Flying High…and Pinching Myself?
Have you ever had one of those experiences that you had to keep pinching yourself the entire time to see if its real? Mainly because cool things happen to other people, not us, right? Just a few weeks ago I had one of those semi-out-of-body-pinch-me-I’m-really-here experiences. I had the opportunity to attend the Dumbo press conference and share air with Tim Burton, Danny DeVito, Colin Ferrell, Michael Keaton, Danny Elfman and so many more. It was INSANE. I attended as a member of the media, all opinions are my own.
Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in non-other than Beverly Hills, the Dumbo press conference was divided into two separate sets. I am sure the reason for separating them was to give each filmmaker and the actors and actresses time to speak but I honestly think it was so our heads wouldn’t explode from all of the star power in one room.
Conference Set #1
The first Dumbo press conference set consisted of Screenwriter Ehren Kruge, Producer Justin Springer, Producer Derek Frey, Producer Katterli Frauenfelde, Production Designer Rick Heinrichs, Costume Designer Colleen Atwood, and Composer Danny Elfman.
Although what each of the filmmakers had to contribute to the conversation about making this film with Tim Burton, what sparked my curiosity the most was hearing about Danny Elfman’s composing music for a film ritual. Danny Elfman has been writing music and scores for many of Tim Burton’s films since 1985 and PeeWee’s Big Adventure. Elfman went on to say that he usually secures a “gig” and then writes the music for it. However, with this film, Elfman was asked to create the musical score for Dumbo and before he even accepted the “gig” or talked to Burton about the direction of the music Elfman had a tune playing in his head. So he quickly recorded it and set it aside for more than a year. Once it was time to start creating the musical score he pulled the track back out, dusted it off and gave it his “litmus test”. For a theme song to work for Elfman, he has to have it perform under extreme circumstances. So he will replay the song slower and sounding more sad. Then he’ll test it again under the opposite – fast and happy. If the song sounds great under all three variables then he has found the perfect theme song!
Conference Set #2
The second Dumbo press conference set consisted of: Michael Keaton (“V.A. Vandevere”), Colin Farrell (“Holt Farrier”), Danny DeVito (“Max Medici”), Eva Green (“Colette Marchant”), Nico Parker (“Milly Farrier”), Finley Hobbins (Joe Farrier) and last (but certainly not least) Director Tim Burton.
This conference set felt like a blur of activity and emotion. Tim Burton was just as funny and animated as one might expect and Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito and Michael Keaton were just as charismatic and funny as one might expect. I unfortunately did not have time to ask the panel a question (I was next when time was called!) however, Tim Burton did touch on the question I had in mind to ask. I was most curious as to what he finds most interesting in the original Dumbo animation and how he wanted to expand upon that story in his 2019 remake.
When Burton was asked by the moderator about expanding the 60 minute original Dumbo animation, he had this to say: “I just like the fact that it’s obviously a very simple fable, very simple story. And it’s heart, about family. And what I liked about it was the human parallel story.” He goes on to talk about the plot of the new Dumbo which I will not share because you have to see the film for yourself!
Dumbo will be in theaters nationwide Friday March 29th 2019
*All Images copyright Desiree Eaglin
