Brad Bird's '1906'

[ALIASd]

Toon titan Bird quaking for Warners

By Borys Kit
The Hollywood Reporter
March 13, 2008

Brad Bird celebrates his Oscar win for "Ratatouille."
(Getty Images photo)

Brad Bird has signed on to make his live-action feature directorial debut with "1906," a co-production between Warner Bros. and Disney/Pixar, with the historical San Francisco earthquake as its backdrop.

The story centers on a college student who begins to investigate the murder of his father, uncovering a web of deceit that has left the city vulnerable to the sort of fire that breaks out when the Great Earthquake of 1906 hits San Francisco.

Bird is rewriting the original John Logan script.

Paula Weinstein is producing the feature, while John Walker, Bird's producing partner, executive produces. Disney/Pixar will co-finance the movie.

Courtenay Valenti is overseeing for Warners.

"1906" will mark a return for Bird to the studio that released his 1999 2-D-animated film "The Iron Giant." The movie was critically acclaimed though failed to muster much muscle at the boxoffice, causing some to suggest that Warner Bros. had failed to market the film aggressively enough.

In the period since, animation -- especially the 3-D CGI variety -- has become big business, and Bird has become one of the biggest and most respected names in the medium.

Bird, who has picked up Oscars for his past two efforts, Pixar's "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles," has worked in live action before, helming an episode of "Amazing Stories" in 1987.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...769ef5faa01b15

'Ratatouille' Director Brad Bird to helm '1906' - 10/30/07

http://micechat.com/forums/showthrea...brad+bird+1906

[Joe_rocks_socks]

I'd love to work on that movie.... any chance to return to San Francisco and still work in the industry would be awesome!

[MasterGracey]

Interesting.

How is this film going to be branded?
Walt Disney Pictures Presents a Pixar Animation Studios Film in association with Warner Brothers?

Or - Warner Brothers Pictures in association with Disney-Pixar ?

Interesting... I had heard about 1906 for a while, but I didn't know that Disney and Pixar's name would be attached to the film. I wonder if this film could lend itself to an interesting ride for DCA? Hmmmm...

[9oldmen]

Bird, who has picked up Oscars for his past two efforts, Pixar's "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles," has worked in live action before, helming an episode of "Amazing Stories" in 1987.

Huh??!! "Worked in live action before"??!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but the episode of Amazing Stories that Brad directed was "Family Dog", which I distincltly remember being animated. Did he direct something else for AS that was live action?

[ALIASd]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

How is this film going to be branded?
Walt Disney Pictures Presents a Pixar Animation Studios Film in association with Warner Brothers?

Or - Warner Brothers Pictures in association with Disney-Pixar ?

As this was originally a stand-alone WB production this announcement serves as a grand testament to how badly they wanted Brad Bird onboard.

Your first example above is probably very close to how the credits will eventually appear contractually. They've probably already determined who distributes domestically, and how the international distribution will be divided up. Sharing production and promotional costs on a not-inexpensive period piece makes alot of sense, plus with Pixar's visual expertise they're halfway home before they start.

[Mr_Incredible]

I'm thinking, and actually would prefer, if the actual Disney name (and logo) weren't even on the film. It could just be Warners and Pixar, since it says that it'll only be Disney-Pixar that's coproducing. So it should be "Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Pixar Studios production a Brad Bird film".

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

Interesting.... I had heard about 1906 for a while, but I didn't know that Disney and Pixar's name would be attached to the film. I wonder if this film could lend itself to an interesting ride for DCA? Hmmmm...

Someone oughtta do a thread on that:
http://micechat.com/forums/showthrea...highlight=1906

[Retrocool]

This movie might be an interesting double-bill with Bertolucci's 1900.

[Joe_rocks_socks]

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

I wonder if this film could lend itself to an interesting ride for DCA? Hmmmm...

Maybe, but I think it'd be too close to the ride they've got at Universal Studios that they'd want to steer clear of it.

[DisneylandManFan]

I'm all for anything that Brad Bird wants to do. He's earned it! He has some amazing ideas and everything to this point has more originality than most projects that are in the pipeline right now. Looking forward to more info on this project!

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Originally Posted by Joe_rocks_socks

Maybe, but I think it'd be too close to the ride they've got at Universal Studios that they'd want to steer clear of it.

No they'd do something so cool, Universal would have to refurbish their EARTHQUAKE attraction into something else.