Whereas we actually imagine that there isn’t a one proper solution to make a movie, we wished to take a second to mirror on our journey and share a glimpse into the way it all got here collectively.
– YouTubewww.youtube.com
Once we first started pre-production, our unique thought for the Not Simply A Goof documentary was virtually fully completely different from what we finally created. We had got down to inform the story of the A Goofy Film fandom, totally conscious of its ever-growing cult standing through the years. In any case, we have been a part of that passionate fan base ourselves.
Earlier than we even started conducting interviews, we have been uncertain of how you can begin. It felt like the most effective strategy was to create a pitch deck for the movie’s director, Kevin Lima. If we may get Kevin on board, we knew he may put us in touch with the opposite people who helped make A Goofy Film.
Once we first introduced the concept of a documentary to Kevin, his preliminary response was, “Actually? You actually need to make this film?” Bowled over, we replied with a decided, “Sure!” We have been relieved that he did not dismiss the concept immediately. However his subsequent remark resonated with us: “Properly, if you happen to begin it, you must end it.” With years of expertise, Kevin knew many individuals in Hollywood who promised huge concepts however seldom adopted by way of. So, we gave him our phrase, if we began this we knew we needed to end it, and that promise guided us as we moved forward.
Kevin Lima (Director of A Goofy Film)CREDIT: Disney+
The whole lot modified throughout that first interview. Kevin opened up in a method we hadn’t anticipated — weak and uncooked, he shared tales that had by no means been instructed earlier than. We exchanged glances at one another, and it hit us: “Do folks actually know this about A Goofy Film? Do they perceive how a lot of Kevin’s coronary heart and soul he poured into the movie?” It was at that second we realized: this documentary wasn’t simply in regards to the fandom. It was going to be for the fandom.
After the interview, Kevin led us to his basement, the place he saved his “film treasures.” He pulled out a field crammed with previous VHS and Hello-8 tapes — private behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the movie. With a smile, he instructed us, “Make the most effective movie you may.” These phrases solidified our mission: to honor the movie and the folks behind it, sharing one thing that had meant a lot to us and so many others.
All of it might sound optimistic up so far, however the next years have been crammed with challenges — significantly the issue of conducting interviews in the course of the world pandemic. Individuals have been understandably cautious about letting strangers into their properties throughout such an unsure time.
Left to proper: Eric Kimelton (Director of Not Simply A Goof), Christopher Ninness (Director of Not Simply A Goof) and Cameron Chambers (Composer of Not Simply A Goof)
But, there was one other hurdle we hadn’t anticipated: telling the tales for which we had no footage. That’s once we turned to Venturia Animation Studios, a proficient studio based mostly in Colombia. We selected them for 2 causes: First, it was clear they shared our ardour for storytelling. Juan Urbina, the CEO, was an extremely proficient particular person who understood our imaginative and prescient. Secondly, by way of our interviews with the artistic group behind A Goofy Film, we discovered that a lot of the animation had been finished in Canada, France, and Australia. We thought that collaborating with a global studio may assist us seize a few of that unique artistic vitality.
Juan Urbina, the CEO of Venturia, proposed a superb thought: what if we animated the documentary’s sequences with the characters as canines, paying homage to A Goofy Film’s personal distinctive animation model? It was a daring resolution, but it surely labored fantastically, including a layer of allure to the documentary. In whole, Venturia contributed round 10 minutes of animation to our movie, they usually did so with perception in our imaginative and prescient — even supposing we didn’t have the finances to pay them upfront. As an alternative, we agreed to supply them a share of the earnings if the movie succeeded. It was a leap of religion on each side, and we made it work by sustaining open and trustworthy communication in regards to the dangers and rewards.
Animated Character Line-Up from Not Simply A Goof
In late 2022, we obtained an sudden jolt of motivation. We bought a name — no introduction, simply, “Did you see the brand new episode of Atlanta?” Our jaws dropped once we discovered that Donald Glover had devoted a whole episode of his Emmy-winning present to a mockumentary about A Goofy Film. It was among the best tv episodes we would ever seen. However greater than that, it reminded us of the cultural relevance of the story we have been telling. All of a sudden, the film felt even greater than we’d realized. This new motivation pushed us to maintain going, particularly with the information that another person — maybe even Disney — might be engaged on their very own A Goofy Film documentary.
As we continued with the movie’s manufacturing, we labored intently with our composer, Cameron Chambers, discussing the route of the rating. The music turned a personality in itself. It was essential to us that the rating didn’t sit passively within the background — it needed to be woven into the material of the movie, echoing the feelings we wished to specific. With inspiration drawn from the wealthy, orchestral scores of the 90s, the music was as a lot a mirrored image of the movie’s coronary heart as any picture or phrase.
Cameron turned greater than only a collaborator — he was a associate, at all times keen to experiment and regulate till the rating felt precisely proper. His work has been nothing wanting integral to shaping the soul of the movie.
Left to proper: Cameron Chambers (Composer) and Kevin Lima (Director of A Goofy Film)
It’s 2023, and Kevin gave us a critique that basically took us without warning. “Why aren’t you two within the movie extra?” Our instant response was, “We didn’t make A Goofy Film.” However Kevin had listened to us share why the movie meant a lot, why it resonated so deeply with us. He understood our emotional connection, and he pushed for us to incorporate our personal tales within the movie. At first, we have been hesitant. To be trustworthy, the concept made us uncomfortable. A Goofy Film got here out throughout a time in our lives once we have been navigating some intense, private conditions.
However over time, we mirrored on our inclusion within the movie and got here to a realization: by sharing our tales, possibly it will enable others to see themselves. Despite the fact that it nonetheless makes us slightly uncomfortable, we’ve come to know that that is a part of the method of creating artwork. Typically, it requires placing your self on the market — vulnerabilities and all.
In 2024, every little thing modified once more. Our movie was despatched to Don Hahn, the legendary producer behind The Lion King, Magnificence and the Beast, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame—a literal Disney Legend. When he replied, it was a second of surreal pleasure. Don not solely believed within the movie, however he wished to assist us get it in entrance of the proper folks at Disney. We had created this documentary with out their information, utilizing one among their most iconic characters, and but Disney noticed what he noticed: one thing price sharing.
From left to proper: Christopher Ninness, Cameron Chambers, Scott Seibold and Eric Kimelton
The factor to notice in regards to the Disney fairytale that each one this comes throughout as is that it took an excessive quantity of endurance. From the time we set out on our journey to the time we met Don Hahn, we have been three years from the concept for this movie and two years of engaged on it nonstop in all of our free time. From the time we met Don Hahn to the time Disney determined to place our movie on Disney+, it was an extra 12 months and a half. So virtually the identical period of time it took us to get our movie to a spot we felt snug exhibiting somebody like Don, it took virtually the identical period of time to work its method by way of the company construction and juggernaut that’s The Walt Disney Firm.
We needed to undergo one million authorized hoops to get there. Like discovering out that “When You Want Upon a Star”, which was the closing theme of our film, is just not really owned by Disney, and if you wish to use it in your movie, it should set you again six figures. For sure, that music is not in our movie.
One other enjoyable proven fact that we really feel everybody ought to know that we didn’t know stepping into is that you simply undoubtedly want an lawyer. They’re costly, sure. However the quantity you pay them will pale compared to the quantity of errors you would make.
Nonetheless body of animated Kevin Lima (Director of A Goofy Film) and Invoice Farmer (Voice of Goofy) from Not Simply A GoofCREDIT: Disney+
Now, as we strategy 2025 and the thirtieth anniversary of A Goofy Film, we discover ourselves reflecting on a journey that has far exceeded something we may have imagined. We’re giving again to a movie that modified our lives, and we’ve had the unbelievable privilege of honoring one thing meaning a lot to us.
So, how did we do it?
A part of it was sheer ignorance — if we had recognized how lengthy it will take, and what number of obstacles we might face, we would have given up. However generally, not understanding the total scale of a problem is what helps you persist. Maybe the largest key was teamwork. This movie was made with mates — individuals who believed deeply within the story we wished to inform and believed deeply in one another.
We simply believed deeply.
Not Simply A Goof is a documentary uncovering the untold story of A Goofy Film. The movie was directed by Christopher Ninness and Eric Kimelton, who additionally co-wrote the story alongside Mason Trueblood. Produced by Scott Seibold and executive-produced by Don Hahn. The unique rating was composed by Cameron Chambers, with unique animation supplied by Venturia Animation Studios.
Not Simply A Goof is about to launch April 7 on Disney+.
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