Kicking off with a lesson in being adaptable – the very first insight Dave shared is that The Emperor’s New Groove started out as an entirely different film – an epic adventure called Kingdom in the Sun. It changed. A lot.
A deep respect for the legendary Chuck Jones, a complete shift in tone, and a willingness to collaborate, cut and readjust allowed Dave and director Mark Dindal to do with this film at Disney what Disney was not doing at that time. The resulting film plays as well now as it did then.
Backing up his pitch ideas with speedily crafted scenes and spinach puffs – Dave’s recollections remind us that the funny is embedded in character – and that no joke will beat the truth for getting laughs that last. Hearing him discussing the devices used and why, deftly responding to studio notes, and adapting, reveals how excellence thrives when egos take a back seat to creative collaboration.
Dave’s knowledge of animated film-making and story craft gave us great insights into the light, shade, truth, surprises and consistent character-driven comedy that will be remembered, rediscovered and revered for the longevity of the laughs. It’s no wonder adults take animated movies seriously sans the kid excuse. That wasn’t always the case – Dave and his collaborators are some of the people who changed that, with playful, truthful, delightfully fresh storytelling, and funny that stands the test of time.
Having only just completed the first draft of my first animation script during the COVID lockdown, this session is precisely what I needed before I dive into a rewrite. This script to screen was invaluable, bags of fun and perfectly timed. I recommend downloading the script to read along with a re-watch of the film before diving into this session to maximise the fun and the learning value.
There’s a lesson in grace, professionalism and killing your darlings in Dave’s anecdote about some fabulous Adam West scenes that were written, voiced, and cut. He gives essential tips in the post-screening chat about writing alts that are absolutely not to be missed, including:
“Here’s the key to writing alts: be ready to lose ‘em, change ‘em and write many of them.”
Delegates, if you missed this one live, dive in now.
Trish Curtin is a Screenwriter, Script Editor and Content Developer from Brisbane, Australia.
