Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the March 16th interview with Imagineer Neil Engel who worked on the Hollywood Pictures Backlot District. This interview is at: <a href="News-ID502320.asp" target="_blank"><a href="http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID502320.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News- ID502320.asp</a></a>.
Originally Posted By ralfrick From what I've seen here and elsewhere, a BIG chunk of people that have experienced Superstar Limo have a negative impression, yet this point is never even raised. Why not just print an official Disney press release?
Originally Posted By DoodleDuck Ditto..though this 'interview' WAS done early on. Doobie..can I have the assignment? I'll be gentle..but WILL ask some pointed Qs. I would love to crawl around in this guy's head and get some real answers instead of supposition and fluff. BTW: Interesting that this person has worked on one of my favorites (Jurassic Park) AND my least favorite (SSL)?
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA Doobie -- I would also say you were a bit easy on this Imagineer... I also felt frustrated, and a bit irritated with Neil the Imagineer when he said he hadn't really looked at Disney-MGM that much. HUH? I suppose he didn't go to Universal Studios Hollywood either. Based on the way he was talking "I don't know much about the show inside..." he came across a bit -- myopic...sort of insulated in his world of Imagineering -- rather than getting out and experiencing Hollywood etc... Just an impression...
Originally Posted By Doobie I tried twice without being confrontational. I asked: "Do you keep up on reaction from the previews to your two shows?" and "Have you gotten positive feedback from your shows?" I think, based on his answers and later comments, he's gotten the negative feedback when he talked about how some things are hits and some are misses and will be changed (or something to that effect). Sorry guys, you're not going to get Dan Rather out of me, especially not with an Imagineer. I just don't treat theme parks with that attitude. Others do, and that's fine. Some of them may even now be writting for this website. But to whatever extent you feel this interview, the Delaney interview and the upcoming interviews are lacking in hard-hitting questions, the blame lies squarely with me. Doobie.
Originally Posted By DoodleDuck In my career I have interviewed (for broadcast and print) Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw..Don Bluth..Clarance 'Duckie' Nash (D. Duck.)..Art Stevens (Director Fox & Hound among others)..Paul Frees..numerous artists and effects folks and other Disney notables I can't even remember at the moment..along with those who had borderline associations like Roy Rogers..Rip Taylor..and many voice actors and celebs...I would trade all of these (except 'Duckie') for a shot at Engle! AND have Engle and Baxter on the same call or in the same room. Not for a headhunting party..just a good in depth disscussion of the biz from their point of view. Of course in order to be totally honest, both would have to be working for other than Disney I'm afraid. It would be very difficult no matter who the interviewer to get a true appraisal of the what the real picture is due to company loyalties or retribution..so a fluff piece or so called Disney Promotional piece would be the result anyway.
Originally Posted By Briguy1314 Doobie, for what it worth....I did notice you aiming the questions at the negative of SSL. I couldnt help but laugh cause I knew what you were getting at. I dont think it would be appropriate to totally up and confront him like that.....he definately was avoiding the negative comments though!!! Great interviews Doobie!
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA Doobie -- I'm sorry -- I wasn't trying to imply that you should get mean-spirited with Neal -- more so, after re-reading the article, I think I'm more frustrated with his responses -- thanks for letting me clarify...don't let our crabby responses prevent you from more interviews -- 'cause I think they're really GOOD!!
Originally Posted By Doobie Jim: No need to apologize. I'm not taking offense at your anyone else's comments here. Just explaining my point of view which I think is a good idea for any interviewer to do. I more than welcome all this feedback - positive and negative. Doobie.
Originally Posted By DoodleDuck Doobie you did fine...any good FIRST interview allows the person being interviewed the courtesy of NOT forcing your own agenda..this is how to get SUBSEQUENT interviews and thereby framing questions at the 2nd session which may be answerable based on trust that you wont 'fry' the guest. Getting a guest to loosen up and be relaxed in the Q&A and not be afraid of a grilling is a fine honed skill. Asking proper though 'pointed' questions is very difficult to learn. For probably the best in the biz (currently) watch the Fox News Channel and Paula Zahn. She has it down. Confrontational interviews are easy to do and rarely satisfying. Doing the homeworkk preparing, the Qs and allowing the guests on occasion familiarity with the line of Qs ahead of time can be very revealing when done correctly. I'm NOT talking about interviewing Polititians however, who should be GRILLED at every oportunity!! But a guy who builds a ride should be afforded every courtesy and oportunity to wriggle around the hard Qs and also address the critisisms IF he chooses to do so.
Originally Posted By dcaforever SSL is an absolute atrocious disaster that a 5-year old could have done a better job with. It upsets me to think that this Neil guy is a high-paid imagineer, when a $5.00 an hour McDonalds Employee would have done a better job then him.
Originally Posted By woody >McDonalds Employee would have done a better job then him. That's too harsh. The Hollywood section is one of the better sections. The interview was soft, but there is another way of handling it without being harsh. Watch Larry King who is a softball interview. He does it by asking the same questions several times slightly differently. Just re-phrase your questions in a kind way. You may get a different answer. Try asking your question again later in the interview. You can say, "Tell use about the new things in the park. Do you expect any changes to the rides like SUPERSTAR LIMO, which is wonderful BTW, it seems like it requires a few changes to the narrative. Do you agree?"
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA Right, you see, I would have bungled it completely blurting out something like "People have been complaining that SuperStar Limo suck eggs -- care to comment?"
Originally Posted By DennisTag My god. I've just finished reading the interview. Until then, I was trying to take a wait-and-see attitude toward DCA. After reading this interview, I'm now hoping that DCA will be a complete and spectacular failure. Listen to what Engel is saying: ".attitude is very much more in step with, like, E! or Entertainment Weekly." ".very much about today." ". it is contemporary and it is supposed to be very hip." ".The Limo ride is great for little kids." (yeah, like I really want to introduce them to celebrity-worship, and my 10 and 4 year olds will be really familiar with Whoopi Goldberg, Cindi Crawford, Cher, etc.) ".what this park is all about .is about comtemporary, about now...We'll have entertainment that is really up to date." "You're not looking in history books and saying what was real hot in 1910. You're going what's hip now?" "(The parade is) real contemporary. It's real now...You've got to keep it hip, you've got to keep it going." In other words, DCA is intended to spotlight everthing that I go to Disney to avoid. Hip? Edgy? Give me a break! Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy, but WHAT in the world are these people thinking? Problem #1: In business there is a term called `good will' that refers to the hard-earned trust that a company receives from its customers due to prior experience with the brand. The concept of 'good will' and 'branding' are extremely valuable corporate assets. But they are both based on trust, the belief of the customer that they know the type and quality of work to expect from the company and that the company will live up to its commitments in the future. Diosney's brand is not `hip' or`edgy', it doesn't have`attitude'. When customers come to Disney they don't expect that. Some customers may like it. Others will be so turned off that they will leave, thinking "next time I won't trust this company" and Disney will have blown away 45 years worth of good will and branding. Walt understood that, and was obsessed with building the Disney brand. Problem #2: Disney's parks haven't been successful by riding the latest trend. They've been successful by building attractions that are popular for 20 - 30 - 40 years. How long does something stay 'edgy' and 'hip'? 5 - 6 months? After that, it's old, passe, and sometimes embarassing. I'm very disappointed that this person is working in a senior position and helping to drive the future of the Disney parks.
Originally Posted By elect lady Dennis I am sorry that you have the hope that DCA will fail and wiil not go your self .To that I say hooray! one less negative person in the new park. There is alot more to DCA than the Hollwood Backlot,and why would you one interview in flunce you so much in chooseing whiether you go to DCA or not . I like the new park alot,
Originally Posted By LymanH Dennis, I have to say that your comment is very well said. I started the whole "Is the Theme The Problem" topic, right after reading the Neil Engel interview.
Originally Posted By DennisTag Sorry for the negative tone of my post. My frustration is starting to get the better of me. The interview seemed to confirm my worst fears. I can easily accept that the park may not be to my taste. Just because it may not interest me is irrelevant. Let the park find its own audience and maybe there is a large customer base that wants hip and edgy Disney entertainment. For that matter, I can't say that the park is that bad since I have not been there yet. BUT - just looking at it from a business perspective, I can't see why Disney would want to take the company in this direction. Why take a chance at alienating some percentage of the customer base? Why do something that could undercut a very carefully built brand name? As a parent, what if I walked into DCA without the background provided by these web sites? I take my kids to Steps in Time expecting a certain type of entertainment, and find a totally different (and what is sure to be offensive to some) style of show. I ride Superstar Limo (something described as `for the family') and are confronted with celebrities that I won't let my kids watch on TV. All it takes is a few of these and those parents won't trust the Disney name again. How is `hip' and `edgy' improving the value of the Disney brand?
Originally Posted By jonvn <<As a parent, what if I walked into DCA without the background provided by these web sites? I take my kids to Steps in Time expecting a certain type of entertainment, and find a totally different (and what is sure to be offensive to some) style of show. I ride Superstar Limo (something described as `for the family') and are confronted with celebrities that I won't let my kids watch on TV. All it takes is a few of these and those parents won't trust the Disney name again.>> You make the park sound like some sort of sleazy back alley operation. Which, of course, it's not. To answer your questions, what if you took your kids into DCA? They'd probably have a fun time, as would you. What if you saw Steps In Time? Maybe you'd enjoy it. There's absolutely nothing in it that could be considered the least bit offensive. Some people have found the storyline a bit muddled, but the show itself is perfectly suited for the entire family. Anyone who has actually seen the thing could tell you this. There is nothing that a parent can't trust at DCA. The world does not revolve around anyone's personal list of likes and dislikes. The celebrities in Superstar Limo are that--celebrities. Not international superstars, but the kind that are more glossy and less heavyweighted. They are not porn stars. There simply is nothing seriously wrong with the place. It's a lot of fun, and it's been beautifully done. It needs a few things, but it's brand new so that's no big shock. The Hollywood section is probably the best themed and most entertaining areas of the park. It has incredible detail and is just fun to hang out in. As far as the "Disney brand" goes, it'll be just fine. I'm sure Disney will be very relieved to hear how concerned some people are, though. The very few people who postulate on the internet about how terrible it is are a minority. Most people who go like the place, and will probably put it in a rotation with other local theme parks that they'll visit. Probably a once a year or two thing, unless something special comes up or a new ride or some other reason occurs for them to visit.
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA DennisTag -- based on what your wrote, I think you're over-reacting just a tad. Regardless of the tone, or the verbiage, -- Disney's California Adventure isa theme park, and very much a Disney theme park to boot. I have a 6 year old daughter, and there's nothing in any Disney Theme Park that is inappropriate because it's hip or edgy. To say that "SuperStar Limo" is hip and edgy -- well, sure -- it's a cartoony and crazy version of what California culture is all about. But it's very tongue in cheek -- and over the top -- and to my mind nothing that will wreck your kids...permanently. It was one of the attractions that my wife and daughter and I went on more than once...so go figure... Although if you're worried about your kids seeing some caricatured AA figures of Cher or Cindy Crawford, -- I don't know -- they also have a Melanie Griffith, Whoopi Goldberg and Regis Philbin! (gasp!) And it is true, that glib, 'hip' and 'edgy' can become a bit old after a while, but I think that Disney can take the tried and true "Disney Theme Park Experience" and turn it on its' ear a bit. Without pushing the envelope too far and ruining the guests' trust. Disney's California Adventure is actually quite beautiful, and aside from ruining your kids by seeing an AA figure of Tim Allen in SuperStar Limo -- you might just be worried that there's nothing to do in the Park. I don't really feel that way, but many people seem to...
