Jeffrey Katzenberg Forum

DVDs (Sat Feb 28, 2004 7:38pm ET) report post

by Hila If you rent ANY Disney DVD from the Katzenberg era (Beauty, Lion King, etc...) you will not see ONE REFERENCE to Jeffrey. It's like he was never at Disney. Like he never existed. If you read any book Disney produced in the last ten years, you will not find anything on him even though he was studio chief for TEN WHOLE YEARS and managed to make animation extremely profitable for them. (Roy Disney as well as Peter Schneider are hailed for bringing animation back. But not Katzenberg). This is so wrong...that's why I'm worrying about who will get control of this company?! Will they finally acknowledge JK?????? Comment on this...

If only.... (Fri Feb 27, 2004 2:43am ET) report post

by Jo M. If only: - Michael Eisner had not allowed his temper to get the best of him. - Communication lines had remained open. - Someone at Disney had kept a level head. - J. K. had had enough foresight to see that, in time, management would change (It always does eventually!!) - The stockholders and fans would not wait until until a crisis before taking a stand. If only, we would still have the genius of Jeffrey Katzenberg at the Walt Disney Company and perhaps today, Walt's Dream would still be strong in the heart of the man who was born to fill Walt's shoes. Would you reconsider, Jeffrey, if Michael was gone? Comment on this...

Re: If only.... (Sat Feb 28, 2004 7:01pm ET) report post by Hila U R so right. Also, the board of directors was mad at him (Katzenberg) because he wasn't "forming ties" with them. (read: kissing up). Actually, the board (especially Roy Disney) was VERY jealous of him. It's true. They felt he was stealing their thunder. Actually I read that Katzenberg IS, at least now, being considered as a replacement for Michael Eisner. Oh boy. That would be so cool, except he supposadly left all that behind when he started DreamWorks. Personally, I think he would do it, if offered the chance. Deep down I think his heart is still at Disney, no matter what he says about DreamWorks being different and all that. Maybe DreamWorks and Disney could merge and produce "DreamWorks" films, and "Disney" films alternatively. Then everyone would be happy! Jeffrey, come back to the "D-place"!! Also, in response to what Christopher said, (thanks for your nice words!) I think he is right as well. Pixar is quite different from Disney...if you look at their early short films there is a whole other paradigm that they follow...kind of witty and crazy...definetely not Disney. I also think it was a HUGE mistake to close down both the California studio but especially the Florida one...I LOVED Lilo and Stitch, and also, BTW, A Goofy Movie which was made completely at Florida. Actually, I saw parts of Shrek 2 and the humans look much, much better (but not TOO real). Especially Prince Charming and the King and Queen. These are quite interesting times we live in....who knows what will happen! Comment on this...

Jeffrey K is so cool!!! (Thu Oct 30, 2003 7:55pm ET) report post

by Hila I highly admire everything he has done. His work at Disney is breathtaking in itself, particularly the Lion King (which Disney won't even acknowlegdge he was a part of). I LOVE EVERY SINGLE FILM HE HAS DONE. All of them strike a chord with me particularly The Prince of Egypt and Beauty and the Beast. Oh right, and Shrek!! Is there anything this guy can't do?? Disney has been limping along ever since he left. His conceptions of place, character and plot are stunning. I think Katzenberg should get his own star on the walk of fame! There is no one of his caliber in Hollywood except maybe Spielberg. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to start DreamWorks especially when Disney is your competion. They should call it KSG!!! Jeff, you are the best!!!!!! Everyone I know loved Shrek and when I went to see Sinbad at my college everyone clapped at the end!!!! I know Shrek 2 will outgross Nemo!!!!!! (which wasn't even that good a film in my opinion) Comment on this...

Re: Jeffrey K is so cool!!! (Tue Feb 10, 2004 1:36am ET) report post by Christopher C. I like what Hila has to say about Mr. Katzenberg, and appreciate the references to his work at Disney. What a great perspective to imagine what a tough start Dreamworks must have been. I did like Finding Nemo very much, and just wanted to point out that it's not really a Disney movie. Pixar, John Lasseter's company, did that movie. My understanding is that Disney had the promotion/distribution duties, and for that expertise, they got more than 60% of the profits and top billing. It LOOKS Disney, but it isn't REALLY. In fact, it just underscores what Hila said about Disney limping ever since Mr. Katzenberg left. Disney is not producing good material on their own. Brother Bear, yes, but even then they just got rid of most of those artists. We'll see how they fare after closing down the Orlando animation studio and losing a lot of great talent. As for Shrek, I still find that movie to be a paradox. I love the story and the voice talent but have a very hard time with much of the character animation, especially the secondary characters (Princess Fiona looks like her neck vertebrae were fused after a car accident), and the "extras" (the stiff-armed angry villagers running with their torches like wooden jumping-jack toys). I still watch the movie with my kids, but it's like watching a high school musical. Almost there, but not quite. ;-) Comment on this...

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