A Spirited Perfect Ten

[Cesar R M]

I guess Lucas won't get that chance with Star Wars. Lucas did it to himself though, he didn't have to sell.

Lucas had the chance with the "prequel" and he didn't do well.

That is somewhat my point. I just named three very famous and successful people that at one point or currently are no longer considered relevant. Walt is dead, so it is just speculation that he would no longer be up to the task and unwelcome in his own company. We will never know. Jobs, who was considered by the management to not be an asset to his company, sent him on his way. He had the opportunity to show them that they were absolutely wrong, and he brought the company back. Now we have Lucas that because of what was considered by some to be producing less then stellar work in later years, just no long had the ability to continue to tell a story that he created. Do we know that he wouldn't be able to or are we just guessing. Throwing someone in the trash because they think that they are superior to the brain behind the success that they now are operating to me is not the most intelligent thing to do.

except Walt and Jobs are DEAD, and they died both while on top of their game.
Lucas just sank himself with bad choices.
When he sold Star Wars to Disney, its clearly he didn't wanted to get involved much(There was leaked emails and a few interviews If I remember correctly) but now that Disney as his baby.. he claims he wanted to work along with them?.

Lucasfilm was doing just fine financially and Lucas could have easily done more Star Wars films if he so desired. Even if he wanted to shed himself of the personal financial responsibility he could have signed a production deal with Disney, sold a sizable stake in Lucasfilm or sold for Disney stock with a nice position like on the board. Instead, Lucas cashed out and has spent more time since Revenge of the Sith publicly talking about wanting to be done with Star Wars and denying that he ever said anything about a sequel trilogy.

agree on this!

But also, perhaps Lucas was smart money wise. And distrusted Iger's wall street cred.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Reminds me of the stories about Uncle Walt, and how he would stress to his team to actually GO to Disneyland and see what the people liked or needed first hand. He did it himself often, and expected his company employees to do so as well to gain a better understanding of what the publics real reactions were.

One such time he was telling his design staff over at WED to *get down there, have lunch with the Guests...for Gods sake do not eat on the (studio) lot!* He really stressed the importance of observing what the ACTUAL Guest Experience was like...from the Guests perspective. Wait in queues with them. Dine with them. Ride with them. Observe their behavior and expressions.

Can you imagine someone like Mr. Iger, or his immediate underlings at Disney, doing that ......today?

The best thing for WDW right now might be for Iger to spend a week as a front-line Cast Member at WDW, and then a week as a 'Guest' staying at a Value Resort with his family. (I'd love to see Iger crammed into a tiny Value Resort room with grandchildren. )

Say what you will about him but Iger is a smart guy.

He just might realize, "Hey, our Walt Disney World product is not up to Disney standards."

It's never going to happen though. Iger is not that kind of manager.

 

[Nemo14]

The best thing for WDW right now might be for Iger to spend a week as a front-line Cast Member at WDW, and then a week as a 'Guest' staying at a Value Resort with his family. (I'd love to see Iger crammed into a tiny Value Resort room with grandchildren. )

Say what you will about him but Iger is a smart guy.

He just might realize, "Hey, our Walt Disney World product is not up to Disney standards."

He might realize it, but would he do anything about it is another story.

 

[ParentsOf4]

He might realize it, but would he do anything about it is another story.

CEOs generally want to put out a good product. You'd be surprised at how many CEO's actually do something once they realize their product is inferior.

Many times though, they are insulated and fool themselves into thinking that "All is well."

It's how they justify their decisions. How they justify their big bonuses and stock options.

Iger doesn't visit time parks like you and I. It's front-of-the-line-access for Iger. A suite at a Deluxe Resort. Someone always making sure that a table is ready for him when he wants it. When Iger first was exposed to MagicBands, he wasn't handed the literature and told, "Go figure it out" like everyone else. He had a team hovering around him explaining the intricacies.

It's an ego thing.

It's tough not to develop an ego when you're CEO. With Wall Street always stroking his, Iger's ego is massive.

The truth is, most Disney products are good. However, Disney has problems at a few theme parks that have been festering for years.

 

[Nemo14]

But would he really understand what the problem is without experiencing what a blow to the wallet a Disney vacation is to most people?

 

[Hakunamatata]

But would he really understand what the problem is without experiencing what a blow to the wallet a Disney vacation is to most people?

If it's a blow to the wallet, should a different decision be made about taking the vacation?

 

[Nemo14]

If it's a blow to the wallet, should a different decision be made about taking the vacation?

I'm sure it has to a lot of people, myself included.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I'm sure it has to a lot of people, myself included.

As well as us. It's amazing what you can get in for your money say in Pigeon Forge or Gattlenburg TN for half of what you spend for a week at Disney. We are making a big trip in May/June which will likely be our last for a while (outside of a possible Disney cruise) as we will be hitting that time in life with a college age kid and a high schooler. Discretionary income will be hard to come by.

 

[Nemo14]

I loved Dollywood!
And even though we've spent 6 weeks of winter in central FL for the past 3 years, we just don't do the parks anymore. With AP's for Sea World and KSC, we take guests who are visiting us to those places instead, as well as several of the FL state parks.

 

[shernernum]

Being a late comer to the Star Wars/Lucas discussion. It does remind me a bit of the Star Trek/Gene Roddenberry history. Roddenberry made, with help, the first Star Trek movie ST: The Motion Picture. It had some interesting concepts and was a product of the post Kubrick 2001: A Space Odyssea era (which was a mistake because Star Wars had changed the paradigm). However, for the most part it is considered a slow, plodding, and sterile failure. Also, the actors are well-documented as having not enjoyed the film making process. Unlike Lucas who sold out his rights...Roddenberry was basically pushed to the side by Paramount after this happened and a new producer/writing team/director was brought in to work on the next Star Trek movie. It produced Star Trek II: the Wrath of Kahn which is considered by most to be the best in the franchise. Roddenberry redeemed himself with the success of The Next Generation, but he was not really involved substantially in the films of the Original series group again.
In general, the first generation movies were all decent (except for 5 which was a Shatner directed train-wreck), but followed themes that Roddenberry was not excited about.
Unlike Roddenberry, I don't think Lucas still has enough passion for the product to really desire to be that hands on anymore.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

And let's not forget the deal was intentionally done before the new capital gains tax rates kicked in, Once again a limosine liberal does what they accuse others of doing putting the almighty buck ahead of the 'disenfranchised' they profess to be the champions of so Lucas got to keep an extra 800 Mil or so but it's ok because it went to a person with an 'evolved' sense of social justice,

Not some grubby small businessman who's trying to save for college and retirement and keep a roof over his family's head oh and by the way pay his employees.

The hypocrisy shown by Lucas and others in this case makes me ill.

http://collider.com/george-lucas-lucasfilm-sale-charity/

 

[ford91exploder]

With all the issues of F&W 2015 will bring 53 days of the fest going through the 16th of November. That is a lot of Fall celebrating at Epcot.

Lots of Alcodollars for Drunkytown.

 

[shernernum]

Being a late comer to the Star Wars/Lucas discussion. It does remind me a bit of the Star Trek/Gene Roddenberry history. Roddenberry made, with help, the first Star Trek movie ST: The Motion Picture. It had some interesting concepts and was a product of the post Kubrick 2001: A Space Odyssea era (which was a mistake because Star Wars had changed the paradigm). However, for the most part it is considered a slow, plodding, and sterile failure. Also, the actors are well-documented as having not enjoyed the film making process. Unlike Lucas who sold out his rights...Roddenberry was basically pushed to the side by Paramount after this happened and a new producer/writing team/director was brought in to work on the next Star Trek movie. It produced Star Trek II: the Wrath of Kahn which is considered by most to be the best in the franchise. Roddenberry redeemed himself with the success of The Next Generation, but he was not really involved substantially in the films of the Original series group again.
In general, the first generation movies were all decent (except for 5 which was a Shatner directed train-wreck), but followed themes that Roddenberry was not excited about.
Unlike Roddenberry, I don't think Lucas still has enough passion for the product to really desire to be that hands on anymore.

I forgot to mention, that it is also documented that Roddenberry kept pushing for a movie (following the first one) that had the Enterprise crew going back in time and getting involved in the Kennedy assassination....no one was excited about that proposal, but he proposed it multiple times.
The point is, just because an idea comes from the creator of a story, doesn't mean its a good idea to film it.

 

[ford91exploder]

http://collider.com/george-lucas-lucasfilm-sale-charity/

Hmm, Yet another celebrity charity which will in the end give away nothing, Yet will provide an income stream to the celebrity and friends and family and a constant spot on the red carpet.

Unlike THIS guy, http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/9/8/chan-gift-public-health/ Or Bill and Melinda Gates and the Gates foundation which IS involved in substantive work.

I'd be more impressed if Lucas had endowed scholarships and chairs at universities who are trying to upgrade education.

 

[ford91exploder]

CEOs generally want to put out a good product. You'd be surprised at how many CEO's actually do something once they realize their product is inferior.

Many times though, they are insulated and fool themselves into thinking that "All is well."

It's how they justify their decisions. How they justify their big bonuses and stock options.

Iger doesn't visit time parks like you and I. It's front-of-the-line-access for Iger. A suite at a Deluxe Resort. Someone always making sure that a table is ready for him when he wants it. When Iger first was exposed to MagicBands, he wasn't handed the literature and told, "Go figure it out" like everyone else. He had a team hovering around him explaining the intricacies.

It's an ego thing.

It's tough not to develop an ego when you're CEO. With Wall Street always stroking his, Iger's ego is massive.

The truth is, most Disney products are good. However, Disney has problems at a few theme parks that have been festering for years.

Exactly our CEO is likely to materialize in the labs at 0300 when we are pulling an all nighter, and ask about how our development processes are working and what are the customer issues foremost in our minds, He's equally likely to be in the break room(s) anywhere in the world preparing his tea,

He's someone who believes in as Walt did and Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard made famous 'Management by Walking Around', It's amazing how well MBWA works when applied.

 

[sshindel]

Hmm, Yet another celebrity charity which will in the end give away nothing, Yet will provide an income stream to the celebrity and friends and family and a constant spot on the red carpet.

Unlike THIS guy, http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/9/8/chan-gift-public-health/ Or Bill and Melinda Gates and the Gates foundation which IS involved in substantive work.

I'd be more impressed if Lucas had endowed scholarships and chairs at universities who are trying to upgrade education.

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/20/local/me-usc20
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...-ariel-investments-chicago-laboratory-schools

Plus, the whole 4-5 BILLION DOLLARS donated to his nonprofit education foundation created in 1991.
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/h...e-education-fight-heavyweight-george-luc.html

Perhaps the most important thing to know about George Lucas and education is that he is deeply into this issue, and has been working it for twenty years. This is not another billionaire who is parachuting into the ed wars as a newbie. Lucas has strong passion, but also deep knowledge, a formidable combination when paired with $5 billion.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

In addition, let’s not forget that the infamous pass on Harry Potter occurred under Rasulo, one of the biggest blunders in the history of theme parks.

I'm not defending the way P&R has been run (into the ground) the past 15 years or so, but it us my understanding Potter to UO was not a matter of TWDC passing on Potter but rather JKR and WB passing on TWDC.

I believe the "official" narrative from insiders was Disney had presented her essentially a stand-alone "greatest hits" dark ride with no themed land, wanted to retain creative control and that JKR wasn't comfortable with possibly seeing Mickey/HP fusion merch, so she reached out to UO for a proposal.

UO promised her complete creative control and detailed, immersive lands to house the attractions.

The choice was obvious for her, and that's not even counting the financial component of the propsals (which as far as I know, aren't known).

You can fairly call Disney's alleged proposal lacking in scope or vision. To be honest, I wasn't sure the HP brand had achieved evergreen IP status enough to support more than a single attraction in the General population at the time, as well (and I say that as a fan of the franchise). I think few people truly knew tourists would line up to buy $30 resin sticks.

But to suggest Disney walked away and "passed" on Potter is not only unfair, it's incorrect.

 

[ford91exploder]

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/sep/20/local/me-usc20
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...-ariel-investments-chicago-laboratory-schools

Plus, the whole 4-5 BILLION DOLLARS donated to his nonprofit education foundation created in 1991.
http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/h...e-education-fight-heavyweight-george-luc.html

Thanks @sshindel, It looks like Lucas is doing more than I gave him credit for. I've just seen too many so called celebrity charities be nothing more than window dressing.

 

[flynnibus]

But to suggest Disney walked away and "passed" on Potter is not only unfair, it's incorrect.

No negotiation should be just one round. What people chide Disney for is 'letting JKR slip away'... because they did not fight to swing her back to Disney. "passed" as in, they passed on going further, fighting harder for the IP. They 'lost' and just went away. They gave a limp effort.. and in the end missed out because of it.

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm not defending the way P&R has been run (into the ground) the past 15 years or so, but it us my understanding Potter to UO was not a matter of TWDC passing on Potter but rather JKR and WB passing on TWDC.

I believe the "official" narrative from insiders was Disney had presented her essentially a stand-alone "greatest hits" dark ride with no themed land, wanted to retain creative control and that JKR wasn't comfortable with possibly seeing Mickey/HP fusion merch, so she reached out to UO for a proposal.

UO promised her complete creative control and detailed, immersive lands to house the attractions.

The choice was obvious for her, and that's not even counting the financial component of the propsals (which as far as I know, aren't known).

You can fairly call Disney's alleged proposal lacking in scope or vision. To be honest, I wasn't sure the HP brand had achieved evergreen IP status enough to support more than a single attraction in the General population at the time, as well (and I say that as a fan of the franchise). I think few people truly knew tourists would line up to buy $30 resin sticks.

But to suggest Disney walked away and "passed" on Potter is not only unfair, it's incorrect.

It is true that JKR passed on Disney, At the time the HP franchise was HOT and she wanted creative control for her creation, Disney basically had the C-team do the proposal and they fumbled it BIG TIME, Disney would have been better off had Tony Baxter or Joe Rohde do the proposal.