Last night I watched a two hour segment on the History Channel about Walt Disney and the construction of Disney Land and Disney World. Throughout the whole show all I could think of was how much Dan is like Walt Disney and how excited he would be to be developing something like the Disney complexes.
Of course, he is...just on a smaller scale.
Part of the program dealt with some explosions using propane and how they developed the attraction by going out back and just trying various combinations. The engineer said that they were living the dream of every 12 year old.
All I could imagine was Dan in the same scenerio, just having a ball.
Thank you Disney and Dan for showing us the curiosity and excitement of being a child again.
Posted by Steve Thomas Greer (Member # 4566) on :
Ah Chapman that is so sweet!
Did anyone know that Dan has been offered on a number of occasions a job designing at Disney?
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
The second post was supposed to be an edit, not a second post. Pulled a Jake here, sorry.
[ December 21, 2006, 09:52 AM: Message edited by: Ricky Jackson ]
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
quote:Originally posted by Raymond Chapman: Part of the program dealt with some explosions using propane and how they developed the attraction by going out back and just trying various combinations. The engineer said that they were living the dream of every 12 year old.
All I could imagine was Dan in the same scenerio, just having a ball.
Mmmmmmm... I love the smell of C4, RDX or PETN in the moring. Lucky for us Dan didn't get sucked into the corporate vaccumn only to become a behind the scenes genius. He deserves every bit of the recognition he gets. The subject of creativity has always been of interest to me (yes I have the Von Orech books) and from what I understand, you must have a mindset that is free from constraints; it is these constraints that filter out creative thoughts. No wonder Dan loves Phoebie so much; he can get right down on the same level as her.
If we could get the wanted posters of me removed from the Canadian post offices, I'd come up and work for Dan for free! ...and I'd leave my pistols at home.
[ December 21, 2006, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: Ricky Jackson ]
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Thank you for the kind words.
Walt Disney and his band of merry Imagineers have long been on my list of heroes.
A number of years ago I was invited to have a little tour through Walt Disney Imagineering, the group who design and build the theme parks. THey number over a thousand creative folks. My guide was Tony Baxter, Vice President of Creative Services. He was the executive leader responsible for Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Disneyland Paris, and a host of other projects through the years. We had a good visit and a very cool tour of the model shop.
His office was on the second floor overlooking the huge space below filled with many cubicles. After looking though my portfolio and talking a while he motioned with his arm sweeping the whole space below and said to me... "Pick your desk..." He caught me by surprise and at first I didn't know what he meant. He assumed I was there for a job and he was prepared to offer me one on the spot.
I smiled at him and politely declined. I was only there or a visit to talk creative things with someone who spoke the same language.
A year later on another visit to California I was afforded the opportunity to tour backstage at Disneyland. The tour was arranged by Tony Baxter once again, and my guide was Bob Baranic who was in charge there. We had a great time seeing behind the magic as he took me everywhere I wanted backstage.
We visited a while in Bob's tiny office which was stuffed full of cool things. Bob took the time to go through my portfolio which I had been asked to bring. Near the end of our visit Bob surprised me by asking if I was yet ready to join the Disney Imagineering team, a request he passed on from Tony. I declined once again.
I was so honored each time I was asked to join that most creative of all teams. While I would love to work in such a place for a short while I could never survive there. Things just take too long, the time in development and the endless chain of approvals to get things done
Turning down the wonderful offers was instant and without regret. While the projects I do is so much smaller on my own the things I dream up and build are no less creative. Best of all I can have a wildly creative thought, make a quick scribble to work it out and then head out into the shop to make it. And all without asking anyone permission.
Living the dream daily in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
Posted by Greg McRoberts (Member # 3501) on :
Dan might have to drop his standards to work at Disney! Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
I have a co-op student here and we were just discussing the Letterhead channel/people on it/ Dan Sawatzkyeh and went to the Giggle Ridge web. I think Disney is really missing something to not have you on board Dan. And I think they know it.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
I was thinking the same thing Raymond While I was watching that. Well at least till I fell asleep on the couch.
Posted by Bill Dirkes (Member # 1000) on :
Me too Bill. Except for the couch. Iwas in bed watchin, I know how fast I can doze off.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
See..if you took naps that wouldn't happen.
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
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