Pixar's Brave - Part II

[SWillie!]

Yeah, Pixar merchandise seems to be very little outside the giant franchises of Toy Story and Cars. I think the Incredibles has great merchandising potential... action figures, different super suits, all kinds of villains... they ought to treat them like actual comic book super heroes and expand on the story of the film.

[Sotiris]

Mark Andrews talks about some of the changes he implemented after he took over the film's direction.

While the king helps the queen communicate through role-playing -- he plays Merida -- the film's editor cut back and forth between the parents and their daughter, allowing the audience to see what mother and daughter are feeling. "I think that was a real breakthrough after I came on board," says Andrews.

Another change: The dramatic moment when the queen transforms into a bear was moved inside the castle. "Originally the bear changed outside the castle in isolation, and it was really scary," says Andrews. Having it happen inside the castle, with King Fergus and his pals nearby, added comedy to the mix.

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/p ... ios-419511


Also, further proof that Mark Andrews is a douche.

On Andrews' first day at the company, Sarafian recalls, Bird reviewed storyboards and gave out notes during a meeting. Afterwards, Sarafian asked Andrews when the updates could be expected. Without even meaning to be rude he said, "You get it when you get it," got up and walked out. She concluded that he was "unmanageable," but came to be very impressed with the quality of his work. [...] He oversaw the day-to-day progress of the film, while she had "to put out fires" that he started, he laughs.

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/p ... ave-420766

[qindarka]

Well, we don't know him personally and it's hardly as though these are serious offences. Should avoid casting doubts on his character, it's unfair to him. Our perception may not be objective or accurate.

[Patrick]

In watching him through interviews, he does seem really arrogant and almost condescending. I'm all for keeping the child alive inside, but not when the child just an immature brat.

[DisneyEra]

What do you guys think of this pic regarding Merida?

http://25.media.tumblr.com/08c52fbe9f5a ... o1_500.jpg

Now, if only there was a pic like this for Wreck-It Ralph

[PatrickvD]

I'm willing to give Mark Andrews a chance if he makes another film. But I actually have no doubt Brave's problems were the result of putting someone in charge of someone's pet project. He doesn't really come off as someone who'd understand a mother/daughter relationship.

[DisneyFan09]

In watching him through interviews, he does seem really arrogant and almost condescending. I'm all for keeping the child alive inside, but not when the child just an immature brat.

And not to mention his really loud and annoying voice. I was watching the Audio Commentary and the making off-featurettes on the "Brave" blu ray and his voice really hurt my ears, haha.

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, we don't know him personally and it's hardly as though these are serious offences. Should avoid casting doubts on his character, it's unfair to him. Our perception may not be objective or accurate.

I don't know--the fact that Brenda Chapman was fired and is not even invited to most awards (or allowed to speak when she is invited, in some cases) are fairly serious offenses to me. But it's true that we probably don't have all the details to paint a completely accurate picture of him.

[Sotiris]

I'm watching him through interviews, he does seem really arrogant and almost condescending. I'm all for keeping the child alive inside, but not when the child just an immature brat.

I've also watched a lot of interviews of him and behind the scenes footage, and I agree. He comes off as obnoxious and conceited.

[DisneyFan09]

As obnoxious as Andrews seems, is he really to blame about how "Brave" finally turned out? After seeing the behind-the-scenes features, the crew (although not directly) indicates that Brenda's vision for the story remainded the same. Especially about Ellinor turning into a bear.

[pap64]

Here is how I see the whole Chapman/Andrews thing: I don't know them personally so I can't say who is the saint and who is the bad guy here. I think what people seem to forget is that animation, and all of filmmaking really, is a collaborative process, and every person involved will often have a say on the final product. Remember how Disney was always at odds with his animators because he felt a sequence they animated never worked? Or how in movies like Lady and the Tramp the story issues caused many falling outs with the story men because Disney was bored by the original treatment? This sort of thing is not brand new, it has been happening since the golden age of animation. The thing is that with the advent of the internet (and its own form of cynicism), news travels far faster than before, whereas back in those days industry issues stayed industry issues. Plus it gives animation directos a venue to let people know about it.

I think what happened with Chapman was that she became so attached to her story that she refused to see it change, and whenever they tried to work it out, she refused to. I recall reading an interview about how originally they were many mother/daughter scenes that played out like Chapman's own relationship with her daughter, and thus the story got too personal for its own good. Based on everything that I read about Pixar, Disney and animation in general, whenever a story is not working, regardless how original it may be, they will call people out and try and fix the story. I think Chapman didn't want to see any of it changed, hence why she is so angry and defensive about it whenever she talks about it.

Heck, this isn't the first time this has happened at Pixar. The main reason John Lassetter directed Cars 2 was because he felt the director was not working out, Ratatouille was conceived by someone different and then was touched up and then directed by Brad Bird. Toy Story was completely rejected by Disney because it was too cynical. The original treatment for Aladdin was rejected by Disney. So the changes for Brave are nothing new, just that the internet made it out to be much bigger and thus we now "know" more about it than it really is.

[estefan]

I think what makes the Brave situation different from, for example, Ratatouille is that after they took Brenda Chapman off the project, they fiddled around with the story, but then the final cut apparently came back around to being rather close to Chapman's original treatment. From various interviews and also the commentary, I gather that the main thing Mark Andrews did was add a bit of humour (the snot rolling down one of the triplets' noses was his idea).

When Brad Bird replaced Jan Pinkava on Ratatouille, almost everything was changed in the final film. Same with Rich Moore coming onto Wreck-It Ralph. That is what bothers people about Brenda Chapman's firing. If all they were going to do was add a bunch of jokes, what was the point of replacing her?

That and because she was the first female director on a Pixar feature, her being pushed off further strengthens the idea that Pixar, and the animation industry as a whole, is primarily a boy's club (even though most of the producers at Pixar are women).

[Disney's Divinity]

I think Chapman didn't want to see any of it changed, hence why she is so angry and defensive about it whenever she talks about it.

I've never found her comments angry or defensive. She comes across very calm and graceful, considering.

[estefan]

Interesting interview with Brenda Chapman, which further shows how jokes like "Feast your eyes!" weren't her doing as she apparently doesn't find those sorts of gags to be particularly funny.

[Sotiris]

Interesting interview with Brenda Chapman.

Thanks for posting.

Why wouldn't they let her speak? She's credited as the co-director. Who makes these rules? Is it Pixar or the award shows?

[Tristy]

Interesting interview with Brenda Chapman, which further shows how jokes like "Feast your eyes!" weren't her doing as she apparently doesn't find those sorts of gags to be particularly funny.

I kind of figured that wasn't her joke. I'm assuming then that line from the Prince of Egypt during the chariot race when Rameses says "Admit it Moses. You've always looked up to me!" Moses says "Yes. But it's not much of a view!" and then you see Rameses' rear end (covered of course) wasn't her idea either.

[Linden]

Interesting interview with Brenda Chapman, which further shows how jokes like "Feast your eyes!" weren't her doing as she apparently doesn't find those sorts of gags to be particularly funny.

Thanks for that. Very interesting. I especially liked that Brenda was behind Merida's relatively realistic design, and that she didn't want all the kiddy humour in it. I just keep finding more reasons to hope that she gets to direct a movie with complete control.

[Barbossa]

Cangrats to the crew of Brave.

Although Wreck-It Ralph would've been a good winner too.

[disneyboy20022]

I'm glad to see that Brenda Chapman was on stage and thanking people

[DisneyJedi]

Cangrats to the crew of Brave.

Although Wreck-It Ralph would've been a good winner too.

Oh, come on! Wreck-It Ralph deserved the damn Oscar more!!!