Alice in Wonderland Live Red Carpet Event – Watch it Here!!!

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February 25, 2010

Watch the live stream from London’s Leicester Square of the Royal World Premiere. Tune in so you can see exclusive access all areas footage, including interviews with Alice in Wonderland’s all-star cast as they walk the red carpet; from Johnny Depp (the Mad Hatter), Anne Hathaway (the White Queen), Helena Bonham Carter (the Red Queen), Australian rising-star Mia Wasikowska (Alice), and UK comedian Matt Lucas (Tweedledum and Tweedledee) to the film’s director Tim Burton.

Free TV : Ustream

Photo from aliceinwonderland facebook page

Muppets Give a Day, Get a Disney Day Website Fun!

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Chip

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February 25, 2010

I have been playing around with the Muppet’s Give a day Get a Disney Day Website while eating my lunch. It’s is hilarious and very creative.

If you want to check it out click here. If you visit it multiple times you will get different things going on as they work on the site 😉

Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

British cinema chain’s Alice in Wonderland boycott ends

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Chip

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February 25, 2010

It’s about time. From the Orlando Sentinel:

Disney and the main theater chain behind what threatened to become a serious boycott of its pricey 3D Alice in Wonderland have reached a deal. There will be no boycott, not in the UK, anyway.

At least Tim Burton saw the cinema chain’s point — that a 12 week release window, after all the cost of adding 3D projection and the intense desire by the chains to make every last Euro or pound out of the movie because of that — was too short.

No word on what exactly Disney and Odeon came to their “enduring agreement” on.

For Odeon’s part, the enduring box office appeal of Avatar gave them some bargaining room, even though that movie is finally starting (and only starting) to fade.

Source

Photo from pastapadre.com

Disney/Marvel The First Avenger: Captain America Leading Role

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Chip

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February 25, 2010

The Marvel Studios March deadline is quickly approaching for casting of the lead role in The First Avenger: Captain America Movie. It looks like it is down to 6 actors.

Out of all the articles that is floating around the interwebs the guys at Film School Rejects seem to have the best coverage along with a breakdown of the actors and where you have seen them before.

Director Joe Johnston is on a tight schedule at this point when it comes to the casting of the title role in his next movie, The First Avenger: Captain America. Previous reports have stated that he and the folks at Marvel Studios plan to have the role filled by the first of March, with is about a week away at this point. So it makes sense that today we’re seeing the first inklings of casting news from Mike Fleming at Deadline. He’s scored the studio’s short list that includes the names of six actors that Johnston would like to have test for the role.

Some facts though, before I dig into this list and bring down the thunder of my always insightful commentary. Fleming is reporting that the studio is dealing shrewdly with all of these actors, offering a meager $300,000 for the first movie and forcing them into a 9-picture deal that would include sequels, appearances in other Marvel movies and of course, The Avengers. This is great for the studio, and their ability to keep continuity with their Avengers characters, but isn’t quite so awesome for the actors. Then again, they will get paid to play Captain America. They’ll get over it, I’m sure.

Now, on to the list. It is more than full of surprises.

For more information check out the article here.

Photo from filmschoolrejects.com

Hectic moments preceded Disney World fatal monorail crash

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Chip

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February 25, 2010

A great article written by Jason Garcia at The Daily Disney talking about the events that occurred the night of the fatal crash at Walt Disney World involving 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg of Kissimmee . Here is just a small portion of this tragic piece:

At about 2 a.m. July 5, as the last of Walt Disney World’s theme parks was closing after one of the busiest days of the year, there was still much to do inside the resort’s monorail-maintenance shop.An electrician there was juggling multiple tasks as he operated the track switches linking the monorail system’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot loops. Three of Disney’s 12 trains were waiting to transfer between tracks, and a fourth was approaching the bay where it was to be parked for the night.

So when the electrician received the radio call instructing him to activate the switch that would allow one of the trains to transfer off the Epcot loop, he logged in to do so. But then, apparently distracted by a call about a door alert from the train approaching the maintenance bay, he did not activate the Epcot switch.

The electrician radioed that he had, though. As a result, the waiting train, driving in reverse to traverse the switch, wound up returning down the Epcot line and crashing into another train, killing that train’s pilot, 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg of Kissimmee.

Click here to keep reading.

Disney’s John Lasseter creating Oscar magic

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Chip

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February 25, 2010

A great Q & A for Reuters UK talking to Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios head John Lasseter. They talk about his successes and even go into some of his future projects.

Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios head into the next week’s Oscars with the only movie ever nominated for both best film and best animated film, “Up,” about an old man and boy on an adventure in a faraway land.

Since its release last spring, “Up” has sold more than $725 million worth of tickets worldwide. It follows a string of successes that include “The Incredibles” and “Cars.”

Disney/Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter, a major star in the world of animation, spoke to Reuters about “Up” and the company’s moviemaking philosophy, including another Disney Oscar hopeful, “The Princess and the Frog.”

Here are some the questions Reuters Asked:

Any film with the Pixar stamp seems to spell success. Do you ever worry that a film may stumble?

Four years ago, Disney bought Pixar and made you chief creative officer of the animation unit. What’s changed?

Pixar’s 11th film is “Toy Story 3,” due out June 18th. What can you say about this third installment?

Click here for the Full Q & A With John Lasseter.

Photo REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

A Celebration for Any Season, Day or Time…

By

Chip

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February 25, 2010

A great post from Disney Park Blog showing off some of the new St Patrick’s Day merchandise including a new Vinylmation Series. :

This time of year it seems like there is a reason to celebrate every time you turn around. Whether it’s a traditional holiday, a religious holiday, a pseudo holiday or just a holiday from holidays… it seems there’s something around every corner. Here are a few helpful hints on seasonal gifts for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, in case you want to get started shopping early.

A Little Luck Can Go A Long Way…

Ever wish just once you could find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? I know I do. In March we celebrate the Irish, with traditions of corn beef and cabbage, wearing green, picking four-leaf clovers and even kissing the blarney stone. Here are a few things that might bring you a little luck this St. Patrick’s Day.

It will certainly take a “lucky” pick to find this Irish-looking leprechaun from our Vinylmation Holiday Series #1, since you don’t know what you get until you un-wrap it. But with a little luck you can add it to your very own collection.

Click here to keep reading and for more photos. Including a nice set of Mickey Mouse Ears for St Patty’s Day.

Photo from disneyparkblog.com

Disney’s High School Musical Star Named “Star of Tomorrow”

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Chip

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February 25, 2010

Vanessa Hudgens receives a major honor. She just earned a top honor, being named the Female Star of Tomorrow.

This award win, as determined by the ShoWest cinema owners, will officially be announced at the annual Las Vegas ceremony in March.

The 2010 choice is being linked to Vanessa’s popularity from the High School Musical series as well as her more recent roles in movies like Bandslam and Beastly. In fact, her Beastly co-star Alex Pettyfer reportedly got named as this year’s Male Star of Tomorrow, with a ShoWest rep saying they’re both outstanding young talents.

Some other standouts to receive the Star of Tomorrow honor in years-past include Abigail Breslin, Jennifer Hudson, Shia LeBeouf and Chris Pine.

D23’s First Anniversary Party at Disneyland: March 10, 2010

By

Chip

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February 25, 2010

Ever dream that Disney’s biggest fans could take over Fantasyland for one night? We do, too! To grant that wish, D23 is taking over all of Fantasyland for a once-in-a-lifetime bash to celebrate our first anniversary.

The magic begins in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle — after the park has closed to the general public — as D23 Members and their guests are led into the most magical realm of all, Fantasyland! Enjoy your favorite Fantasyland attractions alongside your fellow D23 Members — from Peter Pan’s Flight to it’s a small world — open to enjoy over and over again! And at our members’ request, guests will mix and mingle with beloved, classic Disney characters, as well as a few friends you may not have seen strolling through the park in a while! We know our members love Disneyland nostalgia, so guests will have the chance to get an up-close look at the “Electric Runaround” (designed by Disney Legend Bob Gurr after a turn-of-the-century Oldsmobile) Walt used to escort VIPs throughout Disneyland — and grab a bibbidy bobbidy beauty shot with Cinderella’s Crystal Coach!

And, speaking of VIPs, In addition to D23 Members — major stars in their own right! — the D23 First Anniversary Party at Disneyland will play host to a number of VIPs who have contributed significantly to Disney’s legacy, including:

Bob Gurr. Named a Disney Legend in 2004 for his decades of innovative work at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob specialized in vehicle design and worked on the designs of the Autopia automobiles and the antique cars and double-decker buses used on Main Street, U.S.A. He also played a lead role in the design of the Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Flying Saucers attractions and more.

Tony Baxter. A legendary Imagineer, Tony has played a key role in the design and creation of many Disney attractions and theme parks of the last 40 years, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, the Indiana Jones Adventure and the overall creative role for Disneyland Paris.

Kevin Corcoran. Named a Disney Legend in 2006, Kevin has enjoyed a long and distinguished acting career with Disney, starring in such classic films as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson and more.

Bill Farmer. Named a Disney Legend at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009, Bill’s voice is familiar to cartoon fans around the world as the voice of Goofy and Pluto. He has also lent his talents to a long list of Disney favorites, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Beauty and the Beast and such Disney·Pixar films as a bug’s life, Toy Story and Toy Story 2.

Margaret Kerry. Margaret was the original voice and live-action model for Tinker Bell.

Dave Smith. Named a Disney Legend in 2007, Dave Smith, chief archivist, the Walt Disney Archives, founded the Disney Archives in 1970.

Dan Roebuck. For more than two decades Dan has enjoyed a successful acting career. He currently shines in the role of Dr. Leslie Arzt on the hit ABC series LOST.

David Stollery. Named a Disney Legend in 2006, David Stollery enjoyed a solid acting career before he came to the Walt Disney Studios but it was there that he made his biggest mark. He played Marty Markham, the spoiled rich boy in The Adventures of Spin and Marty, and Dan Thompson in Westward Ho The Wagons!

Denny Newell. A senior show director at Disneyland, Denny is a 24-year Disneyland Cast Member who has played a directorial role for Celebrate! A Street Party, Disney’s Electrical Parade, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Drawn to the Magic and Pixie Hollow.

D23 Members and their guests will savor specialty coffee and an array of tantalizing Disney-inspired desserts including pastries, cookies, cupcakes, and of course, Mickey-shaped krispies! A “no host” beverage bar will also be available to toast this memorable affair.

And, naturally, there will be a few D23 surprises, including a special, limited-edition commemorative pin in honor of D23’s first anniversary, the perfect gift to remember this enchanting event.

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Location: Disneyland, Anaheim, California
Check In: Begins at 4 p.m. at a registration table to the west side of the park entrance. Check In will end promptly at 9:30 p.m. Disneyland closes to the public that night at 8 p.m.
Party Begins: 9 p.m.; Check in information for the party will be provided at registration
Event Ends: Midnight
Cost: $65 per person
Tickets: Click here for tickets.

Included with the cost of your ticket:

Private dessert party in Fantasyland after park closing
The chance to ride many Fantasyland attractions including Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Storybook Land Canal Boats, it’s a small world, Mad Tea Party, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Casey Jr. Circus Train
Photo opportunities with beloved Disney characters
Commemorative, limited-edition pin (one per guest)

Click here for more info.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – Creating An Epic

By

Chip

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February 25, 2010

Dive into the world of Prince of Persia. This behind the scenes look takes you into the locations of the film and shows some unseen video footage from the movie.

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME hits theaters everywhere on May 28th, 2010.
Set in the mystical lands of Persia, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME is an epic action-adventure about a rogue prince (JAKE GYLLENHAAL) and a mysterious princess (GEMMA ARTERTON) who race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

‘American Idol’ Finalists Net Big Bucks from Disney

By

Chip

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February 25, 2010

The highlight for me in this article is where they talk about American Idol winner Kris Allen and the big bucks he has earned from various companies including Disney.

In addition to a generous $350,000 advance for his first album (not including recording costs), half of which he got after the show ended and the rest when he finished his self-titled debut, Allen was paid $100,000 to help promote “The American Idol Experience” attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and another $100,000 for spending a day filming dialogue for the attraction and taping vocals for the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade TV show. He also reportedly earned another $100,000 advance on royalties from a three-year merchandising contract, which allows 19 Entertainment to use his image to promote the show and related products.

Click here to read the complete article.

MTV Shows

Getty, Disney partner on study of animation cel artwork

By

Chip

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February 25, 2010

Snow White and the seven dwarfs — along with other classic Disney characters — are heading to the Getty.

The Getty Conservation Institute said Wednesday that it is partnering with a division of Disney to study the deterioration that can occur in plastics — specifically, the kind used in animation cels.

The study will be conducted as a partnership between the Getty Institute in Brentwood and the Disney Animation Research Library, which is located in Glendale.

Tom Learner, a senior scientist at the Getty, said in an interview that the research will take place at both locations, with some of the cels traveling to the Getty for in-depth analysis. He said the study, which is likely to take three years to complete, is intended to explore the reasons why certain cels are deteriorating and to possibly come up with ways to slow the deterioration process.

“The end point of the study isn’t restoration — that would be something further down the line,” said Learner. The cels tagged for study date as far as the 1930s, he estimated.

Among the recognizable Disney characters headed for the microscope are Snow White, Pinocchio and at least one character from the movie “Fantasia.”

Click here to keep reading.

Photo: cels depicting Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Credit: (c) Disney Enterprises Inc.