We thus chatted about the legacy ofFrozen, where next, and, of course, about Jason Statham….
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[They look worried]
Whats your favourite Jason Statham movie?
[They still look worried.
I think they think Im joking]
Chris:Jason Statham film?
Hes the high priest of British action cinema.
Jennifer:I know!
Chris:Whats the one where he has to keep moving… [gestures to his chest].
Jennifer:Crankis a good one, yeah!
So, Frozen then.
We spoke before how movies transcend can talk directly and indirectly to people going through challenges in their life.
So youre surrounded by people some of them more experienced than you and have to say no?
Chris:We gather brilliant people around us.
He did a lot of research, and hes a great designer.
He also looked at very theatrical lighting for the movie, and also for the songs and stuff.
Chris:So that takes away the busy-ness of the look of the movie.
Jennifer:The philosophy I always have is whats the sentence that would tell me about each shot.
If I cant read why the shots there, what is the story trying to say?
Then I know if its too busy, or if we dont know yet.
Really for us we were constantly asking what are we saying here, where should we be?
Lets focus the audience.
The silence… John Lasseter really wanted that silence when Anna freezes.
We took out even the ambient sound even that is normally just there to make it feel unusual.
We crafted that with him, because that was a moment where we wanted everything to feel suspended.
Particularly in animation, where everything is crafted from scratch, I think silence is hugely potent.
Can we talk then about the legacy of what youve done?
People queue for hours at a theme park to meet Anna and Elsa.
When, though, did youknow?
Ive read an interview of when you knew in early screenings where you felt the film had clicked.
But when did you know once the film had been completed?
Chris:I can tell you when I knew.
And that was the text that I got!
I got a text from a friend, one of the animators.
And even just the text, I thought this isdifferent.
This is not your normal animated movie, or any movie.
Somehow, there was this passion.
That was my cue that this was something different.
The one thing I remember though is Christmastime being back home in New York, and walking the streets.
Every day I was so busy visiting people Id missed.
Just walking across town, there was a girl singingFor The First Time In Forever.
And then another one singingDo You Want To Build A Snowman?ThenLet It Go.
And that I was like, somethings going on.
I then made the mistake of going to the Disney Store on Times Square and there was nothing!
But I was crying a lot!
Id like to think someone pushed past you to get the last toy or something!
Chris:Weve asked our head of merchandising for some products, if we could get some things!
Im working on it, he said!
We didnt grab the stuff initially thinking it wouldnt be a problem, and now everythings sold out!
Just draw some new ones!
Is that simple, right?
[laughs]
So: when did you first hear what were calling the communcal audience gasp?
Jennifer:Oh, it was at the preview.
Jennifer:And there was one time where a guy stood up and went YEEAAHHH!
[Laughs] What does that mean?!
And they watched it, and the gasp NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
They had no problem screaming, because they were all feeding off each other!
That was the best.
For the next 20 or 30 years now, youre going to face questions about this film I suspect.
Werepast the age of straight to DVD sequels now, that much is thankfully clear.
How do you stop The Jungle Book 2 happening to it?
How do you protect these characters, or do you have to accept that its someone elses now?
Jennifer:We might have different answers because youve had some distance from films before?
[Chris wasnt involved in theTarzanspin-offs]
Chris:Yeah, but those were different regimes.
And the characters too.
They dont go there.
Jennifer:Its flattering.
Theyre talking about our film at a deeper level than just it was good, it was bad.
And that in itself means a lot.
You dont want to take that away from fans.
We had one movie last year that hit big that was, namely The Heat.
Disney at least tried with The Princess And The Frog, and the marketing here clearly worked.
Jennifer:I will say that I think its far more complicated.
As a woman, I would love that.
I think it has: the reaction to them has been great.
I think thats the direction were going on.
I do think its a step, but I do think its going to take time.
Hopefully one day it wont be.
Chris:Its a challenge in different territories, too.
In Japan theyre calling itAnna & The Snow Queen.
In ten years time, Id be amazed if gender still dominated the conversation as its doing even now.
Jennifer:Thatd be great.
Chris:I think thats true.
Jennifer:Im still the person who naively thinks if I can imagine it, we can have it!
And they did it!
Nobodys proved me wrong, because that palace, they far exceeded that sentence!
I never thought they would do it.
Theyre dreading getting your next script though.
But in animation, the more we pushed, the more they delivered!
Jennifer and Chris, thank you very much!
Frozen is available on DVD and Blu-ray now.