Life is hard. Just speaking in general terms, the daily grind of modern life takes a toll on the human mind, body and spirit. Granted, we’ve done all this to ourselves, but still the drive to survive and succeed in life is a daunting endeavor. Now, consider you’re not “normal” by society’s standards? Consider the playing field is not level in your life, but rather has been shifted and upended to resemble something like a cruelly insane funhouse ride. Consider what it would be like to have an undiagnosed syndrome that, amongst other things, causes your body to look so abnormally different from everyone else as to be labeled a freak? How do you feel, right now?
A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY is a new documentary from director Sara Bordo that made waves and garnered immense support when it played at the SXSW Film Festival. As the title suggests, this is the story of Lizzie Velasquez, a young woman born with an unexpected, undiagnosed condition that has taken an enormous toll on her body and appearance. Lizzie endured incredible hardships growing up, awkward questions and unpleasant stares from other kids, from strangers on the street, as well as the often-inhuman cruelty that is dealt out in high school. All of this and more, yet Lizzie remains perhaps one of the most amazing, positive and compassionate human beings you’ll ever hope to have a chance to meet.
What is it that makes Lizzie tick? There is a strength we witness in watching A BRAVE HEART that shines like a beacon through all the ugliness and negativity we see in the world. Lizzie is the very best of human nature with pretty much all of the nasty crap cut out. She is just a good, honest, real, sincere, likable person. What Bordo does with the film is to unveil a portrait of what we all can be, what we all should strive to be, but rarely excel to become.
A BRAVE HEART introduces us to Lizzie, intentionally allowing us to dwell on her appearance at first, allowing us to run through our natural human emotions. Bordo allows us to get all the inevitable societal bullsh*t out of our systems before we delve into the heart of Lizzie’s story. We learn a little of her history, we hear the expected stories of growing up as a child that’s different, but the really cool thing that Bordo does is to spend far more time and focus on the positive experiences Lizzie has had growing up. She made friends, participated in extracurricular activities, including cheerleading, and was generally liked by her peers. It seemed, for a while, Lizzie had defeated the grotesque elephant in the room without even having to put up much of a fight… then social media happened.
I am as much a user and supporter of the Internet and social media as the next modern member of society, so I’m not saying it’s inherently bad. However, after seeing A BRAVE HEART, I am much more critical of how some people choose to use this amazing technology and how little use they choose to give their own lives in this world. Lizzie unwittingly discovers that someone has posted a short video clip of her on Youtube with the simple, straightforward title “The Ugliest Woman in the World.” This sup-standard human specimen – one which some would refer to as a “troll” (no, not the kind that lives under a bridge, that I am aware) – has garnered a small level of anonymous cyber-fame by way of shamelessly bullying another human being.
Within what surely seemed like microseconds, Lizzie’s world fell apart. The terribly, vile things being said about her on the Internet by people who do not know her or have ever even met her, going viral and spiraling endlessly into a 7-figure view count, this all came down on Lizzie like ten tons of lead bricks. For most of us, we’d crumble in the wake of the emotional weight, have a nervous breakdown or disappear and isolate ourselves from society altogether. But for Lizzle, this absolutely incredible young woman, it ends up being the key to shedding her inhibitions and triggers her true self to emerge and take control of her life.
Lizzie fights back. Not fire with fire. Not with violence and vengeance. Not with hatred, but with courage and compassion in the face of ignorant malevolence. Instead of hiding or making excuses or succumbing to the ridicule in some other way, Lizzie stands up tall and proud, faces her demons eye to eye – or as much as she can when those demons hide behind the anonymity of the Internet – and she speaks openly and intelligently from her heart, saying this is who I am. My thoughts, beliefs, dreams and desires are what define me, not what I look like. She makes the case that it’s what she chooses to do with her life that matters, and what she does truly matters.
A BRAVE HEART does touch briefly on another case of cyber-bullying that had headlines in the news, but this is ultimately to tie into Lizzie meeting and being a mutual, reciprocal inspiration for the other person. This is Lizzie’s story and she’s going to keep telling it, but not to benefit herself… it’s to benefit others and fulfill what she believes is her life’s calling.
I’ll admit, this review may sound more like a marketing plug than an unbiased critique. I’ll accept that for what it is and counter by stating this; A BRAVE HEART is a modern gem of inspirational documentary filmmaking. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a testimony to having faith in the human race where it often seems a lost cause. See this film as adults, share this film with children of all ages, discuss and repeat. Help spread the seed that Lizzie is sowing and by God, help this young woman make a difference in this world.
A BRAVE HEART opens nationwide on Friday, September 25th, 2015
On Friday, March 13, Disney will release the live action version of CINDERELLA from director Kenneth Branagh.
The original animated movie opened on February 15, 1950 to universal acclaim and 65 years later, CINDERELLA has become one of studio’s most treasured titles.
Branagh has once again turned to the Scottish composer Patrick Doyle for the score. The album features original music by Doyle marking the eleventh time he has teamed with Branagh.
In 1989, the director commissioned Doyle to compose the score for HENRY V and they have subsequently collaborated on numerous pictures, including DEAD AGAIN, MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, HAMLET, AS YOU LIKE IT and THOR, and most recently JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT.
Doyle scored RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES for 20th Century Fox and BRAVE for Disney Pixar, which was awarded Best Original Composition for Film at the International Music and Sound Awards.
From the worlds of Asgard to the Highlands of Scotland, Doyle’s various scores have whisked audiences off to distant lands, past, present and future. With an enchanting score full of magic and musical color, as well as creating a new Disney song, this time the Oscar-nominated composer takes us to the fairy-tale kingdom of CINDERELLA.
WAMG: CINDERELLA is such a beautiful film and your score is just wonderful. It sounds like a fairytale.
Patrick Doyle: Thank you very much. I think it’s a gorgeous, sumptuous film. It’s a classic movie – a timeless movie. It’s enchanting and it’s funny. It’s magical and very emotional. It’s a wonderful opportunity for a composer.
WAMG: The story is very familiar as well as the music. What was your first thought when you found out Kenneth Branagh was doing a new version of CINDERELLA?
PD: It’s a classic story. Number one, knowing Ken, I knew it would be a completely different approach to the iconic animated version. I think he’s done a wonderful job transferring from animation to live action. There’s always a thought that people will compare the two. I have been through this in the past with HENRY V and I knew Ken would have new approach to the film. I think he did a tremendous job.
WAMG: Your score is very romantic and while reminding the audience of the original, it takes you into this new adaptation.
PD: I’m glad you agree. I tried to write a classical score and hopefully it will have a classic feel to it. The reaction to the film, and the score, has been fantastic and it’s a tremendous opportunity to write for a symphony orchestra. Any reason to employ a symphony orchestra in a movie is always welcomed, especially when it’s the calibre of the London Symphony Orchestra.
The movie is from the original Charles Perrault’s French interpretation of the tale entitled “Cendrillon, or the History of the Little Glass Slipper” which introduced the fairy godmother, the pumpkin carriage and the glass slippers. We also come from a culture where we have what’s called Pantomime in Scotland, England and Wales. It’s an annual event – they’ll show Puss and Boots one year and Cinderella the other. Cinderella is a wonderful story and goes back to Greek times. It deals with diversity and it’s universal to every culture – it resonates to every culture the world.
It has a wonderful happy ending that everyone knows, but it’s the journey along the way is what’s so traumatizing. It’s cathartic in the end to watch her dream come true where she finds someone who’s a good person. It’s the best possible circumstances where people fall in love for themselves and not what they are.
WAMG: I loved Cate Blanchett’s theme – she makes quite the entrance as Lady Tremaine with the cat Lucifer in tow. Did you go with theme cues first or melody cues first for the character?
PD: (Sings the cue) I worked very hard to have a sort of chromatic theme – to roll around in the lower register of the instruments in the orchestra. I wanted to have a very distinctive theme for her.
The CINDERELLA waltz music at the ball, “La Valse de L’Amour,” was heavily plundered and mined by me throughout the score. (Sings the cue) I like to weave all these themes throughout the score. There’s waltzes and polkas, along with a plethora of dances, so there was a wonderful opportunity for me to write real classical music.
WAMG: You can hear it all through the film. With that classical theme in mind, what instruments, whether it was percussion, strings, brass, were you keen on using?
PD: It was an absolute mixture of everything. That’s the joy for a score like that – you can choose and strategize so that the sound can influence the viewer to see specific things. You can use the oboe for the mystery with the lower register, the bassoon for the entrance of the step-mother, the harp for the magical qualities. The whole symphonic voice comes into play and every instrument is utilized. The palette was wide open. I used the percussive sounds to give off wonderful colors.
My objective was to capture the magical enchantment and emotion in order to give it a timeless quality because the Disney canon is timeless. It survives generation after generation and that was in the back of my mind. I wanted to honor that great musical tradition of Disney.
The first film I saw on my own was FANTASIA. I went on my own at age 14 to Glasgow to see that film. That turned me onto music and animation – I was amazed by the marriage of the two.
In addition to the score, the soundtrack also includes end credit tracks by Lily James (“Cinderella”) and Helena Bonham Carter (“Fairy Godmother”), plus the end credit original theme song “Strong” (written by Patrick Doyle, Kenneth Branagh and Tommy Danvers) performed by Compound/Motown recording artist Sonna Rele and produced by TommyD (Kylie, Kanye West, Corinne Bailey Rae, FUN). Sonna was chosen by Kenneth Branagh to record “Strong.”
WAMG: Along with the score, fans have always liked that Disney made it a point of adding songs to his animated & live action films. In this CINDERELLA, there is the song that your wrote, “Strong.” How did that develop for the movie?
PD: The tune is totally based on all the themes in the film. You’ll hear the melodies and motifs, which I’m very proud of because all the score was first and then the song came in based on all the material in the score.
TommyD Is a great producer and writer and Ken worked on the lyrics and we worked very hard on it. I’m very proud to be part of that tradition to have written a Disney song. It’s really lovely.
I’ve also been the only one to write a Gaelic song for Disney with the movie BRAVE. I loved being involved in “Strong.”
WAMG: If I may ask you about BRAVE for a moment. When you first found out the movie was being made, being from Scotland, did you get choked up?
PD: Talk about being choked up! When the Pixar people invited me to San Francisco, after my initial meeting, to talk about the movie, I walked into a conference room and they had rocks, heather and little twiglets and branches and pictures beautifully displayed for me. Pictures of Scotland and the glorious Highlands – my wee eyes got choked up.
“I can’t believe you’ve done this to me,” I said. My life flashed in front of me! I was very proud to be asked to do that score.
WAMG: Your music for RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES goes so well with the Jerry Goldsmith’s original 1968 score. The movie was such a success, especially for fans of the APES franchise. In APES and CINDERELLA, there are a ton of sound effects to accompany the visual effects. Did you work closely with the Sound Department on both movies?
PD: It was a fantastic opportunity to work on such an iconic franchise. I remember on RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, I asked the sound department to let me hear the early recordings they took of the real apes and I used one of their cries and turned it into a noisy musical cue for the percussion parts. It also became the running string motif in the film driving all the action sequences.
When thematic sounds come from an organic source, I think it has far more resonance so hopefully it connects people to the film.
I worked very closely with the sound department on CINDERELLA. I did a facsimile of the score, as I was going along, to give them so they were able to shape their sounds around the music and to tune the effects to the key of the orchestra. I had to work very closely with them to get an inter-organic marriage.
WAMG: You wrote the score for the silent movie IT starring Clara Bow, commissioned by the Syracuse Film Festival, which received its world premiere at the Syracuse historic Landmark Theatre in October 2013. How was it to score a film after the fact?
PD: I’ve always been a great fan of the early days of cinema. When I was a kid we had only two television stations in Scotland. There was the BBC and an independent station, and that was it. They would show lots and lots of movies from the 1920’s and 1930’s through the 1940’s and 1950’s. When I look back on it, I watched silent movies that were only about thirty years old.
I’m very lucky to be in that transition period to have written in the 20th and 21st century. When I was approached to commission the score I leapt at the opportunity. I loved the film and I’m very aware of Clara Bow. I took great care to write a contemporary score.
I’m quite excited because there’s going to be a Scottish premiere in June and I’m working with young children from my old Shire. I’m tremendously pleased and other movie industry people are doing workshops with these kids, so I’m very proud to be working on that.
All young kids from North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire where I was educated will be there. I remember as a very young kid going on weekends where I played in the youth orchestra and to be able to go back after working on this for a number of years, is a nice feather in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, so we’re very excited about it.
Walt Disney Records will release the original motion picture soundtrack for CINDERELLA on March 10, 2015.
The score was recorded at Air Lyndhurst Studio in London, and was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Shearman and produced by Maggie Rodford. The film arrives in theaters on March 13, 2015.
CINDERELLA track list:
1. A Golden Childhood 2. The Great Secret 3. A New Family 4. Life and Laughter 5. The First Branch 6. Nice and Airy 7. Orphaned 8. The Stag 9. Rich Beyond Reason 10. Fairy Godmother 11. Pumpkins and Mice 12. You Shall Go 13. Valse Royale 14. Who Is She 15. La Valse de L’Amour 16. La Valse Champagne 17. La Polka Militaire 18. La Polka de Paris 19. A Secret Garden 20. La Polka de Minuit 21. Choose That One 22. Pumpkin Pursuit 23. The Slipper 24. Shattered Dreams 25. Searching the Kingdom 26. Ella and Kit 27. Courage and Kindness 28. Strong Performed by Sonna Rele 29. A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes Performed by Lily James 30. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song) Performed by Helena Bonham Carter
“Argo” (edited by William Goldenberg, A.C.E.) and “The Silver Linings Playbook” (edited byJay Cassidy, A.C.E. and Crispin Struthers) won Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) and Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy/Musical) respectively at the 63rd Annual ACE Eddie Awards tonight where trophies were handed out in ten (10) categories of film, television and documentaries.
The black-tie ceremony was held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel with over 1,000 in attendance to celebrate the year’s best editing. “Brave” (edited by Nicholas C. Smith, A.C.E. &Robert Grahamjones, A.C.E.) won Best Edited Animated Feature Film and “Searching For Sugar Man” (edited by Malik Bendjelloul) won Best Edited Documentary (Feature).
Television winners included ”Nurse Jackie – Handle Your Scandle” (edited by Gary Levy) for Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television, “Breaking Bad – Dead Freight” (edited by Skip MacDonald, A.C.E.) for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial television, “The Newsroom – We Just Decided To (Pilot)” (edited by Anne McCabe, A.C.E.) for Best Edited One-Hour Series for Non-Commercial Television, “Hemingway & Gellhorn” (edited by Walter Murch, A.C.E.) for Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television, and “Frozen Planet – Ends of the Earth” (edited by Andy Netley & Sharon Gillooly) for Best Edited Non-Scripted Series. In a newly created category this year, “American Masters – Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune” (edited by Pamela Scott Arnold) won Best Edited Documentary (Television).
The Student Editing Competition winner was Michael Smith of American Film Institute who beat out hundreds of competitors from film schools and universities around the country. Oscar® winning actor Jon Voight presented the ACE Eddie Award to the winner.
The legendary Steven Spielberg received the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honor presented to him by longtime collaborator and friend Kathleen Kennedy. Mr. Spielberg joins an impressive list of filmmakers to receive ACE’s highest honor, including Norman Jewison, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Robert Zemeckis, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy and Richard Donner.
Lifetime Career Achievement Awards went to industry veterans Richard Marks, A.C.E. and Larry Silk, A.C.E. Last year’s ACE Golden Eddie Award honoree Alexander Payne teamed up with Film Critic Kenneth Turan to present to Mr. Marks,whose long and prolific career includes four Oscar® nominations (“As Good as It Gets,” “Broadcast News,” “Terms of Endearment” and “Apocalypse Now”) and an impressive list of credits that includes “Serpico,” “The Godfather: Part II,” “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Pretty in Pink,” “Say Anything,” “Dick Tracy” and “Julie & Julia,” among many others. Esteemed documentarian Barbara Kopple presented to Mr. Silk, whose impressive body of work includes two Emmy® nominations (“One Survivor Remembers” and “The Twentieth Century (1957)”. His other credits include some of the most successful and memorable documentaries of their time including the doc that made Arnold Schwarzenegger a household name (“Pumping Iron”), the Oscar® winning “American Dream”, “Wild Man Blues” which, in 1997, was named the Best Documentary of the Year by the National Board of Review and Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Oscar® winning “Marjoe” among many others. Mr. Silk also worked extensively in television, editing numerous documentary specials including “Defending Our Daughters: The Rights of Women in the World,” “National Geographic Explorer,”
“Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson” and “Childhood.” He also edited several episodes of the long-running hit series “The Equalizer.” The careers of all three special honorees were highlighted with clip reels and praise from friends and colleagues during the affair.
As is the ACE tradition, editors teamed up with actors and filmmakers to help present awards. In addition to those already mentioned, the list of the evening’s presenters also included editor Michael R. Miller, A.C.E. with Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”), editor Jordan Goldman, A.C.E. with David Harewood (“Homeland”), Skip MacDonald, A.C.E. and Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”),Eliza Coupe and Damon Wayans, Jr. (stars of “Happy Endings”), editor Susan Vaill, A.C.E. with Kevin McKidd and Jessica Capshaw (stars of “Grey’s Anatomy”), editor Kevin Tent, A.C.E. and Will Forte (SNL and Alexander Payne’s upcoming film “Nebraska”), writer/filmmaker Mark Andrews (an Oscar® nominee this year for “Brave”),and one of this year’s Oscar® nominees for Best Supporting Actress Jacki Weaver. VIP guests included Oscar® nominees David O. Russell (Director, The Silver Linings Playbook), Ang Lee (Director, “Life of Pi”), and Producer Frank Marshall, among many others. The evening was presided over by ACE President Alan Heim, A.C.E. Serving as Master of Ceremonies was actor and comedian David Cross.
A full list of winners follows:
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC) Argo
William Goldenberg, A.C.E.
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY/MUSICAL) Silver Linings Playbook
Jay Cassidy, A.C.E. and Crispin Struthers
BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (ANIMATED) Brave
Nicholas C. Smith, A.C.E.&Robert Grahamjones, A.C.E
BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE): Searching for Sugar Man
Malik Bendjelloul
BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (TELEVISION): American Masters – Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune
Pamela Scott Arnold
BEST EDITED HALF-HOUR SERIES FOR TELEVISION: Nurse Jackie: “Handle Your Scandal”
Gary Levy
BEST EDITED ONE-HOUR SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION: Breaking Bad: “Dead Freight”
Skip MacDonald A.C.E.
BEST EDITED ONE-HOUR SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION: The Newsroom: “We Just Decided To (Pilot)”
Anne McCabe, A.C.E.
BEST EDITED MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE FOR TELEVISION: Hemingway & Gellhorn
Walter Murch, A.C.E.
BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES: Frozen Planet: “Ends of the Earth”
Andy Netley & Sharon Gillooly
The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced nominations today for its 40th Annual Annie Awards™ recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. The Annie Awards cover 30 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects and Outstanding Individual Achievements.
The slate of nominations for Best Animated Features this year includes: Brave (Pixar Animation Studios), Frankenweenie (The Walt Disney Studio), Hotel Transylvania (Sony Animation Studios), ParaNorman (Focus Features), Rise of the Guardians (DreamWorks Animation), The Pirates! Band of Misfits (Aardman Animations), The Rabbi’s Cat (GKIDS), and Wreck-It Ralph (Walt Disney Animation Studios).
“I am very exited about this year’s slate of nominees!” remarked ASIFA-Hollywood president, Frank Gladstone. “We had more submissions to choose from this year than for any prior year in Annie Award history, running the gamut from big studio features to indie films, television series to internet shows, games, shorts and, for the first time, student films, all showcasing the huge variety of venues, creativity, technical innovation, and story-telling that our art form has to offer.” Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for four decades.
Winners will be announced at the 40th Annual Annie Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, CA.
Juried awards honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation will also be awarded. Three Winsor McCay recipients have been selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors – Oscar Grillo, Terry Gilliamand Mark Henn for their career contributions to the art of animation; June Foray Award – Howard Green for his significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation; and Ub Iwerks – Toon Boom Animation/Toon Boom Animation Pipeline for technical advancements that make a significant impact on the art or industry of animation.
I’ve felt letdown by Pixar Animation Studios for a long while. I embraced their early works like “Toy Story” and “Monsters, Inc.” I enjoyed “Finding Nemo” and “Toy Story 2”. But then something happened. I can’t place my finger on exactly what. But the honeymoon ended. I felt “The Incredibles” was overrated. I found “Wall-E” to be the same, and also pretentious. Other than the wonderful and emotionally draining opening sequence, I despised “Up”. Don’t even get me started with “Cars”. Or “Cars 2”. Ugh.
With that being said, Pixar’s newest entry “Brave” continues the slide into mediocrity as one of the lesser entries in the Pixar canon. It is now available in a 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition from Walt Disney Studios and Buena Vista Home Entertainment, and features a 3D Blu-ray disc, a 2D Blu-ray disc, a standard DVD disc, a disc of bonus features, and a digital copy disc for downloading the film onto your portable players.
Set in Scotland when there were still clans and kings and queens, “Brave” introduces us to Merida (Kelly McDonald), a young princess with flowing red hair. Merida prefers archery and riding around in the forest on her steed Angus, than fulfilling her role as princess. She has a strained relationship with her mother Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), and the two are constantly at each other over her getting married and fulfilling her duties to the kingdom. Merida is more of a free spirit and feels she has a destiny beyond that of her Queen Mother. She seeks the help of a witch who can change the fate that lays before her. However, as is often the case, one must be careful for what one wishes for, as that creates a big mess that Merida must spend the rest of the film trying to fix.
Ultimately, “Brave” is a mother-daughter love story. I could not connect to the characters in the film at all. I felt the script and the direction was uninspired. It is a surprisingly bland film. I did not care for the character design in the film. While I LOVED the background animations of picturesque Scotland, which are also photo-realistic, the characters looked—fake isn’t quite the word—more like odd. In a not-quite-Claymation kind of way. It bugged me.
Video: The video quality of the film as presented on disc is top-notch though. Those Scotland settings are absolutely stunning, The majestic Highlands, the sun-reflecting waterfalls, the misty forests, the gorgeous greens of the moss-covered hills—all are beautiful to look at in 1080p High Definition. And despite the flaws I have with the character designs, Merida’s pile of curly red hair is incredibly detailed and looks great as well. In the second half of the movie, when the film takes place in dark places, the black levels are excellent.
Audio: Again, top-notch. The 7.1 Dolby True HD Audio track supports clear and clean center-channel dialogue, while the surround sound doesn’t neglect more subtle noises. The haunting wisps are used to great effect here. The brawl scene and the climatic battle scene fill all of the speakers to great effect, giving an impressive panning of the soundfield, putting you right in the middle of the action.
Extras: There is an extensive amount of extras covering two discs, and there is a lot to like here. There is an audio commentary track with director Mark Andrews, co-director Steve Purcell, story supervisor Brian Larsen, and editor Nick Smith. It is an above average commentary track. They keep things interesting and moving, although director Andrews seems almost too enthused in the way he gushes about this film.
There are two short films included as extras: “La Luna”- a whimsical short that played before “Brave” in theaters, and “The Legend of Mordu”—which expands upon a backstory featured in the film. “La Luna” is pretty decent (Pixar is still creating great shorts), while “Mordu” is pretty sub-standard.
There are eight Behind-the-Scenes shorts on the Blu-ray disc which total about 50 minutes. The best is “Brave Old World” which follows the animators on a research trip to Scotland to get a sense of the land and locations that they would later use in the film. It is a beautiful and interesting doc. Another segment, titled “Merida and Elinor” explores the lead female characters with the voice cast, designers, and animators. “Bears” shows animators creating the animals featured in the film from doing zoo research and internal discussion. “Brawl in the Hall” looks at the animation and development of the comedic clash of the clans. “Wonder Moss” delves into the complex creation of the film’s background moss. “Magic” dissects “Brave’s” fairy tale roots and magical elements. “Clan Pixar” introduces the film’s artists and animators in a behind-the-scenes short filmed at Pixar Studios, where the animators would do fun Scottish activities while working on the film. And “Once Upon a Scene” offers a glimpse into various versions of “Brave’s” opening and other key scenes from the film. These shorts are all well-produced, but somewhat dry. I wish they would have been edited into a more comprehensive feature-length making-of documentary.
Other bonus features included in the set include four extended scenes, promotional pieces including theatrical trailers and shorts, an art gallery full of sketches and paintings, and an alternate opening.
Regardless of the quality of the film itself, the disc of “Brave” will go down as one of the better ones released this year. Too bad the effort was wasted on such an inferior film.
FILM QUALITY: 2 OUT OF 5 STARS VIDEO QUALITY: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS AUDIO QUALITY: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS BONUS FEATURES: 4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Disney•Pixar proudly announces the Blu-ray™ hi-def debut of “Brave,” the year’s #1 animated movie and Pixar Animation Studio’s 13th consecutive hit, on November 13, 2012. A breathtaking adventure that has entertained audiences of all ages, the stunning Blu-ray release of “Brave” includes hours of all-new bonus material, extraordinary behind the scenes features, extended and deleted scenes, a mysterious and exciting, new short film, ‘The Legend of Mor’du,” and much more.
An original and thrilling journey set in the ancient and magical Highlands of Scotland, “Brave” follows the heroic journey of the headstrong, young adventurer Merida. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida confronts tradition and defies an age-old custom that inadvertently unleashes chaos, and forces her to discover the true meaning of bravery. The 5-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition (1 Blu-ray 3D + 2 Blu-ray Discs + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy) has something for everyone – from the home entertainment enthusiast who demands the highest quality, state-of-the-art technology offerings, to the family who enjoys the interactive and engaging bonus features that only Blu-ray can provide – making this unique and beautiful film a “must add” to any home media collection.
The exciting home entertainment debut of “Brave” will be available in multiple ways, containing exciting all-new bonus features that extend the breathtaking movie experience.
I. ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITON: 5-DISC COMBO PACK
(BD 3D + BD Feature + BD Supplemental Material + DVD + DIGITAL COPY)
BLU-RAY – DISC 1 INCLUDES:
• “La Luna” Theatrical Short – Fans will love this charming short that accompanied the film in theatres. It follows a young boy on his first night working the family business alongside his father and grandfather.
• “The Legend of Mor’du” Short – This rousing new bonus short film will give fans the chance to delve deeper into the legend behind Mordu, as told by the eccentric witch who transformed him.
• Brave Old World – Fans will watch as members of the “Brave” production team investigate Scotland, exploring its land, culture, people and dialects. The research they gathered was brought thrillingly to life in the film. Also, fans will hear what actress Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor) thinks of Pixar’s take on her homeland.
• Merida & Elinor – With the creation of Merida and Elinor, the Pixar filmmakers delved deep into the relationship between mother and daughter. Highlighting contrasts in character design, clothing, animation, voicing, even hairstyle, watch how the filmmakers explored this most important of relationships.
• Bears – Take a look inside the art and design behind the bears in “Brave.” Each of the bears, gentle Mum-Bear and terrifying Mor’du, demanded a different approach to creating their physical appearance and personality.
• Brawl in the Hall – A fascinating and hilarious inside look at the process of creating “Brave’s” fighting Scots, through animation, crowd simulation and fight choreography – not to mention a room full of grunting men whose vocal chortles added authenticity to the raucous scene.
• Wonder Moss – Fans will explore how “Brave’s” technical artists examined the real Scottish countryside and studied the laws of nature, then turned these findings into computer codes that would blanket Merida’s Scotland in lush moss, lichen and bracken.
• Magic –The magic and mystery of Scotland is revealed to fans in this charming feature about the legends – from mystical potions to the will-o’-the-wisps – seen in “Brave.”
• Clan Pixar – At Pixar, getting into character is a team effort. From making Haggis to Kilt Fridays to celebrating the Scottish poet Robert Burns, fans will see how the “Brave” production crew truly embraced Scottish themes and customs fueled the Pixar crew throughout the creation of “Brave.”
• Once Upon A Scene – A closer look at the evolution of the storylines throughout the production of the film, including alternative openings to the film and many deleted scenes.
• Extended Scenes – Three separate scenes are highlighted in their extended form. Director Mark Andrews discusses the decision making process that led to the shortened versions of these scenes.
• Director Commentary
BLU-RAY DISC 2 INCLUDES:
• “Fergus & Mor’du” An Alternate Opening – Once upon a time, “Brave” had a different opening scene. Eventually cut from the film, fans can see it in its entirety in this bonus feature narrated by the film’s director Mark Andrews.
• Fallen Warriors Montage – A selection of deleted shots that were cut from the film late in production are presented to fans in various stages of completion through a video montage narrated by director Mark Andrews.
• Dirty Hairy People – Fans will enjoy this uproarious bonus feature discussing the development of “Brave’s” Scots – including the design of their hair, attire, and dirt-crusted physiques.
• It is English…Sort Of – This bonus feature helps fans interpret some of the more Scottish lines in the film, thanks to the real Scottish actors who play the key characters and contributed their own dialects and sayings.
• Angus – A look at Merida’s most trusted companion, Angus, a mighty Clydesdale.
• The Tapestry – Fans will learn the story behind this embroidered emblem of family unity, which was lovingly crafted by “Brave’s” team of artists.
• Promotional Pieces – This bonus includes promotional clips for “Brave,” including: “Feast Yer Eyes,” “Relics,” “Clan DunBroch,” “Launch,” and more.
• Art Gallery – A selection of breathtaking art from the creation of the film, showcasing characters, sets, scenes and stunning landscapes.
• Wee Gaffes – A video montage of simulation, animation and shot bloopers.
• Renaissance Animation Man – Get a look at Director Mark Andrews’ love of Scotland, sword-fighting, music and more!
• Teasers and Sneak Peeks
BLU-RAY 3D DISC INCLUDES:
• “La Luna” Theatrical Short
DVD Includes:
• “La Luna” Theatrical Short
• “The Legend of Mordu” All-New Short
• Director Commentary
II. COLLECTOR’S EDITION: 3-DISC BLU-RAY COMBO PACK
(BD Feature + BD Supplemental Material + DVD)
III. 1-DISC DVD
Street Date: November 13, 2012
Direct Prebook: September 18, 2012 – Distributor Prebook: October 2, 2012
Suggested Retail Prices: 5-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack = $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada (SRP)
3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada (SRP)
1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada (SRP)
Feature Run Time: Approximately 95 minutes
Rated: PG (bonus not rated)
Technical Specifications (applies to film content only):
Blu-ray 3D Feature Film = 1080p High Definition
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Sound: 7.1 and 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
English 5.1 Dolby Digital
English 2.0 Near Field Mix
French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital
English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles
English Commentary 2.0 Dolby Digital
Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Sound: 7.1 and 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
English 5.1 Dolby Digital
English 2.0 Near Field Mix
French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital
English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles
English Commentary 2.0 Dolby Digital
DVD Feature Film
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 (Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions)
Sound: English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
English 2.0 Near Field Mix
English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital
English Commentary 2.0 Dolby Digital
Fans of Disney•Pixar’s feature films love to scour the screen in search of the Hidden Gems the filmmakers sneak into each film: WALL•E’s explorations uncover a Mike Wazowski antenna ball, paying homage to Monsters, Inc., and in UP, the classic Luxo Jr. ball can be seen in the girl’s bedroom as Carl Fredricksen’s house flies by her window. Disney•Pixar’s epic action adventure BRAVE features a few such gems, two of which are revealed here:
ANCIENT DELIVERY – The Witch, an eccentric crone disguised as a woodcarver specializing in whittling wooden bear figurines and conjuring haphazard spells, showcases her mysterious and inexplicable knowledge of the future with a carved figurine of the infamous Pizza Planet truck, an iconic delivery vehicle that’s appeared in nearly every full-length feature film from Pixar Animation Studios since 1995’s TOY STORY.
NO MONSTERS IN THE CLOSET – A carving of Sulley, the lovable blue monster slated to return to the big screen in 2013’s MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, appears on a piece of wood in the home of the Witch, an eccentric crone and woodcarver in Disney•Pixar’s epic action adventure BRAVE, in theaters now.
Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor.
Hi guys! Melissa here with a BRAVE new tale. This week I had the chance to attend the BRAVE press day Monday, June 18th at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California. Kelly Macdonald (Merida), Kevin McKidd (Lord MacGruffin and Yound MacGruffing), and Craig Ferguson (Lord Macintosh) were all present, as well as Mark Andrews (Director) and Katherine Sarafian (Producer). Below, you will find the Q&A from Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson.
Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor.
Q&A With CRAIG FERGUSON, KELLY MACDONALD, & KEVIN MCKIDD
Q :We all know the Disney Princess franchise is huge.
KELLY :Yes.
Q :Number one, what was your first feeling when you knew you were going to be the newest Disney Princess? And secondly, do you have any plans to continue with the voice of Merida in any future projects, whether they be toys or more films?
KELLY :Um, I, ah, um, attention to detail is not my strong point and – and I have, it – it quickly passed my by that I was going to be the first female protagonist in a, in a Pixar movie until quite recently, until, really until I started doing interviews. Um, and I – I’m kind of glad that I didn’t know what I was doing, because it would have been a lot of pressure. But, um, it, I don’t think, I – I don’t think I personally have watched a Pixar movie and – and felt – felt wronged in that there wasn’t a female protagonist. I think that, you know, they make films about fish, and toys, and robots, and, you know, and there’s some really strong female characters in those films and in the INCREDIBLES and – and Jessie from TOY STORY. So I never felt like I was, um, missing out on that. But I am very, I feel very privileged having said all that, I am very privileged. And what was the second part?
Q :Are you continuing with the voice in any future parts?
KELLY :No, I – I mean, I – I – I’ve been doing, ah, there is kinds of kids games, Leapfrog games and – and video games. I actually did more voice work on the video game then I did in the actual movie.
CRAIG :Disney is so powerful that Kelly no longer owns her own voice. [Laughs]. So, ah, as she speaks to you now, she begins to owe the Disney Corporation money.
KELLY :Money. Yeah. [Laughs]
CRAIG :I will now answer all of her questions. [Laughs]
Q : Oh, thank you. Kelly, first of all, I’m sorry. Two things, are you the go to girl now for Scottish heroines?
CRAIG :Scottish heroin.
KELLY :I know, Scottish heroin. I don’t know where you heard that nasty rumor, ah, no.
Q : But to what extent could you identify with this character? I mean, was there any aspect of it that you could relate to?
KELLY :I think what you, I wasn’t, I wasn’t Merida-like when I was a teenager. I was, I was, she’s very adventurous and outdoorsy and energetic, and I was not. I was indoorsy and, um, just not. Um, but I – I was a teenage girl, so that was the – the thing that I can, ah, I, ah, zoned in on really. I, like I – I, you know, it’s that all teenagers are awful, but teenage girls are kind of worst I think, than teenage boys.
Q : What about her rebelliousness?
KELLY :What about her rebelliousness?
Q : Can you relate to that?
KELLY :No, well, I, my mom was really, I could have done with a bit more of that to be honest, something to rebel against. I didn’t really, she was very, um, easy-going and I didn’t have much to rebel against. I kind of, you know, I moved, I moved, I moved away from home when I was 17 and that was fine. And, you know, I – I made my own choices quite early on.
Q : For all three of you, great performances. I just wanted to ask you, most of the time in animation, the voice actors go into a booth by themselves and the director is there and someone’s there feeding them lines and so forth. Did any of you have an opportunity to work either with each other in the booth or with anyone else during the whole process.
KEVIN :No, no, not at all. I mean, everyone was in different areas of the country and parts of the world. So there wasn’t, it was a shame, but I think (Producer) Katherine Sarafian so often says that, we never would’ve gotten any work done if we were all in the same room, you know.
KELLY :That’s true.
KEVIN :Um, but no, it was a shame we didn’t get a chance to do sessions together, but no we didn’t.
KELLY :Did they normally do that, I don’t know if that’s the norm?
KEVIN :Don’t know.
KELLY :I think, I think it, I think it’s the norm when, that you’re on your own.
KEVIN :Yeah.
KELLY :And – and you concentrate on that one – one voice.
Q : So how was it being solo rather than working with some people?
KEVIN :It’s great because it’s all about you. [Laughs] You know, because …
CRAIG :I think, I think it’s nice because you make the movie in your head …
KEVIN :Yeah.
CRAIG :… while you’re doing it. You can, you can work when you, you know, you close your eyes and – and see the film in your head and just participate in it. And what the interesting thing about this film is when – when I saw the film, after I had seen it in my head, it – it was better. Um, [Laughs], which – which means that Pixar, are – are better than me at making [Laughs], ah, animated films. But I – I think, I think that that’s not going to be news, you know.
Q : So we all know animation is a long process that takes many years and the story continually develops through that. How did your characters change as the story developed?
KELLY :Well I – I – I – I’m kind of the late comer to the – the movie. I, I mean, they started making this seven years ago and I’ve only been involved for the past sort of 18 months. So I think I, I think they pretty much had Merida down and knew what that, what was going on there. But I think you probably had more experience.
KEVIN :Um-hum. Yeah.
CRAIG :Well, ah, Kevin’s character, um, changed a lot, you’ve been on for a long time.
KEVIN :Yeah, I was, I was, I started I think four years ago and Young MacGuffin, I was only cast as Young MacGuffin to start with. And then at that time he was going to end up winning Merida’s hand in marriage. And then the story …
KELLY :I didn’t know that.
KEVIN :Yes, but …
CRAIG :But no one would’ve believed that. That’s what I’m saying. Once you got, once you got … See this is why we have to work as separately. [Laughs] Because … [Laughs]
KEVIN :Exact, and so, but, the shift, I think it was a good shift, you know …
KELLY :Right… because of the whole point, the whole message is that – that this protagonist is – is – is as you said, I’m going to find you one in my own sweet time, you know? And, um, so I was guided that poor Young MacGuffin didn’t get to win the hand of Merida. But, um, I think for the greater good of the, of the film and the, and the message it was a good thing. Um, and Lord MacGuffin was always kind of as he was based on a grumpy big proud old man, you know.
Q : This is for all three of you. I want you to think long and hard about this. If you could turn your mom into an animal, what animal would you choose to follow in their footsteps?
KEVIN :Wow. [Laughs] Okay.
KELLY :Careful now.
CRAIG :I – I – I would …
Q : Well you couldn’t actually turn her into it, but you could help see the ground work of it.
CRAIG :So you could sort of be involved in a conspiracy to turn your mother into a … [Laughs] I don’t, I don’t think, I – I don’t think I would ever have done that.
KELLY :No, uh-huh.
CRAIG :I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t have thought my relationship would have been improved by her having claws. [Laughs]
KELLY :I agree.
KEVIN :Yeah.
KELLY :Oh, I – I can’t even think of an animal that, I mean, she – she’s a homebody, my mom. I would, I would, I think I would turn her into a cat, because I think she would be very happy.
KEVIN :Aahh.
KELLY :In front of the fire.
KEVIN :I don’t know what I would turn my mom into. [Laughs] But it all feels like every answer’s going to be bad. Um …
KELLY :Insulting.
KEVIN :Ah, yeah. I mean, turn her into a beautiful hummingbird, so she could fly and be free, there you go, so, yeah.
KELLY :Awe.
CRAIG :Oh, yeah, that’s very nice, yeah.
KEVIN :My mom will like that. [Noise] [Laughs]
CRAIG :I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright. [Laughs]
KEVIN :I’ll give you my real answer later.
Q : Given the way that North American actors tend to mangle Scottish accents when they play Scottish parts, going back to, “I cannot do it captain,” do you all feel gratified that this is a cast of people mostly doing their own accents? And are your voices in the film close to your speaking voices?
CRAIG :I didn’t understand a word of that. [Laughs]
Q : I’m very sorry. Most …
CRAIG :No, no, no, no, no, no. [Laughs] I think it, I think it’s – it’s very, I think it’s just like a sign of the times. I think the world is different than it was maybe 20, 30 years ago, when, ah, regional accents were a very exotic and odd thing. But – but, you know, with – with, ah, the internet and with the YouTube and with, you know, with all the different, ah, communication systems that exist in the world, I think regional accents are, people’s ears are much more tuned to – to authenticity and accents now. And I think that’s part of the smart planning of – of this film. The, and also, if you’re going to make a film about Scotland, it’s probably a good idea to have Scottish people. [Laughs]
KELLY :But also, I, having, ah, I – I am Scottish, and I also read things that have said that I have a terrible Scottish accent. So – so …
CRAIG :Really?
KELLY :Yeah. What people don’t know, they don’t know, you know. It’s like, um, yeah, so.
KEVIN :Wow.
Q : I’m still hoping that by the end of this press conference we’ll all get kilts. My question is, you know, how Pixar is always famous for going to the place and research the place really well, like they did with UP, and they did the same thing here for BRAVE. Did you give your contribution to Chapman and Andrews about the looks and the vibe for the film? Like, oh we don’t do that in Scotland, or characters, or anything like that? Did you give any suggestions or any inputs to it?
KEVIN :Well, you know, the film was very well formed by the time I – I joined it. And the story was pretty much set and all that stuff. So they just, I think they just wanted us to really bring our voice, you know, you voices into, and to – to, they were very open to us in, you know, they said, this is the line of dialogue. And we’d say, yeah, we could say it that way, but it would be more natural, or a Scottish person would say it more like this. Or it could be funnier if you say it this way. So they were very open to us, you know, changing things and giving them different options. You know, as far as, the look of it, I think they had all that stuff sorted.
CRAIG :Yeah, they – they – they kind of know what they’re doing. I think it would be a bad idea to, as a voice actor, to run over to Pixar and tell them it doesn’t look very good. [Laughs] I – I don’t know, I don’t know how long you would be working there. [Laughs]
KEVIN :Yeah. [Laughs]
KELLY :Also I – I think the filmmakers have seen more of Scotland than I’ve seen it.
CRAIG :They’ve been around a lot.
KEVIN :Yeah.
KELLY :Yeah, they’ve seen a lot.
CRAIG : They’ve seen a lot of it, yeah.
Q : I think you may need to stand up so they can see you.
KELLY :Oh, hello.
KEVIN :Hello.
Q : This is for Kelly. What’s the best part about playing Princess Merida?
KELLY :The best part is that, um, I had so much fun. I got to play, um, I got to play this part that I would never get to play in a live action film. Because I’m not a teenager and, um, I got to be really cheeky and obnoxious to my mom, which was quite fun. Um …
KEVIN :Um-hum.
KELLY :Yeah, I – I, it was just, it was just the most fun I – I – I’ve ever had at work without having to wear a costume and get my hair done.
Q : This is for Kevin. How did you go about developing two distinct tonal influences for the two voices that you’re doing?
KEVIN :Yeah. Well, I started as Young MacGuffin and, um, it took us a while because they wanted the Young MacGuffin to be kind of that, you know, nobody could understand a word he says in the film because his Scot-, his accent’s so thick. And we started messing about with this sort of made up words and all that. And, um, and that didn’t seem to work, and I suggest this dialect which is from my area in Scotland called the Doric, which my grandfather spoke and it’s a very thick, almost Norwegian style, um, dialect, you know, that’s quite strange. And, um, so I did that and then we started going, well you’re going, and then they offered me Young, Lord MacGuffin, the older character, the dad. And I, we started doing sessions where I do both of at the same time and I ended up just sort of meeting somewhere in the middle, kind of neither, between a rock and a hard place. So we just had to kind of, we’d do it in the mornings with Lord MacGuffin because my, because I’ve just woken up and my voice was all … And then after lunch we would do Young MacGuffin was the – the thing we landed on. Um, and, you know, I just kind of like basically channeled my dad for Lord MacGuffin, because he’s grumpy and old and I’ve channeled myself, um, as a Young, because I was a very, very painfully shy, um, boy. Um, that’s why I became an actor. So I channeled that painfully shy, young boy that I was.
Q : Is there a network of Scottish people in Hollywood? Do you guys get together and read stories? [Laughs]
CRAIG :We can’t tell you that. [Laughs] Or we’d have to kill you. (inaudible). [Laughs].
Q : This is for all three of you. I know we’ve talked a lot about the voice work, I mean, you’ve captured the essence of these characters. My question is, during the voice work, did you know or have a feeling, and when was that, that this film was special?
KELLY :I think as soon as I was asked to – to go in and meet some people from Pixar, I mean, just the name Pixar, you know it’s going to be special. And so, I had no doubt in my mind that the finished product was going to be, ah, just really special and – and – and cutting edge, you know, that – that – that’s the great thing about Pixar, is like every movie that they bring out is like the most cutting edge technology. And, um, but you look back at the films, and TOY STORY was, ah, 15 years ago and you don’t, you don’t look back and think, oh, if they had the technology they have now it could be such a better film. It’s still, it stands up and it – it – it’s extraordinary, what they do is extraordinary and to think that comes from the, from the top John Lasseter is a very special man and – and just the, um, it’s just people that love their jobs and do their jobs very well.
Q : But it’s more than just the creative, I mean, it’s more than the creative, the voice work was phenomenal and was there a moment when you were in the booth that you knew, you had a special feeling, or you knew that this would turn out to be something great, all of you?
CRAIG :I don’t know, I don’t know how productive it would be to – to have that special feeling while you’re doing the work. You know, I think that it would be counterproductive. I – I think it’s better to – to do, ah, particularly in – in an environment where so much of what, of what the performance is, is not you, you know, you do the voice and you have that. But there are so many things that are outside of your control. So trust is involved. When – when you see the name, when you, when the name Pixar is on the offer, what it is, it’s not really an offer, it’s more of summons.
KELLY :Yeah, um-hum, yeah.
KEVIN :Um-hum, yeah, yeah.
CRAIG :It’s like Pixar requires your presence in this film.
KEVIN :Yeah.
CRAIG :And you go or you’re a fool, you know.
KELLY :Yeah.
CRAIG :And so that’s kind of like what happens, is that, they’ve earned that right by the – the, they’re, by – by what they’ve done. And so, what I, what I think the special feeling, if you have any special feeling, ah, but it’s not a, you know, any kind of judgment on your own performance, but other than – than – than realizing what these people have done, trusting that they will be able to do it again, and letting them. And that’s really what it is, it’s really trust if there’s any emotion involved.
KEVIN :Um-hum. Yeah, no …
Q : I’d like to ask Craig, could you contrast this experience on BRAVE with doing Gobbler in HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON?
CRAIG :I – I could …
Q : Are they very different or the same?
CRAIG :Well, um, it’s a different person, ah, ah, it’s a different person, so – so – so that’s different, but the technique of doing it is – is much the same. Ah, the – the – the, ah, you know, it’s not the biggest stretch in the world to go from one Scottish speaking character to another Scottish speaking character. But – but that’s – that’s kind of, ah, I assume that’s why they asked me to do it, you know. But, um, the contrast if any, I think was the, ah, the personality of the character involved.
CRAIG :It was a different personality. That’s really what it is.
Q : A lot of fun on both then?
CRAIG :Oh, lots of fun. I – I was always kind of interested in the accent work when I did the – the character before the Viking character with the Scottish accent that, many of you people over here said, how come the Viking sounds Scottish? And no one said, how come the Young Viking sounds American? No one asked me that? [Laughs]
KEVIN :Yeah.
Q : Kevin, sorry, I need to go here, but Grey’s has such a disastrous ending with losing little Grey and all that. Can you talk a little bit about the deaths in the cast? And since your one of the few characters who knows he has his job, you weren’t on the plane and you didn’t finish your Residency, what do you hope for the next season?
KEVIN :Well, you know, it’s – it’s, it was a really dramatic finale. I mean, they’re – they’re brilliant writers on that show, you know, they really know how to grab people and keep them especially in their finales and their season premieres. You know, they, you know, they’re killing people off, having planes crash, I amazed that, you know, a plane crashing into a mountain side and only that many people died, you know, it’s like. Um, but they really do a great job and it was, it was sad to see Chyler Leigh go, you know, um, very sad. And it, we don’t know, I mean, I don’t know what’s going to happen next.
KEVIN :I mean, they – they keep their scripts very close to their chest, we start back shooting through, in three weeks, four weeks’ time. So, I could tell you more then, but, I mean, I know as far as what the premiere’s going to be, it’s going to be pretty intense, you know? Um, I mean, it’s going to, it’s a real game changer, you know, doing something like that to a show, killing people and making people go through a trauma like that, it’s a game changer. So, it be, it’ll be fun to see where we all go there, you know.
Q : Hi there. To expand a little bit on what you were talking about, Craig and also for the both of you. In addition to these two characters, you brought Al to back to live in such a wonderful way. Are you finding animated characters to be any more complex, layered, more interesting to you than real life characters? And for you guys like of the same way. I guess you’ve done more animated than the other two right?
KELLY :I’ve done, nothing. This is my first. Yeah.
CRAIG :I think that, I – I think that it – it – it’s good for me because I’m not a very good actor. So what I do is … [Laughs] I – I don’t get in my own way. I, what I’ll do is, I’ll do the voice. I’m pretty good at voices and then people who are good at acting can draw in good acting. So – so I – I do the voice and then they draw in good acting. Because I may, I – I think I get in my way, I think I would get in my way with a lot of that. Plus, I have a day job and so I can’t go and make a film. I can go to the Valley and for a couple of hours and work on one, but I can’t, I can’t go away and make a film, I can’t go on location, I can’t, I can’t do any of that.
CRAIG :Not that anyone is asking me, but I, but even – even [Laughs]. Beware, you know, I – I – I’m not, I’m not available, so don’t even bother. You know, so, but that – that’s what I think is. Also, the thing that is about it, that – that I like about it, is that you’re not limited, and – and Kelly said this, you’re not limited by who you are physically.
KEVIN :Um-hum.
CRAIG :You know, you can play anybody and anything. So – so the world that, the worlds and the, and the – the opportunities that are available to you as an actor, are – are expanded by just working only with your voice. Not, they’re not lessened, it – it – it’s, there’s, you can do anything and be anywhere. And we have a tradition where we are from, I don’t know if you did much, but – but certainly Kevin and – and I did radio work.
KEVIN :Um-hum.
CRAIG :In Scotland and you, and you do that when you start out, or you certainly you used to, and doing radio drama, radio comedy it – it’s kind of, it’s very similar to what we do here I think.
Q : I wanted to ask, I believe the theme of the movie is taking control of your destiny or whatever. Is it something in your life that was kind of out of control for a bit that you took control over?
KELLY :Are you asking that to Kevin? I think she’s asking you that.
KEVIN :Ah, yeah, I mean, I guess, I was from a wee town in the northeast of Scotland and, you know, and there was nobody up there that, I think I was about eight or nine when I suddenly wanted to do this crazy acting thing. And I had no clue how to ever pursue that up there, you know, there was no theater, you know, national theater in Scotland or anything up there, you know, there’s sheep, and, ah, fields …
CRAIG :And they’re a very tough crowd. [Laughs]
KEVIN :Exactly. And so, yeah, it was like, you know, I kind of just had to really take matters into my own hands and sort of really doggedly pursue this thing, which I tried to eventually – managed to get to be lucky enough to get to do. So, yeah, I mean, I think the message is a very powerful one for young people. Um, because I really took, you know, it’s like this – this kids who’s on one path, you know, I was going to be a plumber like my dad essentially and I manage, and I kind of changed that. Now there’s probably good sides and bad sides to me changing my own fate, you know.
CRAIG :Very difficult to get a good plumber in Los Angeles.
KEVIN : [Laughs] Exactly. So, you know, there, I think that’s another subtle message in the film that, do you really want to change your fate or not, you know, there’s always a payoff, you know.
Q : I want to know how you prepared yourself to do such wild character? And what is the wildest thing that you have done in your life?
KELLY :Oh, dear.
KEVIN :The wildest thing? [Laughs]
CRAIG :You have no idea, who you just asked. [Laughs] I – I can’t tell you even now, the wildest things that I’ve done in my life. But I, ah, I – I think that, ah, I think the preparation is done for you in a way that, in a sense that, I think that – that, movies are good if they’re cast well. Certainly, and what I think they have done, is they may have cast people who are likely in these roles. So, it’s not a huge leap for me to – to be this character in this film. I don’t think it’s an enormous leap for either the, of my two colleagues here to do the same thing. It’s about, it’s about you cast the right actor for the role and that, I think that’s – that’s 90 percent of the preparation right there. I get, you trust that they’ve done that. And you bring to whatever you have to it.
KEVIN :Yeah.
Q : Yeah. Kelly, did it make a difference in your performance to be aware of this character Merida, to have this curly hair, red hair?
KELLY :No, I – I mean, I, like I said, I – I – I became involved about a year and a half ago. So they had, you know, they knew what Merida was going to look like and – and, but I didn’t, you know, when I went in for my recording sessions, there wasn’t photos of … You know, I keep saying photos, like she’s a real person. Drawings of her, um, up in the sound studio or, you know, I didn’t think about it too much. It was very like, ah, Craig said, it was kind of you, I kind of forgot about that and just got on with the job in hand. And – and then and I, you know, I had it all in my head. And luckily, we had, ah, Mark Andrews at the helm, who’s the most energize – energetic kind of, ah, amazing presence. And he would bring it, would bring it to life and that really helped me actually. Um, but I didn’t think about the hair, I didn’t think about any of that stuff, um, for no particular reason. So when I saw the finished product, I was completely, it was, it was almost like a total surprise, you know.
Q : I actually had wanted to ask a accent question, but I don’t know if we’ve covered that ground way too much. So let me throw to another one. You didn’t get to work with him because of the nature of the making these, but I think that everyone that we’ve ever had a chance to interview, who’s related to Scotland, has stories about Billy Connolly and being impacted by him, probably over the last 25 years he’s had such influence. Can you talk a bit about that in the sense of even though you didn’t get to actually work with him directly, being in a film with him and what his humor has meant to you?
KEVIN :Wow, I mean, you know, I remember a few years ago, I think it was about 15, maybe 20 years ago, he did a tour of the north, of – of all the little villages halls and the whole Scotland. He went around and did all the kind of Town Halls of Scotland. And he came to my town Elgin and because I was this theater, oh, so sort of theater rat, you know, um, in Elgin. I got to do a follow spot for two nights in Elgin Town Hall.
KELLY :Oh, wow.
KEVIN :And I couldn’t keep the follow spot still because I was laughing so hard and the follow spot was going like that. And he started making jokes about me, you know, he was like, you up there, (inaudible) or stay still with the follow spot. He’s been, I mean, I, he’s like the god of, you know, the granddaddy of Scottish comedy and he’s been unbelievable and, you know, it’s, I’ve – I – I still haven’t properly met him. I’ve done his follow spot, but I still haven’t properly met him. [Laughs]
CRAIG :Billy would, Billy is, ah, ah, Elvis to me. Billy’s Jackie Robinson as far as I’m concerned. Billy changed the game. You know, when I was a kid, when I was at school, Billy released an album, a comedy album called Solo Concert. And now, if you listen to young black comedians talk about Richard Pryor, that’s who Billy is to me. You know, that – that just, I had never seen anyone do anything who sounded like me, who came from the same socioeconomic group as me and did that. I’d never seen that before.
CRAIG :I had seen English actors pretend to be Scottish. I had seen characters of Scottish people, but I had never seen anything like that. So – so Billy to me is like, you know, it’s something, I think John Lennon said before Elvis there was nothing, I think it was John Lennon that said that. And that’s kind of how I feel about Billy. Before Billy there was nothing, you know, I – I, it was, it was a – a different thing, it was, it was a different game. So in one sense he is, ah, um, ah, found of Billy, god. [Laughs]
KELLY :No, for me, I hurled myself at Billy Connolly when I first, I, he was in, he was doing a session when I first went in to read for the part, ah, Billy had just been doing a session before me. And, before – before I even knew what happened, I was like around his neck like a monkey. And I thought, what am I doing? [Laughs]. So, yeah, I, it’s not just a male thing.
KEVIN :Is he coming tonight?
KELLY :No, I don’t think so.
CRAIG :Don’t think so, I think he’s in Australia.
KELLY :We’re sort of past the halfway point, so (inaudible). She’s still alive, she’s alive, she’s alive.
Opens on June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters. “Brave” is rated PG by the MPAA.
Disney-Pixar shows why they are at the top of their game with their 13th film BRAVE.
Merida (Kelly MacDonald) is not your typical princess. Rather than being the refined young lady that her mother, the Queen (Emma Thompson), would like her to be, Merida is more concerned with shooting her bow and going on adventures just like her father (Billy Connolly). When her parents decide that it is time for her to marry, Merida finds a loophole in the contest to win her hand and causes chaos with both her family, and the kingdom. Running out of options, Merida turns to a witch for help, only to find more trouble. Now, Merida must dig deep inside herself to break the curse and bring peace to her land.
I absolutely adored this film. It’s refreshing to see a princess movie that doesn’t center around falling in love. Merida wants to choose her own destiny, rather than being told that she must marry. She just isn’t ready for that. Instead, she would rather live her life and make decisions for herself. This is a family tale about courage, bravery and changing your fate, not about a damsel being saved by a white knight. Merida can save herself! Plus, let’s be serious… her suitors were not exactly the crème de la crème!
BRAVE also deals with the mother-daughter relationship as well. Merida and her mother just cannot see eye-to-eye. The teenage/parent relationship can often be a tricky one and Disney-Pixar really work the topic in while still keeping the movie entertaining.
Merida just might be my new favorite Disney-Pixar character. She is strong, confident, and unapologetic of who she is. Merida might be rough around the edges, but she has a huge heart and a passion for life. She is a wonderful role model for girls of all ages!
Kelly MacDonald was simply exquisite as the voice of Merida. She brought such an innocence to the role, mixed with a rebellious spirit. Besides the incredible voice of Kelly MacDonald, BRAVE has a wonderful cast of voice actors such as Emma Thompson (Queen Elinor), Billy Connolly (King Fergus), Robbie Coltrane (Lord Dingwall), Craig Ferguson (Lord Macintosh), and Kevin McKidd as both Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin.
BRAVE tackles a lot of firsts for Pixar. It’s their first fairy tale, it’s the first Pixar film with a female protagonist, and it’s even their first period piece. It really seems to fit the motto of the film “Change Your Fate”. Because it is their first fairy tale, I really enjoy that Pixar did not stick to the typical outline. Merida did not need to be rescued, nor did she find, as I said earlier, her knight in shining armor. Merida saved herself, and everyone around her. This sets it apart from other animated features. Pixar is always tackling new adventures, and setting the bar even higher for their next film. They put a great deal of work into BRAVE and it shows.
The amount of detail in the scenery is stunning. The film invites you into the Scottish Highlands, and is beautifully recreated. Blades of grass, the wind blowing through the lands, waterfalls… all have a gorgeous, natural, yet magical feel. Adding Merida, with her gorgeous, tousled red hair flowing over the background, was just genius. The layers of animation all compliment each other in ways that I never thought possible! They stuck to dull colors for the background, making Merida pop and flow through her scenes, while still reflecting the period of time in Scotland. The colors also helped to showcase that this is not your typical princess story. Still, they added hints of color to showcase the magic of the film, such as the Wisps.
BRAVE is a princess story for the modern girl. Courage, bravery, and fun all make for an inspirational tale.
Happy Father’s Day, from Disney/Pixar’s BRAVE. Check out this special piece for all the Dads!
Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) andcantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery.
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor. Opens on June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.
