The cartoon company created by the mythical Walt Disney tries to adapt to the times, leaving the more traditional animation cinema behind, forming alliances with production companies that work with computer animation and trying to get the best out of the current international economic crisis.
The journalist Diego Lerer took advantage of the visit to Buenos Aires by the president of the North American company and interviewed him for the Argentine newspaper Clarín. Lerer asked him about the current course of Mickey's factory, the growth of the animated corporation since 1970, the changes and mutations that Disney Studios went through, the acted films, the technological advance and the forced adaptation that they had to carry out, of piracy and the cinematographic industry, which suffers, like all sectors, the world crisis.
You started working for the company operating one of the Disneyland games in 1970. How do you feel Disney has changed since then?
Very much. It was a small company then that made four or five movies a year and re-released the classics. Walt Disney World had not yet opened in Orlando. Now it is bigger, but in the main it is still the same company, with the same goal: to entertain families around the world.
When do you feel that great growth, that expansion occurred?
It began to be assembled in the mid-'80s, with the creation of Epcot on the one hand, and then Eurodisney. And on the other hand with the rebirth of animated cinema from films such as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Aladdin.
Those changes meant not focusing only on animation ...
Animation remains the heart and soul of the company. Although in recent years we have had great success with films with actors, such as Pirates of the Caribbean or The Legend of the Lost Treasure and with live and theatrical productions. All of this had a very positive effect.
The three "Pirates ..." movies are among the most watched in history. Did you imagine something like this would happen?
It was a surprise. They told us that pirate stories didn't work, that movies made from games always failed, and the main character was an actor who worked in independent cinema. When we saw the movie we realized that it was very good, but we did not imagine what happened.
Given the important technological changes, with the presence of digital in film production and distribution, how do you see the future?
Everything is changing. The way of making movies, marketing, consumption, distribution. We will see more digital distribution shortly. But although the forms changed, the appetite for entertainment did not change. You can watch a movie in the cinema, on TV, on giant screens like IMAX or on small screens like an iPod, and soon you will be able to access a huge library of movies online.
Another strong bet that is growing is that of 3D ...
The public demands the best technology. If you are leaving the comfort of your home you want to see a great presentation. And digital allows much better 3D than before. A revolution is coming in that aspect: I could already see A Christmas Carol, by Robert Zemeckis, with Jim Carrey, made in 3D and it is of a visual beauty never seen.
How much does piracy affect this development of the industry?
It is our greatest concern, something tremendous. Making films is very expensive and what they are doing is stealing them, no matter what. We are acting on it in every possible way.
Continuing with the digital theme, a strong change for Disney was the partnership and then the acquisition of Pixar. What did it mean for the company?
It was a crucial moment. The creators of Pixar are the most talented executives to emerge in recent times. For 60 years, Disney was at the forefront of animation and Pixar added a mastery of technology and a method of making movies in the field of digital animation that keeps us at the forefront. They are great directors, excellent storytellers and have given the studio a great adrenaline rush. I am very excited.
How do you think the global crisis will affect the future of the industry in general and Disney in particular?
It will affect a lot. There will be less money for production and fewer movies will be made. We are going to have to rethink many things, change. With technological changes and the crisis, many things are going to change. But when the worst moment passes, the results will be positive in the long term. The good thing about crises is that they shake you up and force you to change. But we are going to be fine.
Source: Clarín