Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

[The T]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

Does his mean that Pirates 4 will now be a prequel musical; set in a time when all the main characters are in their teen years?

I would have a heart attack if that happened!

[SnorkletsMom]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

Actually, after POTC3 was released and they had the "Young Jack Sparrow" comics/young adult novels, I was really expecting them to go somewhere with that concept. I thought maybe an animated series, or a film.

[mickhyperion]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

Iger is further refining the "Disney brand" into a soulless, unapologetically profit minded, disposable, kiddie product. Family entertainment should not mean "made for kids," but rather "made for adults (and kids too)." Remove the adult from the equation and you have a kiddie product that every kiddie will eventually grow out of. Walt knew that... oh, but that's right, we don't want any of that thinking around anymore. Iger will stripmine the Disney culture until there's nothing of any substance left and no one cares anymore, including us.

[WDWDN]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

I am excited to see how Rich can evolve the Studios as he did the Disney Channel. I have a huge belief that he will certainly be successful in this job!

[Retrocool]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

From Iger's point of view, he's perfect. A TV guy, like Iger. A guy with no attachment to the "Walt" days, like Iger. And a guy who is 100% beholden to Iger for his position.

End of story.

Maybe they can change the name of the park in Anaheim to Igerland.

[nish221]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

Personally, I think Rich Ross has a very good business acumen. He took what
he was given (Disney Channel) and boosted each segment of his audience
and improved its communications with the rest of the company.

A couple of data points that need to be cleared up.

* Yes, Disney Channel strongly segments its audience (which is partially was a defensive action as well as TV marketing 101; btw, I still miss Vault Disney!!) but that segmentation occurred l-o-n-g before Rich Ross took over there. You can't blame him for the fact that Disney Channel caters to the School House Disney and tween sets strongly.

* Despite what you might think HSM actually is well produced. (I think the
story line/writing is weak btw). The music and dance sequences are very
well done. Also there is definite talent in some of the actors (ok, maybe
they're better singers than actors).

* Mr. Cook wasn't "All World" either. Under his watch, we got the talking Chihuahuas and G2. The decision to stop doing hand-drawn-animation also.

So, yes, I would have preferred to have Richard Cook heading the Studios as well, but I'm not going to knock Rich Ross w/o seeing what he actually does.

If he's a good businessman (and I think he is), he's going to continue doing the things that make the entire Division successful as well as continue the things that are in-progress. He's NOT going to turn the whole Division into making tween or Playhouse movies.

[Retrocool]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

LOL, look at us; arguing about frickin' BUSINESS EXECUTIVES. This is inane.

[10/6]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

HAha! I read that too quick... I read RICK ROSS is taking over. As we all know he's "the boss".

^^^ little bit of Hip-Hop humor. ^^^

[Queentitania19]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

I don't think I've ever been this scared for the company. The Tween King takes over the whole studio and the DLR getting a new president on the same day. There is so much uncertainty. I hate the Disney Channel . I hate almost everything that's on it. Every program on it is part of the horrible Demographization of programs that only appeals to the lowest denominator. I'm sick with fear for the company now.

[girragenum]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

ya it will be great if they both get active on this forum...and share their exp. with gaming...

[Rocker]

Re: Rich Ross to head Walt Disney Studios

It sounds as though this guy really knows how to make money off of franchises and actors that you know will suffer from "Why did I like this in the first place?" Syndrome and of course "Lindsay Lohan" Syndrome. The products will get dated really quickly, and the actors and actresses will be on the tabloids in no time.

Disney is a MEGA-media conglomerate, no doubt, and will have to keep up with the times and the taste and culture of the audiences. My problem though is that Rich Ross is going to over-extend brands and franchises that many people question will be popular or not in the next 50 years or so. Brands such as "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" and such have expanded into musical theater, toys, merchandising and such because of universal themes (B&B- Beauty is on the inside; The Lion King- Diversity; Aladdin- Pretending to be something that you are not). Will people look at "Lizzie McGuire" 50 years and think of it as a classic? Probably not.

After reading it a little further, I am glad to know that he is on friendly terms with John Lassater, but overlooking all of the Disney animated movies? Mixed bag. I don't want him to dumb down any of Disney's animated films to make it entertaining JUST for kids.