I loved doing all the interviews and directing the Disney Family Album series. Milt was one of my favorites. For one thing, he did very few interviews, so it was an honor to get to speak with him. And I'll never forget the expressions he made when he was doing that Pinocchio drawing. Fierce and focused, and very alive, like he was pouring his own life into the drawing. I could imagine him making those same faces while he was at his animation desk. I'll have a few stories about Milt that have never been told before in the book I'm writing, 'Me and the Mouse,' about my experiences over 20 years working with The Walt Disney Company. [Andreas Deja--would you like an advance copy? One of Milt's stories involves you. Naturally.]
I've been collecting vintage Disney documentary stuff on my rumble page including the Walt Disney Family Album. I wish that series had went on and we need a revival to capture all of the important real history of the 80's and 90's now...Was there a lot of interview material that didn't make it into these shows? Do you think that material still exists?
@@edmccray212 Yes, I'd guess we shot 3 or 4 times as much footage as as we used in each show, the exceptions being shows like Voices or Disneyland Designers, where we featured multiple people in an episode.
@@quantumstoryteller Does that unused footage still exist? What a treasure trove those shows are. Were there any planned episodes that didn't get finished or made? From what I've read, Eisner shut down anything Card Walker was involved with including this and a mini series about Walt. I wish this stuff would have been allowed to continue.
@@edmccray212 Yes, i wrote the mini-series with L.G. Weaver. Chris Vogler, who wrote The Screenwriter's Journey, was the story analyst that Eisner sent it to for coverage. Vogler called me to tell me that he was giving it the highest possible recommendation to Eisner. There will be a chapter in my book about what happened with the mini-series. It involves Eisner, Card Walker, and Diane and Ron Miller. The politics were crazy. At one point, when he was still at Disney, John Lasseter announced in a meeting that he wanted The Family Album series to continue, but nothing ever came of it.
@@edmccray212 Because Andreas was able to locate the unused Milt footage, I assume the outtakes from the other shows exists, too. I have no idea where it would be. Andreas would have a better guess than mine.
Milt is a humble genius. I mean his work in Sword in the Stone (among others) is beyond comparison. His drawings of arms and hands is still used as a guide up to today by animators. God bless you, Milt Kahl.
Absolutely incredible! I hope there is a lot more. I could watch him draw all day long and listen to him talk about Walt and the characters he's animated endlessly. Thank you so much for sharing this!
