Behind the Scenes at the Movies: Inside Out

How did they do that? Today's example is from the animated Disney film (2015) 'Inside Out'.

To ensure that Riley’s Bing Bong drawing looked authentic, Kim White (Director of Photography - Lighting on Inside Out) had her 7 year-old daughter draw the image that ended up in the film!

The Odd Life of Timothy Green - Review

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Drama, Comedy, SciFi/Fantasy
Runtime 104 min

Rated PG - for mild thematic elements and brief language.

Director: Peter Hedges

Writers: Peter Hedges, Ahmet Zappa

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Odeya Rush, Dianne Wiest

Grade A-

An inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green, who can't wait to start a family, but learn that they can only dream about what their child would be like. One stormy night young Timothy shows up on their doorstep. Cindy and Jim and their small town of Stanleyville (pencil capitol of the world) discover that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life's greatest gifts.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Trailer #1

Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?) brings enchantment to the screen with The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Teaser

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. It is a refreshing delight. Truly a film the entire family can enjoy together. Like the main character, Timothy, it isn't perfect, but it is ideal. It is charming, funny, thought provoking, touching, sad and uplifting. I very much recommend it.

Timothy Green's story is told by Jim (Joel Edgerton) and Cindy (Jennifer Garner) Green in the office of an  adoption agency where they are trying to adopt a child. On the line where it asks why they would make good parents they have simply written "Timothy". The agency workers ask them to explain, '...the time is yours to convince us'.  Although dubious of the couples qualifications they allow them to relate their incredible experience with the fantastic little boy, Timothy Green. His story is revealed through flashbacks.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Clip

The couple who live in Stanleyville (pencil capitol of the world  wherenhe works in the pencil factory and she works at the pencil museum), have been told they are unable to conceive. They are heartbroken and having trouble accepting the devastating news so in an effort to move on they dream up what their ideal child's characteristics and life events would be and they write them down on pieces of paper. They place the notes inside a box and bury it, along with their dreams, in their backyard.

After a stormy night, a ten-year-old boy arrives at their home covered in mud, claiming the Greens as his parents. They soon realize that the boy, named Timothy (CJ Adams), is in reality a culmination of all their wishes of their perfect child. Timothy continues to be the ideal child, not perfect, but ideal in ways that really matter, like changing the hearts of those who are most important to him.

Timothy is unusual. Leaves grow from his legs. Jim and Cindy intend to protect him from the cruel ways of the world toward people and things that are different. They take him to a trusted friend, a botanist, in an attempt to nip the leaves off of his legs but the stems of the leaves break the man's pruners. 'This isn't going to work, is it.'  He says, to the boy. Timothy shakes his head and says, 'No!'

Timothy is unflappable by bullies who pick on him at school. He seems to understand people and know just what to say to make someone feel loved and appreciated.

When he encounters Joni (Odeya Rush) a sort of sullen, loner girl they immediately develop an unspoken connection, they are kindred spirits an soon become fast friends.

I don't want to ruin the film going experience for anyone who would like to see this film so I won't reveal any more of the plot.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green ~ Trailer #2

Cast

 Jennifer Garner ~ Joel Edgerton ~ CJ Adams ~ Odeya Rush

Cindy Green ~ Jim Green ~ Timothy Green ~ Joni Jerome

Dianne Wiest ~ James Rebhorn ~ E. Emmet Walsh ~ Lois Smith

Ms. Bernice Crudstaff ~ Joseph Crudstaff ~ Uncle Bub ~ Aunt Mel

David Morse ~ Ron Livingston ~ Rosemarie DeWitt ~ Lin-Manuel Miranda

James Green, Sr. ~ Franklin Crudstaff ~ Brenda Best ~ Reggie

Chimpanzee - Review

Chimpanzee

Release Date: April 20, 2012
Studio: Disneynature
Director: 
Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Screenwriter: unknown

Starring: unknown
Genre: True Life Adventure
Rated: G
Website: Disney.com/Chimpanzee
Rating: B
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Production Stills: View here
 

Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with "Chimpanzee," a new True Life Adventure introducing an adorable baby chimp named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar's playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Working together, Oscar's chimpanzee family--including his mom and the group's savvy leader--navigates the complex territory of the forest.

 
The world is a playground for little Oscar and his fellow young chimps, who'd rather make mayhem than join their parents for an afternoon nap. But when Oscar's family is confronted by a rival band of chimps, he is left to fend for himself until a surprising ally steps in and changes his life forever. 

The PROS:
It was refreshing to see a Nature Film that didn't bow down at the alter of the environmentalist and PETA fascists. I was prepared for a damnation of mankind, but that wasn't the case. I can't stand it when you feel you are paying to be lectured by some elitist 'Holier than Thou'.  But there were no humans capturing and killing chimps and no footage of the rain forest being chopped down. Thankfully that is not what this story is all about. It's a snapshot of chimpanzee life in the wild (or is is it just life when they've grown accustomed to human observers).  You have much more interest in protecting Chimps when not being beaten over the head with the environmental message. It's so much easier to become emotionally invested in the animals themselves. They work their way into your heart as the use sticks like straws to get termites or ants out of mounds and  use rocks as nutcrackers. Their use of primitive tools that is remarkable, and young Oscar is enchanting as he learns the skill himself. The chimps ingenuity continues as they weave beds out of limbs high in the trees and settle in for the night. You really begin to get an appreciation for how intelligent these animals are.

"Chimpanzee" also shows the dark side of these animals. You see two troops of chimps viciously battling over territory. You see the chimps conduct a coordinated attack to hunt and kill a monkey for food. It's actually a bit shocking to see them tear apart the monkey and eat it. Not the cute and cuddly Chimps we see in other parts of the movie. As the film unfolds, you sense that you are getting a real picture of life in the animal kingdom, not just a sanitized Disney version.
The cinematography is breathtaking. As the movie rolls along, you find yourself wondering how the filmmakers got all of these amazing and intimate shots. They manage to get extreme close-up shots of their hands, feet, faces and their hair as they groom each other looking for ticks. There is amazing footage of the baby chimp's human like child's play. You sense of the personalities of the animals and wonder just how much footage it took to pull this off and just how much of it was staged. I really liked the  'making of' featurette during the credits, it gives you an appreciation of what the creators went through to get the footage, it's then you come to realize there wasn't as much staged as you might have thought.

I wondered if I was the only one asking the questions, "Does Oscar ended up leading the family? Does he even survive?" That made me realize that the film was effective in getting you to care about what happened to the chimps outside of the film. That is probably the most significant accomplishment of "Chimpanzee". 

UPDATE:

'Chimpanzee' star Oscar: Missing in action
USA TODAY‎ - 2 days ago

According to the director of the film, Mark Linfield, Oscar has not been seen since the the filmmakers left the Tai Forest of Africa's Ivory Coast in September 2011.

The CONS:
The Tim Allen narration. I'm not sure if it was his delivery or if it was the writing but I found it grating and distracting.
The G rating. Why? Because it quite intense in some parts. The film really plays up the fear of Oscar being in danger and the menace of the rival chimpanzees. The major event in Oscar's life...I don't want to spoil things here but most Disney movies, and "Chimpanzee" does nothing to end that trend, mothers don't fare all that well. I remember seeing Bambi  when I was a wee one, it was traumatic. My advice would be that if you have a kid 5 or under and they are the sensitive type... well, you may just want to pass on this one.
The LAST WORD:
All in all, "Chimpanzee" was an entertaining film. You and the kids may learn something along the way, so that makes it a winner overall.

Directed by:

Alastair Fothergill ("African Cats" and "Earth") and 

Mark Linfield ("Earth"), "Chimpanzee" swings into theaters on Earth Day 2012.