I was just wondering if I was the only one who did.
And for those who noticed, yes, I changed my avatar.
So to martini833, I now have had my picture taken with 3 PIXAR directors (John Lasseter, Brad Bird, and Lee Unkrich).
Now if I could just meet Andrew Stanton and call him a ‘supa-genius.’
Wow, you’re so lucky, uruseiranma! What was the charity screening like? Did they give any special little gifts out, or did anyone give a speech at the beginning? It must’ve been amazing.
Well, thanks to Pixarplanet, I heard about the screening right when it was first announced. There was either the $50 movie-only passes, or the $150 VIP passes, which got you brunch and the chance to meet Lee Unkrich and some of the cast. I asked a co-worker and he was like, ‘you really want to ONLY see the movie?’
So naturally, I went for the $150 ticket. Bought it as soon as I could. I also wanted to go in style, so referencing the ‘3’ shirt that the crew were wearing, I made a ‘3’ in Photoshop, and got a local shirt place to put it on (though my ‘3’ is much larger than the crew shirts).
Saturday morning was pretty natural. However, getting within maybe 100 yards of the theater, I started getting that same giddy vibe when I slowly approach the entrance to Disneyland. It was like the kid in me was just eager to be let out.
There was a reception in the bar area. I first got to meet Lee and let him know how ‘Toy Story 2’ was my favorite PIXAR film, and he signed my Blu-Ray and posed for a photo.
They also had a special green-screen photo opportunity to have your picture taken on a motion badge- they photograph you in one pose and then another, and then use that motion-thingy to make you look animated (I’ll have to see about posting photos somehow).
After that, I had a small meal, when I noticed Bonnie Hunt nearby, and a certain producer who was named after a ‘fish-killer.’ I did the slackjawed look to her and she took notice, and that’s when I stammered out: ‘Are you Darla Anderson?’ She affirmed it, and I made mention how when I covered the CARS premiere in Charlotte, NC for Jimhillmedia.com, I had passed her going down a stairwell, and asked the guy behind her, ‘was that Darla Anderson?’ So, 4 years later, there I was shaking hands, geeking out, and getting a photo with her. I wanted to say ‘Hi’ to Bonnie Hunt, but she soon after got mobbed when she left the reserved area. I had thought maybe she would show up (being a native of Chicago), but I cursed myself for not bringing my CARS Blu-Ray.
Joan Cusack was also there, and she was pleased to know that Jessie is still my favorite female character. She was even more surprised to find I worked at the same company as her husband. She told him, and even he was surprised (he said he’ll swing by my desk on Monday…and he’ll probably be shocked to see my PIXAR calendar and my display of Mattel die-cast Cars).
Also ran into Jeff Garlin who is also in TS3. When I presented him my copy of Wall-E I had brought, he joyfully signed it and posed for a photo.
I also ran into a couple other PIXAR people: an editor and a post-production worker. The editor I spoke with the most, and she explained she had come into PIXAR as an editor on Monsters, Inc, but was glad to have worked on TS3. It was because of the first TS that she wanted to work at PIXAR.
All of us who attended had to sign a nondisclosure paper, and at the request of Lee and the filmmakers, requested that we not spoil what we saw. Lee did say that one thing they do in the Emeryville area, is show their new films to some of the children’s hospitals, to those kids who can’t get to see it in theaters (much like the one little girl who wanted to see Up before she passed away, and got her wish). Lee did say that for those at Comer’s, those who can’t make it to theaters to see TS3 will get the chance to see it at the hospital.
The film supposedly was playing in two separate auditoriums, and Lee let us know that on 5/15/10, we were the first audience in the entire world to see TS3 in it’s 100% completed state (though not in 3D, but I didn’t really care about that). There was also a small video of what the Comer Children’s Hospital does in Chicago, and we also got a little verbal intro from Joan Cusack, Bonnie Hunt, and Jeff Garlin. Garlin delivered the final funny kicker when Lee asked that we not reveal the plot online: “That goes for you kids out there. You 3-5 year olds…we know you’re the anonymous people on the messageboards.”
After the screening we got some goody bags, with some TS3 items, including a poster, wind-up toy, keychain, and a Buzz Lightyear inflatable raft (don’t know if I’ll ever use it), as well as some other things.
At the very end, Lee did take some questions, and I did ask him one. I really ‘geeked’ and asked him how he and the Brain Trust at PIXAR decided that he would helm TS3 by himself, given that most of the previous films he’s been a co-director, and they’ only had one director on a film for a couple occasions. Lee said that after they had talked about finally making TS3, John Lasseter took him aside and said he wanted him (Lee) to direct it. I also thanked Lee for doing a great job on the film.
Another guy did the same, but mentioned that he was 10 when he saw the first Toy Story, and thanked Lee for the job he did as well.
I think Lee is still unsure what the final response will be, but I can say in truth that he doesn’t let his colleagues down, and I’m sure that the fans around the world really will embrace this film in a big way. I laughed, I cried, and repeated and rinsed. Afterwards in the lobby, I joined in on a little conversation he was having with some other people who had seen the film, and just wanted to again chime in (since I can’t discuss much of what I saw until a month’s time).[/img]
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Lucky! Though, I’m not sure whether I would want to see it ahead of time of not, but meeting the people behind Pixar was definately a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It also must feel good to say you were one of the first people to see Toy Story 3.
Yes…the bad news is there are some things I want to talk about, but can’t. And the last thing I want is to be blacklisted.
Apply for a job one day and receive a response back saying, ‘due to your breaking the non-disclosure agreement, we are unable to accept your application.’ I would not want to be blacklisted by PIXAR.
Though this wasn’t the first time I’ve gotten close to PIXAR people:
October 2004: Supervised a month early screening of The Incredibles in a Illibois suburb with Brad Bird in attendance. Met the producer and one of the film’s editors.
May 2006: Covered the world premiere of CARS for jimhillmedia.com.
You certainly met a lot of Pixarians, uruseiranma! Thanks for recounting the experience, it sounds like it was amazing. But yes, it must be frustrating not to be able to talk about it much yet. Not long to go now, at least!
I know it’s a dumb question, but in your eyes, did this movie live up to its legendary name? I’m trying to word this without violating that promise you made.
And what poster did you get? Was it the ‘Great Escape’ one?
This will probably be considered one of the best ‘3’ pictures ever made. You grow weary after being burned by "Shrek 3,’ ‘Spiderman 3,’ ‘POTC:AWE,’ but this actually shows there was care and story to spare. Plus, it does get intense at times.
The poster we got was actually the toys all jumbled around the big ‘3.’
Possibly better than The Last Crusade? Because that’s my fave 3rd-in-a-trilogy film and fave Indy movie. :3
You’re a lucky man; I’d seriously be too nervous around a bunch of awesome people all at once.
I probably wouldn’t be able to say better/worse than ‘Last Crusade.’ I’m not that high on my horse to give that opinion.
Though naturally, a couple days later, there are questions I realize I could have asked but didn’t.
There’s one question I asked Darla Anderson about, that I’d love to know the answer to. In almost every other interview, John Lasseter mentions that PIXAR is about ‘the story,’ something that showbiz people just can’t fathom. They would rather talk about the voices or how cool the computer graphics are. I have wondered, 'has John ever wanted to just beat into these people like, “I’ve been saying it for years! It’s story darnit, STORY THAT MATTERS!”