next to YouTube's unpredictable user-generated videos. Hulu had only 41 million unique viewers in March, but its library of premium content is particularly attractive to advertisers, and the site can thus charge much higher ad rates than YouTube. |
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Disney Announces 3-D Jonas Brothers Exclusively For Blu-Ray AHN - Want to bring the Jonas Brothers home in 3D? Many a tween girl will scream "yes," but the only way to do that will be on Blu-Ray disc. Disney announced that the release of the 3D concert film, "The Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience," will hit store shelves on June 30th. A DVD version is planned but will not include the 3D version. The Blu-Ray disc will offer four free 3D glasses, an extended version of the film with two never-before-seen performances for "A Little Bit Longer" and "Can't Have You," two additional bonus songs, and "Up Close & Personal," a behind-the-scenes look at the Jonas Brothers on tour. "The Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience" grossed a disappointing $19 million in theaters, although it still takes the spot of the 2nd highest-grossing concert film of all time, behind the "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" release. The Blu-Ray exclusive 3D experience comes a few weeks after Disney announced that the upcoming Blu-Ray of "Snow White & the Seven Dwarves" would hit shelves a full 5 weeks before the DVD release. |
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Jonas Brothers play it safe in new Disney Channel sitcom The Star-Ledger - Gasp! Eek! OMG! It's the Jonas Brothers! On TV! Every week!!!! "Jonas," which premieres Saturday night on the Disney Channel, is unlikely to trigger a mass epidemic of fainting, but it gingerly polishes the squeaky clean image of the world's most celebrated boy band, while giving the trio a chance to tap into their inner Monkees. "We're so blessed to do this because we know we are living so many people's dreams," said Kevin, the oldest brother at the ripe age of 21, in an interview earlier this year. "The atmosphere on set is so exciting because we know the scripts are going to be amazing and fun. We're in the midst of one right now and I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life." Those tone-deaf to the Jonas' hummable ditties and blind to their puppy-dog looks are unlikely to be converted by the sitcom, in which Kevin, Joe and Nick play pop stars struggling to lead a semi-normal life. Saturday's episode mixes in sight gags (Velcro pants stuck to a chair), potential catch phrases ("Boom goes the dynamite!"), romance (Nick falls for an angelic schoolmate whose face could sell Ivory soap) and inside, wink-wink jokes (Nick reminds his crush that the teen magazines have dubbed him the serious one). Throw in a couple of new musical numbers, and you have correctly followed the Disney formula: safe, stupid fun. Executive producer Michael Curtis lets slip that the original concept had the group playing spies, but during the development process, the band got too big to imagine the boys as anything but thinly veiled versions of themselves. It's unfortunate that Curtis didn't make a stronger attempt to buck reality. Last year's Disney movie "Camp Rock" proved that all three have acting chops, most notably Nick, who might even be capable of playing the kind of self-loathing characters that teenagers used to swoon over, back when James Dean was the epitome of cool. But Disney's Fantasyland has no tolerance for motorcycles and cigarettes. The most rebellious thing about "Jonas" is that the family resides in vamped-out digs with fire poles, a drum set hovering over Nick's bed and an endless supply of fresh fruit. Most of the first episode takes place at some sort of private school that appears to be devoid of teachers or even classrooms, as the students spend nearly all their time in the candy-colored hallways. Of course, the show keeps coming back to the ultimate dream: the opportunity to share space with the Jonas Brothers. This desire is personified in the character of Macy Misa, a squealing, clothes-ripping classmate played to the hilt by Nicole Gale Anderson. As expected, the boys treat her stalker-like behavior with kid gloves. (The brothers come off as so pious that there doesn't seem to be anything remotely creepy about a 21-year-old roaming the halls of a high school.) Chelsea Staub, who plays another classmate, relayed a story that suggests the Jonases' real-life antics are much more original and daring than anything the show might offer. One afternoon, after returning from a fitting, she discovered that everything in her dressing room ? the clothes, the hangers, even the lightbulbs ? was gone. A note telling her to immediately find the producers had her convinced that she was being fired. "I walked on the stage shaking and terrified ? and it turned out it was all in Joe's bathroom," she said. "They got me really good." It's that kind of naughty mischief that might make the Jonases more appealing to the cynical masses, even if it means mussing up some heavenly hair. |
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Cody Fry is OK about not being Radio Disney's Next Big Thing Chicago Tribune - Northfield's Cody Fry (right) didn't turn out to be Radio Disney's Next Big Thing, but he's taking the news OK. "It would have been nice to win, but like I've said all along, Disney does not make or break my career," Fry said on the phone from Nashville, where he's a freshman at Belmont University. The 18-year-old singer/songwriter/musician was one of 11 finalists in Radio Disney's N.B.T. contest, determined by fan voting. The winner, named this week, was a Phoenix teen girl duo known as Jonnie and Brookie who deliver the kind of slick electro-guitar sass familiar to listeners of "Hannah Montana" and "High School Musical." Fry, whose pop offerings have more of a jazz-soul edge, previously expressed misgivings to the Tribune about being pigeonholed as a Disney artist. So, although he appreciates the exposure provided by the contest, he stressed, "Seriously, I believe that God has a better plan for my life, and I still believe he's going to do extraordinary things with the talent that he's given me." |
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Friday May 1, 2009 |
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Think small along with tall for 20th anniversary of Disney's
Hollywood Studios Disney World still draws crowds despite flu alert Robert Iger 3rd Highest Paid CEO for 2008 Disney Launches Two-Tier System Disney Party Tickets go on Sale Today Apopka Elementary School Students Win 2009 Disney’s Environmentality Challenge Celebrate Walt Disney’s origins Disney's Anne Sweeney Talks Hulu: It's All About Casual Viewers Disney conjures up more "Wizards" Courtney Simmons joins Disney Interactive Media Group Disney "driving a hard bargain" with Hong Kong Tickets For Disney's Award-Winning THE LION KING |
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Think small along with tall for 20th anniversary of Disney's
Hollywood Studios Theme Park Rangers - Friday marks the 20th anniversary of the first day that Disney's Hollywood Studios opened for business. The theme park features a slew of big elements: the towering Tower of Terror, the rolling ball toward Indiana Jones, the hulking AT-AT guarding Star Tours and of course that big honkin' Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat. But at the same time I have an appreciation for little moments -- some of them quite thrilling, but small nonetheless -- at the park. Did someone say "Make a list of five!"? Even if you've heard some of these stories before? Sure. Here are favorite (not necessarily most fab) moments at DHS. 1. The moment where folks at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular figure out the deal with the guy in the pink shirt. It's a rolling, ripple effect. 2. The closing moments of "Beauty and the Beast," after the ensemble has changed into their pink gowns and maroon (!) suits and close ranks around B&B. So sue me. 3. The transformative climax of "Voyage of the Little Mermaid." OK, I've got to be in the right mood for that one. 4. The moment right before acceleration on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. It's not rational, but I always think about my contact lenses flying out. 5. The moment right before the DROP on Tower of Terror. One time I was riding with a elevator car full of teenage girls, and the pause seemed extra long and extra tense. Finally, a tiny voice from the back: "Oh, sweet Jesus." Cue the drop ... and the shrieks. Good times. |
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Disney World still draws crowds despite flu alert
Reuters - Mickey Mouse, Pluto, the Fairy Godmother and other Walt Disney favorites were still dishing out kisses, handshakes and high-fives at the Magic Kingdom on Thursday, despite the flu virus alert gripping the United States.
At the world famous Florida theme park, which is run by Walt
Disney Co and visited by millions each year, enthusiastic
crowds filled the avenues and rides, apparently unworried by
the warnings of a possible pandemic of a new strain of
influenza A (H1N1) virus.
The United States has declared a health emergency and in
Mexico, where up to 176 people have died following the
outbreak there of the virus originally termed "swine
flu," the government has ordered a five-day partial
shutdown of nonessential government offices and
businesses. The Mexican Health Ministry also warned
people against touching or kissing while greeting each
other.
Authorities in the United States, who have reported
109 confirmed swine flu infections but only one
death, are recommending that people sick with flu
symptoms seek treatment and stay home. Florida is
testing a number of suspected cases.
At the Magic Kingdom on Thursday, one mother
pressed her baby's face into the costumed
character Pluto's furry snout for a kiss. Other
youngsters continued to snuggle up to various
other Disney characters and share "high-fives,"
while fidgety kids slid their hands along the
rope lines while waiting to get on the rides.
Among the crowds were the Jansens from
Amsterdam in the Netherlands. They said they
were not worried about bringing their
2-year-old and 7-year-old children to the
Magic Kingdom.
"There's no concern for us. We always go
to the big public places with the kids,"
said Ed Jansen. "Just like any Dutch man
or Dutch woman, we have both feet on the
floor. We're not a panicked people."
Coordinating the international
campaign against the new flu virus,
the World Health Organization (WHO)
has its current alert level just one
notch below a full pandemic.
Despite some official fears that crowded venues could increase contagion risk, there were no visible extraordinary precautionary measures in place at Disney's Magic Kingdom.
Trash sweepers, as usual,
swept up bits of garbage
almost before they touched
ground, but they did not
appear to be doing any extra
disinfecting or unusual
cleaning.
DISNEY 'MONITORING SITUATION'
The Walt Disney Co.
has maintained a
tight-lipped stance
about the flu alert,
wary of any news
that could trouble
its carefully
crafted guest
experience at the
world's largest
theme park.
Disney
spokeswoman
Andrea Finger in
Orlando told
Reuters this
week, "We're not
really talking
about it,"
declining to say
whether any
special health
measures were
being taken.
Disney World
representatives
held a
closed-door
meeting with
public
health
leaders on
Thursday in
Orlando to
discuss the
flu alert.
After
the
meeting
with
Orange
County
Health
Director
Dr.
Kevin
Sherin,
Disney
representative
Mike
Griffin
told
local
media
the
company
was
"monitoring
the
situation."
Sherin
and
Orange
County
Mayor
Rich
Crotty
said
they
had
full
confidence
in
Disney's
contingency
plans
in
the
event
of a
health
emergency,
but
they
gave
no
details.
"We truly have world class theme parks in Orange County and Osceola County," Sherin said, referring to Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando. "These are the best in the world. The practices they have to protect cast members and staff and guests are second to none."
Universal Orlando is co-owned by the Blackstone Group (BX.N) and NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co (GE.N).
Most visitors seemed determined not to let the alarm over the spreading flu virus spoil their family fun.
"We come from a tropical island and we have many kinds of fevers," said Puerto Rican retiree Luis Larregoity and his wife Miriam Cruz.
Ann Genthner, a grandmother from Boston visiting the Magic Kingdom with her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, said she hadn't bothered to follow the news about the flu.
"I thought about it, but it didn't affect me in any way," Genthner said.
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Robert Iger 3rd Highest Paid CEO for 2008
AP - Robert Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company came in as the third highest paid CEO for 2008 at Standard & Poor's 500 companies. The Walt Disney World company CEO took in an estimated $51.1 million. |
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Disney Launches Two-Tier System
IGN - Walt Disney Studios is poised to follow Fox in a program that would distinguish between two types of DVD and Blu-ray discs – fully-featured retail versions and feature-lite rental releases. This would provide retailers with your average, shrink-wrapped, feature-laden product with which to fill their store shelves while at the same time offering rental outlets such as Blockbuster an alternate, bare-bones version for customers interested only in the film itself. Fox, thus far, has instituted their program by selling only the stripped-down versions to renters for same price as the retail release while restricting any option to purchase the bonus-filled retail discs. Disney, however, will offer a choice to rental venues and price the lower-tier disc at a substantial mark-down as an added incentive. This will allow rental outlets the option of stocking films with the bonus features in-tact for their more film savvy customers. Disney will kick off the new program in June with the release of Morning Light, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience. |
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Disney Party Tickets go on Sale Today
Disney News - Tickets for Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party go on Sale Today, Friday May 1st. Tickets can be purchased at Walt Disney World Guest Services, Park Ticket booths, online and over the phone 407- 934-7639 |
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Apopka Elementary School Students Win 2009 Disney’s Environmentality Challenge
 Disney News - Fresh from the surprise of learning they won the 2009 Disney’s Environmentality Challenge, Mr. Scott Ralph’s fifth-grade class at Apopka Elementary School decided the best way to celebrate the moment on April 28 was to continue their mission of urging people to recycle. Disney Ambassador Clay Shoemaker and Jiminy Cricket made a special visit to Mr. Ralph’s class to announce that they were the winners of the annual statewide competition, which honors fifth graders who demonstrate a significant commitment to conservation. As part of the class’ project -- Mission: Eliminate Plastic Bags -- students educated their community about the environmental hazards of plastic grocery bags. They raised funds to provide a solution to the problem -- 800 canvas bags that they in turn gave to local shoppers. Beaming with pride, Mr. Ralph recognized his class for their hard work and told them to "give yourselves some applause." Now in its 11th year, Disney’s Environmentality Challenge is a partnership between Walt Disney World and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Since the program’s inception, more than 120,000 fifth-grade students throughout Florida have participated. |
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Celebrate Walt Disney’s origins
Kansas City Star - In honor of the founding 87 years ago of Walt Disney’s Laugh-O-Gram animation studio in Kansas City, the local not-for-profit group Thank You Walt Disney Inc. will hold two celebratory events. •On Saturday a “painting party” will be held at the Laugh-O-Gram building at 31st and Forest (one block east of Troost). Local artists will decorate the building with Disney characters; volunteers will clean and landscape the area. Once scheduled for demolition, the long-abandoned building has been stabilized. TYWD is raising funds to restore it as a museum and animation studio where films can be made using the same technology available to Walt Disney. •On May 30 a benefit for TYWD will be held at the Screenland Crossroads. Virginia Davis, the star of Disney’s “Alice” shorts made at Laugh-O-Gram, will be the guest of honor. The evening will include a presentation on the history and future of the building and an animation art auction. For information go to www.laughograms.org or call event coordinator Bryan T. Williams at 816-994-7354. |
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Disney's Anne Sweeney Talks Hulu: It's All About Casual Viewers
Washington Post - I took the ABC.com player for a spin the other day, the first in a while, popping in through Fancast. I had to agree to some terms and download the player, a quick glimpse of why this strategy doesn't work well for the casual fan. Then I had a kind of Lost flashback, whirling back three years to how wowed I was the first time I saw the player and how unusual it was then to go to a network site to stream hit prime-time shows on demand as long as I agreed to see a few ads.
Just as it had a few months earlier, when CEO Bob Iger stepped out on a stage with Apple's Steve Jobs and announced that Disney (NYSE: DIS) would be selling video downloads through iTunes, ABC changed the game for broadcast network online video. The Move Networks player won an Emmy, ABC.com served up some good stats and ABC decided to marry its online programming to its own player. Its few outside video deals with AOL (NYSE: TWX), Fancast and Veoh all required use of the player so Disney could manage the viewer experience.
Fast forward to April 30, 2009, three years from the day that trial launched, and the announcement that Disney is taking a stake in Hulu. Outgoing News Corp (NYSE: NWS). COO Peter Chernin and NBCU Chairman and CEO Jeff Zucker are the media execs who zigged when Iger zagged, putting their clout and resources behind a risky joint venture that could have tanked completely and instead became one of the best user experiences around for online video. And, this time, Disney is the company following, not leading.
That's not how Disney sees it, of course, no matter what some execs might say privately. And while outsiders?and more than a few insiders?see Disney's equity stake in Hulu as a sign that the company's control-the-experience concept had stalled, in an interview after the deal was announced, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, offered it up as a natural extension of a long-term strategy:
"We don't consider it a change in any way. If you look back starting with the the iTunes deal in October 2005, that was a very bold and gutsy move. That was really the deal and the moment that I think changed our culture, not just at ABC but at Disney when it came to the digital distribution of our content."
Sweeney, who was surprised at first when I described my recent experience as frustrating compared to an instant click service like Hulu, added: "We took a couple of years to really refine the business model, figure out the user interface, figure out how to make it a business and how to make it something that viewers wanted. Then we looked at usage so we could understand the next best step to take. And today we're announcing Hulu." (Earlier this month, Disney also announced a short-form deal for ABC and ESPN with YouTube, that allows access to ABC clips through the YouTube player.)
?Would she consider switching to the Hulu player for everything? "No, because I think there's value to both. We actually found that the usage is different?(according to comScore) 8 percent of the ABC.com viewers go to Hulu and 13 percent of the Hulu audience goes to ABC.com. The ABC.com player is probably helping the tried-and-true ABC fan catch up . The Hulu player is providing more of the casual viewers, people who don't think to come to ABC first. I look at it as the natural evolution of our strategy." She said the company will continue to use, support?and innovate?its current Move player: "I think that's going to do a different piece of business for us. .. We end up superserving our core ABC viewers while attracting new viewers through Hulu to our shows."
?What has been described to me as dissension - and strong disagreement?between some at ABC and corporate over the move, Sweeney calls "debate." There was a lot of debate when we went into the iTunes deal. There was a lot of debate when we launched ABC.com. These are real sea changes in the way content is distributed. Believe me, you want the debate. You want all opinions on the table. You want to make smart decisions."
?Is there an advantage to ABC to having three big networks at Hulu? "I don't think of them as networks. I think of them as content engines. Is there an advantage to having hit shows available? Yes."
?Does this deal in any way keep Disney from participating with TV Everywhere or any of the other efforts to limit some programming to pay TV subs? "We've been conversations about what they call authentication or TV Everywhere with all of the MSOs out there. We're open to the adoption of an authentication system but we also know that?and Bob said it recently at NCTA?that progress on authentication is really going to require a high degree of cooperation around the industry because there are a lot of technical and coordination issues that need to be addressed."
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Disney conjures up more "Wizards"
Reuters - The Disney Channel is grooming "Wizards of Waverly Place" as its next blockbuster tween franchise in the mold of "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana." The cable channel has picked up a third season of the hit comedy series starring Selena Gomez and has unveiled an original telefilm, "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie," to premiere in August. "Wizards," which co-stars David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise and centers on the three Russo siblings who have wizard powers, ranked in April as the No. 2 scripted series across all cable and broadcast television channels among tweens (viewers 9-14 years old). Set to premiere in August, the "Wizards" movie follows the Russo kids as they embark on a vacation at the Caribbean resort where their parents met. Since the cable channel discovered Gomez during an open casting call in Dallas five years ago, it placed her in three pilots before getting her on the air with "Wizards." "We knew we wanted her as a star in the Disney Channel universe," said Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channels Worldwide. Now the show is getting exposure in Disney Channel's ultimate showcase, the original movie franchise that launched "HSM." "This is a great example of how we can groom our stars across different genres on different platforms," Marsh said. It's shaping up to be a summer of Selena Gomez on Disney; on June 26 the channel will premiere the original movie "Princess Protection Program," in which Gomez stars alongside Demi Lovato. As for "Hannah Montana," which recently jumped to the big screen as a box-office-topping feature, talks are under way for a fourth season of the series. |
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Courtney Simmons joins Disney Interactive Media Group
GameIndustry - Courtney Simmons has joined Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) as vice president of communications. Ms. Simmons will be based in North Hollywood, CA and will manage all communications for Disney Interactive Media Group, which is responsible for the creation and delivery of Disney branded interactive entertainment content across multiple online, mobile and video game platforms on a worldwide basis for The Walt Disney Company. She will report to DIMG President Steve Wadsworth and Zenia Mucha, executive vice president, corporate communications, The Walt Disney Company. In her new role Ms. Simmons will oversee corporate communications, media relations and publicity activities for all DIMG business groups including Disney Interactive Studios, Disney Online, Disney Mobile Japan and Disney Technology Shared Services. These areas of The Walt Disney Company produce blockbuster digital products including Disney.com, the No. 1 ranked community-family and parenting online destination, the Disney Online Family Network of Web sites for moms including Family.com, the popular virtual worlds of Club Penguin, Disney’s Toontown Online and Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow, as well as a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games from five internal game development studios. DIMG also develops new online technologies and distribution platforms and operates the online technical backbone and infrastructure that power the Web presence of The Walt Disney Company including category leaders ESPN.com, ABC.com, and ABCNEWS.com. “Courtney brings two decades of proven public relations and strategic corporate communications experience to Disney Interactive Media Group. Her vast knowledge of the online video game space, coupled with her understanding of this evolving marketplace makes her a perfect fit for our organization,” said Mr. Wadsworth. “Courtney’s wide-ranging background in strategic communications, as well as her experience in the online and gaming worlds makes her an important asset to our team,” said Zenia Mucha. “We’re pleased to welcome her to Disney at an exciting and dynamic time for our Interactive Media Group.” Prior to joining Disney Ms. Simmons served as the executive director, corporate communications and public relations for Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), the interactive entertainment company responsible for blockbuster massively multiplayer titles including EverQuest. While there she also handled strategy and execution of all corporate communication programs for the executive team as well as product publicity. Additionally Ms. Simmons worked closely with her counterparts at Sony Computer Entertainment America, Europe and Japan to maximize corporate communications initiatives on a worldwide basis. During her time at Sony she oversaw dozens of product launches and the communications surrounding a worldwide restructuring and ownership change for the company. Before SOE she ran government affairs and media relations for LEGO at the LEGOLAND California theme park in Carlsbad, CA. Ms. Simmons also served as the head of public relations for The Six Flags Theme Park where she led strategic communications and publicity efforts for the Los Angeles-based park. |
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Disney "driving a hard bargain" with Hong Kong Disney and the Hong Kong government have been embroiled in protracted discussions over financing for a second phase of the world's smallest Disneyland which could cost a reported HK$3 billion ($387 million). Opened in 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland has been criticized for being far too small to attract repeat visitors despite its proximity to mainland China. Visitor number projections failed to reach initial bullish predictions, and the Chinese tourist market has since been hit by the economic slump. Disney meanwhile has signed a framework agreement with authorities in Shanghai to build a park there. The meeting between Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang and Disney on Friday in Los Angeles follows Disney's decision last month to put the expansion on hold. The involvement of such a senior Hong Kong official underscores the importance the government sets on getting negotiations back on track. "We hope we can maintain positive engagement with Disney on the matter, but it's hard to predict whether there'll be a breakthrough after the meeting," said a government source cited in a report by the South China Morning Post. In March, Disney said it would put the expansion plans on ice and fire about 30 staff dubbed "Imagineers" who had helped conceptualize and plan the Hong Kong expansion. "Disney wants the (Hong Kong) government to put in some of the (financing) loan, but the government can't do it. It's a very sensitive issue," a well-placed source close to officials involved in the talks told Reuters. "Disney's trying to drive a hard bargain (with Hong Kong) and Shanghai's an ace in the hole." |
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Tickets For Disney's Award-Winning THE LION KING
Broadway World - Disney Theatrical Productions and Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney’s The Lion King will go on sale to the public on Thursday, May 14 at 10AM. San Diego’s most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the Civic Theatre stage on Tuesday, October 13 for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, November 8. The opening night is Thursday, October 15 at 7:30PM. This North American National Tour is currently one of seven productions running worldwide along with New York, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Paris, and Fukuoka. A new sit-down production will begin in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Theatre on May 5. Now in its second sold-out decade on Broadway, The Lion King is the winner of six Tonyâ Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammyâ Award for Best Musical Show Album. Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for The Lion King. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Lion King. The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice, additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer. In San Diego, The Lion King will play Tuesday – Sunday (see below for full schedule). Ticket prices range from $20 to $79. Additionally, Premium Ticket Packages are available for $132.50, which includes a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item. Individual tickets go on sale Thursday, May 14th at 10AM at the Civic Theatre Ticket Office at 3rd & B Street; downtown San Diego. To order by phone, call the Ticket Office at (619) 570-1100 or Ticketmaster at (619) 220-TIXS; or purchase tickets via the Internet at BroadwaySD.com. Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling (619) 564-3001. |
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