Frankenweenie Leak Fall Out
Mouse House Angry After NCSA Student Reported on Leaked Burton Movie
Oct 9, 2007
All hell has apparently broken loose between the Mouse House and the North Carolina School of the Arts after a Q&A with Disney chairman Dick Cook turned loose lips into a major Internet rumour.
Cook Spills the Burton Beans
Cook recently visited NCSA's film program with a test version of Disney's upcoming live-action/animated hybrid Enchanted, which was reported on here. During a Q&A with students and staff after the screening, Cook hinted that the Mouse House was working on an upcoming project that "would be helmed by the creative mastermind behind the majority of stop-motion pictures in the last decade."
Unfortunately, Cook's movie-savvy audience was easily able to put two and two together, especially when the Dean of the program asked the Disney chairman, "This guy has never worked with (movie music composer) Danny Elfman before, has he?"
A student at NCSA not only posted an early review of Enchanted on Ain't It Cool News, but also reported on the rumour, spelling out that Disney was working with Corpse Bride director Tim Burton, who has used Elfman many times for movie soundtracks. AICN's staffers, acting on another tip from within the Mouse House, claimed that Burton was turning his 1984 short Frankenweenie into a full-length stop-motion movie.
Mouse House Cutting Off Ties With School of the Arts?
Now, according to The Movie Show, Disney is not only furious with AICN for spilling the beans online, but is also angry with NCSA for the actions of its students and staff.
"I have a friend who goes to the School of the Arts and apparently it's ruined the relationship with Disney," claims Kat, a former host, and guest, of the Movie Show. " I don't think they're going to be getting any more screenings from now on."
Kat continues by saying, "I think (Disney is) cutting off all ties with the School of the Arts. They're probably not going to be hiring any fourth-years anytime soon.
"It's possible that (the relationship between Disney and NCSA) could be salvageable," she concludes, "but it's not looking too good."
What Does This Mean?
Now, keep in mind that this is a rumour, unleashed by someone who heard it from a "friend" within the NCSA student body. Short of an official announcement from either Disney or NCSA, this is all speculation. That said, if Disney was planning on punishing NCSA, or even AICN, for being a part of this leak, they're not exactly about to announce that fact to all and sundry.
Disney, like every major studio, is aware of the power of the Internet, and knows that an unguarded statement can easily cross from one side of Cyberland to the other in a matter of hours. Given that many people have posted reviews of test screenings online, whether it's for Disney/Pixar or DreamWorks, Cook would know that someone in the NCSA audience would write up their impressions of Enchanted for the Internet.
Not only that, Cook would have to be aware that throwing out a hint like "the creative mastermind behind the majority of stop-motion pictures in the last decade" would be swiftly interpreted by an audience of film students and staff, and disseminated online.
Disney has no right to be angry at an NCSA student for posting this rumour online, or for AICN for reporting on the rumour. AICN reports on movie rumours; that's part of their raison d'etre. The Mouse House cannot be angry if their loose lips sink Tim Burton's ships.
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