DVDizzy Forum

Hahn, whose documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty also spoke extensively about Ashman, told us, “I haven’t talked about this a lot, but I’m working right now on a documentary about Howard… he’s one of the great songwriters of our generation and of the 20th century, and his life was cut short, and there’s so much of him in this film.” He added, “To be able to pay tribute through a documentary or through a film like Beauty and the Beast is terrific, and most of the audience will know Howard or his name, but to you and me he means a lot and he means so much of a huge part of the kind of Disney legacy that’s what our generation grew up with as filmmakers or as audience members.”

In the interview, Hahn first explains why he was so interested in telling Ashman's story, which is both triumphant and tragic. Hahn notes the incredible impact Ashman had on some classic Disney films, saying, "Howard's the one who taught us how to tell stories in musicals, Howard's the one who brought Alan Menken in." He later added, "Howard was responsible for so much of what we think of as 'Disney' now — not just in terms of the 90s but in terms of today." The Waking Sleeping Beauty director also says he currently has a rough cut of the documentary completed and plans on finishing it by the year's end. From there, he hopes to take it to film festivals before it will be available to everyone.

Disney's Divinity wrote:I imagine his sister is involved?

Sarah Ashman-Gillespie wrote:Don Hahn’s new documentary is, if not in the can, damn near the can. It’s been an extraordinary three years watching Don research the film, answering his questions, pulling out photos and home movies, suggesting other people he might want to interview.

Don and his producer, Lori Korngiebel found some long-forgotten talks – one at the 92nd Street Y and one during a round robin interview session publicizing Mermaid. They also discovered a tape of a phone call between John Musker, Ron Clements and Howard shortly before Howard died. It just about did me in when I first heard it. Not because of what Howard says but how he sounds.

I recently had the opportunity to see the film at a private screening – the first time I’d seen it with any kind of audience. It wasn’t quite finished but close enough. Don Hahn reminded me of Howard at previews of his shows, pacing in the back and looking slightly nauseated. Unlike Howard, Don was not gnawing at a pencil or chewing a piece of paper (a habit since childhood) but other than that I couldn’t help thinking back to so many previews and opening nights – good and bad ones.

Sotiris wrote:How fitting. You can watch the trailer, here.

Alan Menken Scoring Don Hahn’s ‘Howard’
http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/03/27 ... ns-howard/

blackcauldron85 wrote:Is this officially a Disney documentary?

Sotiris wrote:How fitting. You can watch the trailer, here.

Alan Menken Scoring Don Hahn’s ‘Howard’
http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/03/27 ... ns-howard/

blackcauldron85 wrote:^ Thank you! Still hope it comes to DVD!

Disney Duster wrote:I think it may be more honest and in-depth as a non-Disney documentary so I'm glad that's what it is.

D82 wrote:Disney documentaries are great, but they're of course a bit biased, and sometimes omit the info that doesn't suit them.

Sotiris wrote:Jodi Benson and Don Hahn on the Genius Behind Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast
http://www.playbill.com/article/jodi-be ... -the-beast