They aren’t riveting, but they probably interest some of you, I know they do me, so here is a bunch of photos from Inside Pixar.
Having spent monday cruising around Santa Monica and Beverly Hills (shopping at the Apple store and literally being dragged to Hooters for lunch, a quintessential American experience apparently), we were well spent that evening. Nonetheless we had to get up early in the morning to catch our flight to San Francisco. Destination: Emeryville, Pixar.
Amazingly, everything went as planned. We touched down a little ahead of time in Oakland Airport (what a dump!), and the Taxi had us there even faster than we had expected. So we took a stroll around Emeryville downtown (what a dump!) before finally going in to meet up with Rasmus’ ‘insider’, Paul.
Though we weren’t allowed to come into the production facilities themselves, nor take photos in the gallery sections (under punishment of death!), it was of course very inspirational to be able to visit the most well-loved animation facility in the world (not to mention something of a ‘medal’ in geek and moviebuff circles).
So you’re left with photos of the lobby area and the surrounding ‘campus’ (which has a football field, volleyball, basket, a swimming pool and an amphitheater). Which is too bad, since I really wanted to take some photos of the Incredibles art exhibit (of which I liked all, but in particular the maquettes; but you can see most of it on the DVD or in the art book anyway).
Great day, good lunch (Pizza); oh and nice to see San Francisco being a lot nicer than LA ;)
Oh swoon. Perhaps the only company that I can rightly say could literally produce shit in a can and I’d preorder. This doesn’t mean that I don’t have grave concerns about how Cars will turn out, but they haven’t boofed one yet.
That’s also how I feel about Cars. It doesn’t look particularly interesting, but then they haven’t done a single thing which I haven’t absolutely adored.
I agree that Raxip’s new venture ‘Cars’ might be a little less interesting than previous films for us elderly folks, but shit in a can?
I think I’ll pass on the latter.
But Cars is written and directed by John Lasseter himself, so I can’t see it being a bad film.
The one I’m really worried about it Ratatouille, Pixar’s first sans-Disney project, which is written and directed by some people I’ve never heard of. Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to what they can pull off without Disney’s restraints, it’s just the writing and directing credits that worry me.
San Fran is the bomb! So much better than LA! Imo… :)
Ryan, you should give the not well-known people a chance. Just because they haven’t made a name for themselves means their not talented. Everyone starts somewhere, and if you look at director Jan Pinkava’s filmography closely you can see he worked on the very good short Geri’s Game (which won a Academy Award in ’97). Give him a chance!
Meanwhile, I’m still wating for that Episode III review you promised us Michael! We’re waiting!
Ryan, firstly, Incredibles was written and directed by someone from ‘outside’ also, Geri’s Game is fantastic!
I’m just wondering if Brad Bird’s people have left Pixar after the Incredibles or not…
I’m under the impression that Brad Bird and “his crew” would stay with pixar and work on future projects after the completion of the incredibles.
Can’t wait for the next great thing (to paraphrase Steve’s “other” company). I must admit, however, that my favorite pixar movies are actually the shorts. Especially “For the birds” and “Boundin’”.
Why yes, but Brad had done The Iron Giant as well, which was spectacular.
I’m not saying it’s going to suck, I’m just nervous about it. I suppose ‘worried’ may be a bit to harsh a word. I mostly meant it as a contrast to the confidence I feel about Cars being spectacular.
“Without Disney’s restraints” was exactly how I was thinking of it, but maybe we wont be so lucky.
These things change all the time (here and here), so I wouldn’t put my money anywhere just yet. But hopefully we’ll be rid of that fool Eisner soon and then perhaps Disney can get a rejuvenation and become the Disney it was supposed to have been.
Yeah, it has taken a turn towards suckage, that’s for sure.
Pixar looks like it pampers it’s employees :) Do you have any impression whether it’s just the “let’s spend $300.000 on our lobby to make it look hip and cool for our investor visits”-type or the “we truly feel our employees work their asses of and deserve some lovin’”-type?
I think it’s a combination of both. The lobby is both where the employee’s go to eat and hang out as well as the place where tourists (Rasmus and I) and important people are greeted; thus it should make an impression.
Ultimately it’s about building the idea of Pixar as more than a company. Growing the company culture so to speak.
Hmm well they certainly like there employee’s i guess that’s a good thing i now realise why so many leave to join them
Not exciting pictures, but I never knew what Pixar even looked like. Always imagined it being some kind of shack with a bunch of artists slaving away at computers in some dark room.
What I wouldn’t give to work in a place with an atmosphere like that. I used to think it didn’t matter, but plain cubes and sterile breakrooms and a general lack of light and color wear on you. I like they way they have an open atrium surrounded by the various cubbies for all the workers.