Disney Internship: Mad Hatters Tea Cups

Posted on by Thor

With the third animation assignment finished for the Disney Feature Animation Internship, I decided to spend the day at Walt Disney World sketching. This was the third sketch for the day.

Of course the challenge with this sketch is that those tea cups just keep spinning, making it a challenge to sketch any detail.

As I recall that darn door mouse kept popping up and down out of the tea pot as well. Despite that challenges of sketching in a park setting, it felt good to just sketch from life rather than getting Disney characters to move.

COVID Dystopia is Heading to Iowa

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My short film, COVID Dystopia, is an official selection at the Iowa Independent Film Festival in Mason City, Iowa. When looking up the city on Google, the first image I saw was of a grain silo. How cool would it be to project COVID Dystopia on the side of a grain silo? That dream might not happen since Mason City does have a Community Theater. The city even have an airport but I have to figure out if an airline from Orlando flies there.The airport might only be for crop dusters.

The Film Festival ruins from September 5-7, 2024. I have to figure out what day my film is screening. This film festival has been running for 17 years so they must know what they are doing. Now you might be saying to yourself that Mason City in Iowa is in the middle of nowhere. If by nowhere, you mean America then you are absolutely correct. The primary reason I submitted to the Iowa International Film Festival is that Chris P. Chicken is one of their board members. I had a chuckle when I saw his pointy beaked expression and knew I needed to show my film there.

The meandering Winnebago River winds right through Mason City, which is the River City referred to in The Music Man, the hit 1957  by Meredith Wilson.

The Music Man Square is right next door to the Community Theater and has an indoor recreation of the 1912 main street featured in the musical. It has an ice cream parlor and a gift shop. The gift shop even  had a Trouble themed face mask. It is cloth rather than an N-95 so I will pass on picking one up. But clearly the folks of Mason have a sense of humor. I plan to take a sketch selfie at the entrance to the River City High School!  A large Victorian home on the property is the boyhood home of Meredith Wilson who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the Music Man. The home is gorgeous and another great sketch opportunity.

I envision COVID Dystopia sweeping into River City just like Henry Hill and trying to save the quite hamlet from the denial, indifference and gas lighting that has caused them to press the reality of the past 4 years into the back of their minds, about a virus that has caused, and continues to cause, a whole lotta trouble, trouble, trouble. All those innocent boys and girls who got their flutes, trumpets and trombones in 1912 would come to face a whole lot more trouble when WWI rolled around, along with the Spanish Flu epidemic which would kill more Americans than the battle front. There was far more denial in those days about the death toll since a country at war does not want to appear weak. A politicians only way to look strong in the face of a pandemic is to peel off their mask and insist you do the same.

 

Disney Internship: Going to Epcot

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I went with a group of the Disney Feature Animation Interns to Epcot. I explored a bit with the group but eventually branched off to sketch.This is a sketch of the Sensory Fun House with its audio and interactive screens. I sketched this since I knew people would sit still for a moment while they watched the screen or listened.

In the evening, all the Feature Animation Interns got together in my apartment for dinner. I put the pen down for once and relaxed. When we are in the studio all our heads are down focuses on the animation disk. This was a rare moment to get to know everyone. Everyone seemed younger than me and for many this was their first job after college. I thought the Disney animation gig would be short lived, but these people became my family and I ended up staying at Feature Animation for 10 years until the bottom fell out because computer animation had swept its way onto the stage.

Looking back, these were some of the best of times, even if they are only preserved with a few pen scratches on a page.

Disney Internship: Disney University

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As an intern for Disney Feature Animation we all had to go to Disney University for what was called “Traditions.” This was a seminar on how to interact with guests.

As animation interns we never interacted with guests since we spent every waking hour at our Disney animation desks cranking out drawings.

My favorite story from this seminar was from a character actor who was assigned to play Winnie the Poo. The costume is massive and limits visibility and movement. On one occasion he was on his own and a group of high school boys surrounded him and lifted him up and threw him head first into a bush. From that moment I realized it would be much safer to draw the characters rather than play them in the theme parks.

On lunch breaks I sometimes went into the parks to sketch but no one would know that I worked backstage. I never interacted with a guest as a Disney staff member.

Dog Agility Competition of Florida

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The Dog Agility Competition of Florida was held at the Silver Spurs Arena. I have never been to the Silver Spurs Arena before so I was excited to go. The problem was that these Dog owners start super early. I got up at 6am to get to the Arena by 7am.

The 1/2 hour drive was actually pretty simply, cutting south through the Orlando International Airport access roads and then some side roads.

Parking was free and so was the event so it was a win win situation. The arena was insanely cold. I need to remember to always bring a sweat shirt along with my N-95 mask to any Florida venue.

When I arrived the handlers were walking the course as a packed group. Some took it seriously holding up their hand as if leading their imaginary dog while others were clearly sleep walking. Then everyone stood at attention for the National Anthem. The singer flubbed the lyrics but the spirit of the song was still there.

I must say this was a highly entertaining event to sketch. Some dags were absolute champions at running the course. They just needed a little guidance to know which obstetrical to tackle next. Some dogs barked the whole way as they ran the course. Others took their time delicately prancing and  making sure they performed their best. Some seemed like they were arguing with their handler when asked to repeat a challenge that they had flubbed. The vertical yellow and blue sticks challenged quite a few dogs. They had to slalom left and right through each. There were so many sounds and distractions that could make a dog loose focus.

One dog ran up to the entrance of one of the tunnels and immediately popped a squat. The handler quickly scooped it up but the judges and referees gathered in a circle to have a conference about how the situation should be handled. Several bottles of solution and more scrubbing allowed the course to once again open. I kept hearing “dove” being announced over the sound system. I finally decided the announcer must have been saying “dog” but I am still not sure.

One little girl who was maybe 10 years old was clearly having her dog try the course for the first time. The dog missed most of the obstacles but by the end of the course he was improving. I was also touched by a woman who was in an electric wheel chair guiding her dog around the course. The dog slowed his gait a bit so she could keep up but they both made it through the course like champions. One Border Collie ran the course absolutely flawlessly. I stopped sketching and watched that performance in amazement. I am sure others ran the course perfectly as well but that Border Collie demanded attention, It was a streak of pure energy.

Behind me a dog barked with an ear splitting shriek that reminded me of Donkey, a sweet monster of a dog that I used to know. She was just excited, dogs were barking everywhere and there was competitive excitement in the air. Periodically a member of one of the teams would walk down in my section to shoot video of a particular dogs run. At one point a dog slipped down the steps beside me with the leash dragging behind her. A woman grabbed the leash and shouted out, “Is someone missing a dog?!” The handler was a few rows away and thankful to be reunited.

After my sketch was complete I slipped outside to warn up again. There were so many other sketch opportunities since dogs were camped out all over the arena. I saw an adorable corgi in his owners lap, I debated about stopping, but I was freezing.  I hope to return someday and do a series of close up sketches of handlers holding their dogs.

What is my next obstetrical? How high should I jump?

Orlando Science Center: Ocean 2

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I was asked to do a second original sketch of the Life Exhibit install at the Orlando Science Center I returned to the Ocean. Part of me hoped that all the fish would be in their new home by now, but I had no such luck. The lone hammerhead shark was still circling the tank alone.

The first time I sketched the lights were off in the exhibit space. so I got a much darker sketch. This time sunlight was streaming into the room through the floor to ceiling glass panels behind me.

It is fun so see how similar and yet how different the two sketches are. The compositions are similar but I made so many new choices given a second chance to sketch the subject. I like aspects of each.

I honestly didn’t see another soul as I completed this sketch. I usually hope to catch a spectator and include them in the sketch but I had no such luck on this day. I am sure this will be a spectacular sight once all the fish are swimming about. As isolated as the scene is, I still remained masked. I never know if a venue is using a HEPA air filtration system or if their air is just recirculated. The mask is my new normal, but I am more likely to venture to venues that advertise clean air practices. If you know of Orlando venues that promote clean air, please let me know.

Life at the Orlando Science Center

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The Orlando Science Center recently completed a huge installation called Life. The exhibits cost 13.5 million and was paid for by private donors along with $10 million from Orange County from Tourist Development Tax dollars.

I was asked to come in and sketch in the final days of construction. I started with the Swamp. The body of water and the huge cypress tree trunk at the base of the stairwells was already there but other animals were added along with the baby alligators and turtles. The gators spend much of their time sunning themselves under the heat lamps.

Life is the largest and most complex exhibit the Science Center has ever built. The exhibit teaches the story of the planet through the animals that call it home. The exhibit focuses on three distinct environments, the Swamp, the Rainforest and the Ocean.

A habitrail was set up in the ceiling of the Swamp which will allow squirrels to scamper above guests heads. The squirrels had just been introduced to their new home and were too shy to venture out while I was there sketching. A small owl watched me warily the whole time I sketched. Since the exhibit wasn’t yet open, I felt quite at peace working away on the sketches. I could hear crowds of screaming children running up the stairs of the museum but from where I was it was quite peaceful. I wondered what the owl though of all the screams.

Key West: Ghosts and Gravestones Tour

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At the end of Duval Street in Key West there is this Ghost and Gravestones Bus Tour that we all decided to take. Bartender Joe was our guide for the evening.

Though not on the bus, Robert the Doll was  another star of the tour. Robert is a creepy German made doll in a sailors suit who is on display in a museum. Robert is rumored to move things in the family home he resided in. If something was out of place, “Robert did it.”

We saw Robert on display in a pristine glass museum case. A flashlight was placed on top of the case to illuminate the doll. As the docent spoke the flashlight flickered and went out. Was this a paranormal occurrence or a faulty battery?

Of particular interest were the graves of babies that line Passover and Windsor streets. 167 babies are buried there. Many of the graves are over 100 years old with the families long gone. In the past couples would have many babies in the hope that some might survive and live into adulthood to help the family thrive. Many children died in their first year due to disease. A former Key West mom was returning to the island and wanted to visit her child’s grave. When she saw the sad run down state of the cemetery, she decided to restore not just her babies grave but all 167 the graves at the site.

We also stopped by the African Cemetery at Higgs Beach. Three illegal slave ships were intercepted in 1860 and diverted to Key West. Residents worked to feed and shelter the 1500 Africans. Despite the efforts hundreds died and were buried in a mass grave at Higgs Beach. Many of the bodies were moved when construction began on Fort Martello. There is paranormal activity reported in the area regularly.

Key West: The Strand

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My friend wanted to entertain her niece so we took a trip down to Key West. Ironically I spent much of the time teaching virtual classes from the Air B&B we rented while they explored the island. I have been to key West before so I know many of the typical sites. I did get out in the evenings and they wanted to hit up a posh restaurant on Duval Street which thankfully had outdoor seating.

The main drag of shops were constantly crowded. It was like navigating busy Manhattan sidewalks. My friend and her niece have both had COVID and they are over it. They dropped all basic mitigations. At first I tried regulating my breathing but then I put on my N-95 mask and forgot about it. I might be the only person on the island in a mask, but that is fine with me.

The Strand Theater is gorgeous, but unfortunately it has been turned into a Walgreens. Entertainment venues might come and go, but people always need drugs.

Next to the Strand is a bar with tons of dollar bills hanging from the ceiling. Stickers covered every other surface. I didn’t try and sketch all that detail.

We ate at La Tratoria, a posh Italian Restaurant. They have flavored martinis, zuppa, antipasti, insalate, and of course lotsa pasta.

After diner, we walked to the west site of the island to watch the sunset with the rest of the crowd. Once the sun set, a bell was rung.

Memorial Day

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On Memorial Day a friend and I got away to the beach. I kind of miss beach days. Granted I spend most of the time under an umbrella with my legs covered with a towel. I am like a vampire, if the sun hit my skin it instantly burns. My friend can lay in the sun all day and not be effected in the least.

The couple to the left clearly did not wear sun screen. After several hours the guy was as red as a lobster. He was clearly a tourist and had no idea how strong the Florida sun is.

Being in the middle of the state of Florida, a drive to the beach is an hour in either direction. That drive is often enough of a hindrance to keep me from taking the trip.

The sound of the waves breaking on the shore is relaxing, but I never manage to relax. I always feel the need to sketch.

I am just noticing now that the book in this sketch looks like it is floating. I should have found a way to sketch in the far hand holding the book.