Ben Breedlove died on Christmas, but he left behind a message in a Youtube video that will touch your heart.
See this link:
Ben's Message
May God's love and comfort surround Ben's family at this time. My heart goes out to them for their loss.
Simply made but very effective, Ben got his message across well. Youtube is a handy medium for getting ideas and messages out to the world. I hope this video touches millions of people's lives in a unique and life changing way!
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Disney - "A Christmas Carol" Revisited
As Christmas approaches and bright lights are put up to bring cheer, I like to celebrate the season with one of my favorite films, Disney's "A Christmas Carol".
There are many reasons why this movie is one of my top favorites, and one of them is the promotion Disney put on before the movie was released.
In the summer of 2009, right before I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Video Production, Disney announced their "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour. When I saw this was coming to Denver and coming to Union Station, I was ecstatic!
Now, part of this excitement could be that my family is big into trains. My grandfather worked at Union Station and my father is a model train enthusiast. The love of those big iron beasts runs in my veins.
I couldn't wait to take my 11-year-old son and my mom to see this exhibit! A real train, all gussied up to present one of my favorite old time Christmas stories, what could be better?
It was a 90-degree day in Denver that June. My mom met me and my son at Union Station. We did not know what we were in for, but we were excited.
Arriving at the 100+-year-old train station is an adventure in itself. Walking into the train station for the first time in memory, I was a little daunted by the size of it and the history of it. The beautiful wooden benches, the big, airy rooms painted white, sunlight pouring in and causing rays to catch dust motes in the air. It was beautiful.
Guided to a ramp that led to the belly of the station, we joined close to fifty other people to wait in line. We didn't have to stand in line too long, as we had gotten there early. Directed through the station to the gravel of the train yard, the line wound its way to the behemoth outside.
Disney knows how to stage a production. Knowing their guests may be uncomfortable standing in line in the heat, they set up diversions to keep attention elsewhere and not on our discomfort.
The first thing I noticed, when we were close to the train, was the Christmas Carolers. I give them a lot of credit for being in full period costumes and singing beautifully to us as we waited. It was very nice!
As we drew closer to the artistically designed train, snow was coming off the front of it. I'm not sure how they did this, but it was a really neat special effect for the people in line. Snow in June is not too uncommon in Colorado, but when it is hot outside, that's another story!
Excitement built as each new and different thing was experienced on the way to the train. We caught glimpses of a structure they had put up near the train. I had no idea what it was for, but it was the next stop after the train. I was certain that is was going to be good, whatever it was!
Waiting, no matter how long, was worth it. Stepping into that gorgeous, wood paneled train was spectacular. Now, my grandfather and father both grew up around trains, but sad to say, I had never stepped a foot inside one before this day. And I wasn't disappointed. Immediately I knew why my dad and granddad loved these machines. It was BEAUTIFUL! Disney had done a splendid job of putting it together and it was impressive.
Beholding this train was a magical place. Disney makes magic, that is all I can say! I absolutely love the production value they put forth in everything they do! This train was Disney magic come to life! Every section of the train was mesmerizing. Being a video student, maybe I was more interested in the displays than most, but regardless, they know how to put on a show!!
The first train car held the actual costumes worn by the characters. I was touching one of the gowns worn by Jim Carrey when I saw the sign that said "don't touch". I was embarrassed, but no one seemed to have noticed! (what a relief!)
Next came the cases of characters and models intricately built for the movie set.
Every piece had fine detail and outstanding quality.
Then we went to the video room. Every train car had flat screen monitors hooked up and portraying different interviews with the writer and director, Robert Zemekis, and the cast of the film. But this room was different. It had flat screens over the walls and ceilings. It was spectacular! Each flat screen monitor was showing a different aspect of the creation of the film.
The area after this one was a place to take our pictures. Each little cubicle had a camera and a monitor in it. You could take your picture then they would transform the picture into a character from the movie. It was hilarious. Disney was generous to offer exclusive free prints of the pictures to be picked up at Walmart. So, my mom, son and I made our pictures. They came out very fun and funny!
Next was the presentation of how they made up the actors with technology to make the 3D movie. They had lifelike displays with models in the suits the actors wore while filming the animation scenes. It was very informative on how they put down the grids and use HD cameras attached to the actors in order to have the data transferred to the computer for the conversion to graphics. Very interesting and mind blowing! I would LOVE to work on a 3D movie! What fun and interesting things!
Last, they had a living room with a fireplace as a setting of an old fashioned Christmas. The smell of pine and cinnamon was wafting around the room and it was very nice. An abrupt change to the bright, hot sunshine when we stepped out of the room to outside of the train.
The next and last surprise awaited us a short distance away. We were guided to a temporary structure set up like a carnival tent with walls. As we approached, they were handing out glasses. Now, I had not seen a new, digital 3D movie prior to this one. The last 3D movie I had seen was one of the "Spy Kids" movies, which I had seen with my son in the years past.
The glasses they handed us were like ultra "cool" sunglasses. They were not like the ones we see in the theaters now. These were the top of the line, premium 3D glasses!
In we went, to almost pitch black. I stumbled a little bit to get my bearing, as we went in to a make-shift theater. Folding chairs were set up in front of a big screen, one the size of a normal theater! I was really getting excited about this part of the presentation!
Then, we were transported to a magical place. Virtual snow was coming at us and the movie began. What a treat! It was wonderful! I had not seen a 3D movie in that clarity or in so much actual 3D! I don't think we saw too much of the movie, but enough to make me want to go see it in the theater! I was very pleased with the presentation and was sad when it was over.
On our way out, they handed us promotional materials which contained punch out snowflakes with the movie memorabilia printed on them.
Going to see Disney's "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour is one of my fondest memories! An excellent production put together well, and presented with fun and love. Who could ask for more?
Watch this video if you'd like to see it for yourself!
The Business Side of the "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour.
Unfortunately, Disney lost money on the production of "A Christmas Carol". The budget of $200 million wasn't recovered from the box office's intake of $137 million. Mark Zoradi stepped down from Disney after the movie did not make its return on investment (ROI). Mr. Zoradi was the "president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group and the head of worldwide marketing for all Disney, Pixar, Touchstone and Disneynature movies".
There are many reasons why this movie is one of my top favorites, and one of them is the promotion Disney put on before the movie was released.
In the summer of 2009, right before I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Video Production, Disney announced their "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour. When I saw this was coming to Denver and coming to Union Station, I was ecstatic!
Now, part of this excitement could be that my family is big into trains. My grandfather worked at Union Station and my father is a model train enthusiast. The love of those big iron beasts runs in my veins.
I couldn't wait to take my 11-year-old son and my mom to see this exhibit! A real train, all gussied up to present one of my favorite old time Christmas stories, what could be better?
It was a 90-degree day in Denver that June. My mom met me and my son at Union Station. We did not know what we were in for, but we were excited.
Arriving at the 100+-year-old train station is an adventure in itself. Walking into the train station for the first time in memory, I was a little daunted by the size of it and the history of it. The beautiful wooden benches, the big, airy rooms painted white, sunlight pouring in and causing rays to catch dust motes in the air. It was beautiful.
Guided to a ramp that led to the belly of the station, we joined close to fifty other people to wait in line. We didn't have to stand in line too long, as we had gotten there early. Directed through the station to the gravel of the train yard, the line wound its way to the behemoth outside.
Disney knows how to stage a production. Knowing their guests may be uncomfortable standing in line in the heat, they set up diversions to keep attention elsewhere and not on our discomfort.
The first thing I noticed, when we were close to the train, was the Christmas Carolers. I give them a lot of credit for being in full period costumes and singing beautifully to us as we waited. It was very nice!
As we drew closer to the artistically designed train, snow was coming off the front of it. I'm not sure how they did this, but it was a really neat special effect for the people in line. Snow in June is not too uncommon in Colorado, but when it is hot outside, that's another story!
Excitement built as each new and different thing was experienced on the way to the train. We caught glimpses of a structure they had put up near the train. I had no idea what it was for, but it was the next stop after the train. I was certain that is was going to be good, whatever it was!
Waiting, no matter how long, was worth it. Stepping into that gorgeous, wood paneled train was spectacular. Now, my grandfather and father both grew up around trains, but sad to say, I had never stepped a foot inside one before this day. And I wasn't disappointed. Immediately I knew why my dad and granddad loved these machines. It was BEAUTIFUL! Disney had done a splendid job of putting it together and it was impressive.
Beholding this train was a magical place. Disney makes magic, that is all I can say! I absolutely love the production value they put forth in everything they do! This train was Disney magic come to life! Every section of the train was mesmerizing. Being a video student, maybe I was more interested in the displays than most, but regardless, they know how to put on a show!!
The first train car held the actual costumes worn by the characters. I was touching one of the gowns worn by Jim Carrey when I saw the sign that said "don't touch". I was embarrassed, but no one seemed to have noticed! (what a relief!)
Next came the cases of characters and models intricately built for the movie set.
Every piece had fine detail and outstanding quality.
Then we went to the video room. Every train car had flat screen monitors hooked up and portraying different interviews with the writer and director, Robert Zemekis, and the cast of the film. But this room was different. It had flat screens over the walls and ceilings. It was spectacular! Each flat screen monitor was showing a different aspect of the creation of the film.
The area after this one was a place to take our pictures. Each little cubicle had a camera and a monitor in it. You could take your picture then they would transform the picture into a character from the movie. It was hilarious. Disney was generous to offer exclusive free prints of the pictures to be picked up at Walmart. So, my mom, son and I made our pictures. They came out very fun and funny!
Next was the presentation of how they made up the actors with technology to make the 3D movie. They had lifelike displays with models in the suits the actors wore while filming the animation scenes. It was very informative on how they put down the grids and use HD cameras attached to the actors in order to have the data transferred to the computer for the conversion to graphics. Very interesting and mind blowing! I would LOVE to work on a 3D movie! What fun and interesting things!
Last, they had a living room with a fireplace as a setting of an old fashioned Christmas. The smell of pine and cinnamon was wafting around the room and it was very nice. An abrupt change to the bright, hot sunshine when we stepped out of the room to outside of the train.
The next and last surprise awaited us a short distance away. We were guided to a temporary structure set up like a carnival tent with walls. As we approached, they were handing out glasses. Now, I had not seen a new, digital 3D movie prior to this one. The last 3D movie I had seen was one of the "Spy Kids" movies, which I had seen with my son in the years past.
The glasses they handed us were like ultra "cool" sunglasses. They were not like the ones we see in the theaters now. These were the top of the line, premium 3D glasses!
In we went, to almost pitch black. I stumbled a little bit to get my bearing, as we went in to a make-shift theater. Folding chairs were set up in front of a big screen, one the size of a normal theater! I was really getting excited about this part of the presentation!
Then, we were transported to a magical place. Virtual snow was coming at us and the movie began. What a treat! It was wonderful! I had not seen a 3D movie in that clarity or in so much actual 3D! I don't think we saw too much of the movie, but enough to make me want to go see it in the theater! I was very pleased with the presentation and was sad when it was over.
On our way out, they handed us promotional materials which contained punch out snowflakes with the movie memorabilia printed on them.
Going to see Disney's "A Christmas Carol" Train Tour is one of my fondest memories! An excellent production put together well, and presented with fun and love. Who could ask for more?
Watch this video if you'd like to see it for yourself!
Unfortunately, Disney lost money on the production of "A Christmas Carol". The budget of $200 million wasn't recovered from the box office's intake of $137 million. Mark Zoradi stepped down from Disney after the movie did not make its return on investment (ROI). Mr. Zoradi was the "president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group and the head of worldwide marketing for all Disney, Pixar, Touchstone and Disneynature movies".
I find that to be the saddest news associated with this movie. Although it didn't receive critic acclaim, as the critics were split on the appeal of the movie, pretty much 50/50, I still think this movie was wonderful. I fall into the camp that loved the movie. I wish more people would have seen the magic that I see in it. Maybe they missed the train tour which helped build the presence of the movie. If that is the case, then the train tour was effective in its right.
Aside from budget issues, this movie incorporated a level of team work from the actors which no ordinary movie would involve. The actors had to act in a warehouse with floors covered with a visual grid on the floor, and wearing black suits (that look wet suits). This would have been challenging by itself. But to have to imagine the setting of the scene without any props or visual cues, would be very hard. They were in an empty room without any visual cue other than the actor they were working with. This, to me, speaks of a high level of team work and imagination.
As far as planning and promotion, Disney started a new way to promote a movie. The train tour has been compared to the old train tours used by Abraham Lincoln when he was running for president. USA Today wrote an informative article about how Disney had a harder time promoting the train tour, as media is now geared to niche markets. They wanted to do a "grassroots campaign" to try to reach a bigger audience. Feeling the movie's groundbreaking technology needed a promotion that would be a special as the movie itself, Disney set up the train tour.
Though the movie wasn't deemed a success by the standards of the movie business, those of us who were enchanted by Disney's magic in the train tour and the movie, will always remember the event. There is no price associated with a good memory. I think it is priceless!
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