A bunch of you folks are at San Diego Comic-Con, and a bunch more are not. I took off this year, but my daughter’s down there with her dad, Jim Hill. If you see them, say hi!
Great Big Giant Good News!
The Iron Giant, not only one of the best animated films of all time, but one of the best films of all time, is coming back in a big way. There’s a rerelease of the film coming to theaters via Fathom Events this Fall. Click here for more information. Here’s Brad Bird with his baby at SDCC.
“Music of Life” Wows at the El Capitan
Now through August 15 at Disney’s beautifully-restored El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood (really, my favorite place to see a Disney movie.) Dusty Sage and I were invited to come check out this live pre-show before Pixar’s LAVA and Inside Out, along with the new Dolby Vision, which I’d seen before but Dusty hadn’t.
The show was a lot of fun. We wore 3D glasses for the pre-show only, and were treated to 80s and 90s style 3D “CGI” illuminations created by 3D LIVE, which utilizes a huge, movie screen-sized LED-lit backdrop and music with adorable dancers representing the Inside Out characters Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear and Anger. Each dancer had his or her own segment and “theme song” and each was incredibly talented and the choreography by Dave Scott was spot-on in describing each character’s personality. One complaint: just when “Joy” was about to do Silk Aerobatics, they threw a bunch of giant golden beach balls into the audience. These were overinflated and some of the tweens in the audience thought they made better weaponry than toys. Some of the little ones around us were complaining about being hit and the distraction was such that when people next looked up at the stage, “Joy” had finished whatever she had done and was carrying her silks offstage. Everyone missed it!
I think people are going to cheer for the Star Wars trailer until December. Huge reaction to the trailer from the audience at our showing.
We’ve been listening to Dolby in movies for years, and now we can see them too with Dolby Vision. It uses laser projection to make really crisp, clear images, and the pictures we saw were gorgeous. It’s 500 times the contrast of ordinary movies and amazing color. Because I had seen the film before, I was able to take a closer look at things like textures and – just wow – if you want to see the film at its most beautiful, go see it at the El Capitan. Also, we loved the VIP seating. It’s something I loved when I was in Asia that I really wish all American movie theaters would do – assign seats. Dusty bought a Bing Bong plush at the Studio Store, and it smells like cotton candy!
Really, if you have the chance, make the extra effort to see your Disney films at the El Capitan. From the added entertainment, historic architecture, gorgeous pipe organ, to the new Dolby Vision, it’s an exceptional experience.
Making a Bigger World for Killer Whales
SeaWorld of San Diego wants to enlarge its killer whale habitat and is investing 10 million dollars to do so, plus providing another 10 million dollars in matching funds to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) earmarked for projects focusing on threats to killer whales in the wild. They’re asking California voters to email the California Coastal Commission and approve the Blue World Project, because it involves building out so that the killer whales are no longer in small pools and instead in a “Blue World” 50 feet deep, with 1.5 acres of surface area, fast currents in areas, and more of an ocean-like habitat.
SeaWorld was started by some marine biology students as a way to raise funds for animal rescues; it was first imagined as a tiki bar. It’s come a long way in 50 years. They’ve helped a lot of animals, and I hope they keep helping them and educating people – especially little ones – about the importance of taking care of them and our big blue world.
About that Tomorrowland Exhibit Trip…
On Tuesday I asked if anyone was interested in taking a trip with me from LA to San Francisco for the upcoming Tomorrowland exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum. I got a flood of inquiries.
Private Car Services says if we want to get a group together, we can go up on a Friday morning from LA in a private rail car, stay two nights, go see the exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum, and come back Sunday for 500.00 per person. This would include two meals and open bar on the private rail car each way, which would be one from the Super Chief, and probably the rail car Walt and Lillian Disney traveled aboard when they traveled Back East for Walt to receive his honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale. Disclosure: I sometimes work for PCS as a bartender but would not profit from this trip. Dates are July 22 through (so far) December 7. The further in advance we book the better, and I’ll see if I can round up a special guest to come along if we really want to do this. We’ll need 25 people to make a trip, they said. If you’re interested, email me at [email protected] with dates you would be available and number of people you’d have with you and I’ll see if we can pull something together. Sound like fun? Let me know!
WINNER WINNER MERMAID DINNER!!!
The folks at Legends Events gave us two tickets for a contest to see Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid) live in concert in Orlando on July 19th. The event is a benefit for the Walt Disney Birthplace.
The grand prize winner is: Seth Kubersky. Congratulations Seth!!! Dusty Sage will be in touch with you about the event.
We are also contacting some runners up. So keep your eyes on your email if you entered.
If you didn’t win tickets and would like to attend this amazing event, there are still a couple of spots left. You can find out all the details here: Part of Your World Event
Have a great weekend!
Whether you’re going to a theme park, your local park, a convention, or staying home and playing Tapped Out on your tablet, I hope you have a great weekend! See you at the parks next week!
Fab
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