Lots of Pixar News!
Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 7:31 am
Animated Movies has the Pixar scoop. This all comes from their recent confrence call and is in no perticular order.
-- Creative Control and Release Date for The Incredibles
Steve Jobs explained earlier today that "the current Disney agreement gives us creative control when the director of the film has directed a previous Pixar film that has achieved box office over a certain amount; we have directors now that have creative control of their films. But Brad Bird being a director directing his first Pixar film did not qualify for that, so we had joint creative control with Disney and that has not been a problem. There has been zero issues with Disney about it and I think they really love the movie. We are targeted for holiday 2004 release, Disney is fully onboard with that. You might want to check with them for the release of Home on the Range, but I think you will find that holiday 2004 is wide open for The Incredibles."
-- Finding Nemo Box Office Forecast
"We have no idea what the opening weekend will be," an unconvincing Steve Jobs stated. "We would be thrilled if it was in the 30s, we would be ecstatic if it was in the 40s, we would be dancing on the ceiling if it was in the 50s!" What we did learn is that the movie would be released on at least 5,500 screens, and the DVD is set for the fourth quarter (not early next year as previously speculated).
-- Still Hope for Toy Story 3?
"As far as sequels go, our studio is building the capacity to release one great animated feature a year, I do not see us as having the capacity to release more than that," Steve Jobs commented cautiously. "Therefore, if we were to do negotiate a deal with Disney and release a sequel, that would be the film for that year, and would not be additive. But if sequels are attractive, then we are very excited about doing them! We've got a great idea for Toy Story 3, we've got some ideas for a Monsters sequel, there are a lot of things that we can do."
-- Tidbits on Upcoming Pixar Projects
Referring to the premiere of The Incredibles teaser trailer later this month, CEO Steve Jobs commented that "this is the first time a Pixar film will have an attached trailer for an upcoming Pixar film. This will help establish the concept of a continuous Pixar franchise, with each picture film helping to drive audiences to the next Pixar film." Which means that we should expect a Cars teaser attached to The Incredibles in holiday 2004! He went on to reveal that the studio would release "a still secret film for holiday 2006."
-- Steve Jobs Mude About Disney Deal Renewal
"We've said that we would be going to be negotiating a new deal in the coming year, that's what we're planning on doing and that's really all we're gonna be able to say about that. We are in a very strong negotiating position."
-- Disney, Pixar Aim for New Pact
Disney Chief Executive Michael Eisner and Pixar chief Steve Jobs--who have had chilly corporate relations for some time--recently dined together in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Pixar is based, and discussed hammering out a deal that would change the terms of the current partnership and extend it beyond its November 2005 expiration date, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Right now, everyone is focused on the release of Finding Nemo," said Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook. Although there is no deadline for reaching a deal, he said, "we continue to be hopeful that Pixar and Disney will be together for many years to come." Jobs was unavailable for comment. But the two CEOs appear to be more optimistic than in the past about the likelihood of striking a new arrangement. Disney is said to be putting together a proposal that it hopes would appease Jobs, who has made no secret of the fact that he is seeking to dramatically alter the terms of the current arrangement. Under their existing pact, Disney and Pixar split all production and marketing costs and share the profits. But Disney, which markets and releases the movies in theaters and on DVD that Pixar produces, winds up with more than 50% of the pie because it also collects a 12% distribution fee from Pixar. Jobs enters negotiations with enormous leverage given Pixar's perfect track record. Today, when Pixar announces its first-quarter earnings, analysts are sure to query Jobs about the status of contract talks with Disney. Last Thursday, in the Disney earnings conference call, Eisner faced similar questions. "I think it is going along well," he told analysts, "but until it is done I can't say it is for sure. But our relationship couldn't be better, and we have a mutual interest to come together--not only Disney, but Pixar. So, I'm moderately optimistic--I'm actually more optimistic than that, but I won't officially say I'm more than moderately optimistic," Eisner said. "And I think over the next six months that will become clearer."
Cool, no? I have no idea what they could do for Monsters, Imc. 2 because the story is very much completed within the first film, but knowing Pixar it'll be something great. Ans Toy Story 3...speaks for itself. Having joint control with Disney on films with a new director is a con, but oh well.
Thoughts?
-- Creative Control and Release Date for The Incredibles
Steve Jobs explained earlier today that "the current Disney agreement gives us creative control when the director of the film has directed a previous Pixar film that has achieved box office over a certain amount; we have directors now that have creative control of their films. But Brad Bird being a director directing his first Pixar film did not qualify for that, so we had joint creative control with Disney and that has not been a problem. There has been zero issues with Disney about it and I think they really love the movie. We are targeted for holiday 2004 release, Disney is fully onboard with that. You might want to check with them for the release of Home on the Range, but I think you will find that holiday 2004 is wide open for The Incredibles."
-- Finding Nemo Box Office Forecast
"We have no idea what the opening weekend will be," an unconvincing Steve Jobs stated. "We would be thrilled if it was in the 30s, we would be ecstatic if it was in the 40s, we would be dancing on the ceiling if it was in the 50s!" What we did learn is that the movie would be released on at least 5,500 screens, and the DVD is set for the fourth quarter (not early next year as previously speculated).
-- Still Hope for Toy Story 3?
"As far as sequels go, our studio is building the capacity to release one great animated feature a year, I do not see us as having the capacity to release more than that," Steve Jobs commented cautiously. "Therefore, if we were to do negotiate a deal with Disney and release a sequel, that would be the film for that year, and would not be additive. But if sequels are attractive, then we are very excited about doing them! We've got a great idea for Toy Story 3, we've got some ideas for a Monsters sequel, there are a lot of things that we can do."
-- Tidbits on Upcoming Pixar Projects
Referring to the premiere of The Incredibles teaser trailer later this month, CEO Steve Jobs commented that "this is the first time a Pixar film will have an attached trailer for an upcoming Pixar film. This will help establish the concept of a continuous Pixar franchise, with each picture film helping to drive audiences to the next Pixar film." Which means that we should expect a Cars teaser attached to The Incredibles in holiday 2004! He went on to reveal that the studio would release "a still secret film for holiday 2006."
-- Steve Jobs Mude About Disney Deal Renewal
"We've said that we would be going to be negotiating a new deal in the coming year, that's what we're planning on doing and that's really all we're gonna be able to say about that. We are in a very strong negotiating position."
-- Disney, Pixar Aim for New Pact
Disney Chief Executive Michael Eisner and Pixar chief Steve Jobs--who have had chilly corporate relations for some time--recently dined together in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Pixar is based, and discussed hammering out a deal that would change the terms of the current partnership and extend it beyond its November 2005 expiration date, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Right now, everyone is focused on the release of Finding Nemo," said Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook. Although there is no deadline for reaching a deal, he said, "we continue to be hopeful that Pixar and Disney will be together for many years to come." Jobs was unavailable for comment. But the two CEOs appear to be more optimistic than in the past about the likelihood of striking a new arrangement. Disney is said to be putting together a proposal that it hopes would appease Jobs, who has made no secret of the fact that he is seeking to dramatically alter the terms of the current arrangement. Under their existing pact, Disney and Pixar split all production and marketing costs and share the profits. But Disney, which markets and releases the movies in theaters and on DVD that Pixar produces, winds up with more than 50% of the pie because it also collects a 12% distribution fee from Pixar. Jobs enters negotiations with enormous leverage given Pixar's perfect track record. Today, when Pixar announces its first-quarter earnings, analysts are sure to query Jobs about the status of contract talks with Disney. Last Thursday, in the Disney earnings conference call, Eisner faced similar questions. "I think it is going along well," he told analysts, "but until it is done I can't say it is for sure. But our relationship couldn't be better, and we have a mutual interest to come together--not only Disney, but Pixar. So, I'm moderately optimistic--I'm actually more optimistic than that, but I won't officially say I'm more than moderately optimistic," Eisner said. "And I think over the next six months that will become clearer."
Cool, no? I have no idea what they could do for Monsters, Imc. 2 because the story is very much completed within the first film, but knowing Pixar it'll be something great. Ans Toy Story 3...speaks for itself. Having joint control with Disney on films with a new director is a con, but oh well.
Thoughts?
