Disneyland Halloween & Holiday Press Events
For the last many years, I have directed many of the major Press Events at the Disneyland Resort.
In directing the Halloween Press Event 2012, I set a new standard in the rehearsal and utilization of talent as they interacted and interfaced with the media. I set a new training practice, in which I prepared the talent for the varied, and often frenzied, pace of live broadcast hosts and crews. I used my Billy Hill crew as the first guinea pigs of this new practice, drilling them on anything that could get thrown at them, from :10 bumpers, teasers, :30's, :60's, 2:00... you name it. We took it on. At the beginning of the morning, they were only scheduled for 3 hits. By the end of the day, they'd become so popular with the media, they were the most requested act of the morning, outshining even Mickey himself.
This new way of interacting with the media took our talent from being background entertainment, to being featured performers, as they could be much more interactive and "in the moment" with their media hosts, creating an enjoyable and fun atmosphere for our broadcast partners.
I furthered this new, interactive attitude to include our characters and our Disneyland Resort Spokespersons, eventually creating a standard that is still in use today at the park. I knew I had made a difference when, in joining the crew for the Halloween Press Event in 2013, I was instructed by my Production Manager what the talent rehearsal standards were, having my own set of criteria for a successful press event quoted back to me...
In directing the Halloween Press Event 2012, I set a new standard in the rehearsal and utilization of talent as they interacted and interfaced with the media. I set a new training practice, in which I prepared the talent for the varied, and often frenzied, pace of live broadcast hosts and crews. I used my Billy Hill crew as the first guinea pigs of this new practice, drilling them on anything that could get thrown at them, from :10 bumpers, teasers, :30's, :60's, 2:00... you name it. We took it on. At the beginning of the morning, they were only scheduled for 3 hits. By the end of the day, they'd become so popular with the media, they were the most requested act of the morning, outshining even Mickey himself.
This new way of interacting with the media took our talent from being background entertainment, to being featured performers, as they could be much more interactive and "in the moment" with their media hosts, creating an enjoyable and fun atmosphere for our broadcast partners.
I furthered this new, interactive attitude to include our characters and our Disneyland Resort Spokespersons, eventually creating a standard that is still in use today at the park. I knew I had made a difference when, in joining the crew for the Halloween Press Event in 2013, I was instructed by my Production Manager what the talent rehearsal standards were, having my own set of criteria for a successful press event quoted back to me...
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Disneyland Resort Halloween and Holiday Press Events
Date: 2012-2014 Responsibilities: Creative Direction, Event Direction, Script Writing, Media Training & Talent Rehearsal, Voice Over Direction, Music Supervision |
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