'ATLANTIS,' 'PEARL' BOSS OUT OF JOB MOVIES SO-SO AT BOX OFFICE.Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer BURBANK _ Disney studio chief Peter Schneider abruptly stepped down Wednesday after leading the film division for just 17 months, saying he wanted to return to his roots in Broadway production. The announcement came after relatively disappointing showings by two of the biggest summer movies for The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co., ``Pearl Harbor'' and the studio's latest animated offering, ``Atlantis: The Lost Empire.'' Company officials insist there is no connection between box office performance and Schneider's decision to start an independent company, partially funded by Disney, for Broadway theater production and investment. ``For the last 16 years he has been a wonderful colleague and friend who has been at the center of our incredible creative successes in animation and the legitimate theater
Legitimate theater is live performance that relies entirely on diegetic elements, with actors performing through speech and natural ,'' said Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Eisner Michael Dammann Eisner (born March 7, 1942) was CEO of The Walt Disney Company from September 22, 1984 to September 30, 2005. Early life Michael Eisner was born to a wealthy family in Mt. Kisco, New York, and raised on Park Avenue in Manhattan. . No immediate replacement was named as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios The name Walt Disney Studios may refer to:
Schneider's tenure atop the studio was marked by several successes. Disney was No. 1 in box office share last year, as it has been for much of the past decade. This year the studio has struggled. It bet $135 million in production costs that ``Pearl Harbor'' would be a megahit meg·a·hit n. A product or event, such as a movie or concert, that is exceedingly successful. Noun 1. megahit - an unusually successful hit with widespread popularity and huge sales (especially a movie or play or recording . Since Memorial Day the World War II epic has earned $162 million domestically and attendance has fallen sharply each week. It garnered $9.5 million this past weekend at the same time ``Atlantis'' opened in wide release, bringing in $20 million. ``Disney for the first time in a number of years probably won't be the box office champ this year,'' said David Davis David Davis, the name of several people, may refer to:
To contain costs, the studio has reduced the number of films it makes each year and has become more vulnerable when those don't perform well, Davis said. ``I think he was basically forced out to take the fall for Eisner for the subpar sub·par adj. 1. Not measuring up to traditional standards of performance, value, or production. 2. Below par in a hole, round, or game of golf. performance of the feature-film division this year,'' said media analyst Art Rockwell of Rockwell Capital Management in Burbank. ``The feature animation division was always the pride and joy of Disney and a release like `Atlantis' is certainly at the lower end of expectation from what you'd expect from a big summer movie from Disney.'' Schneider took over the studio in January 2000 after Joe Roth left to start Revolution Studios. Before Roth, Jeffrey Katzenberg left after a falling out with Eisner to form DreamWorks SKG SKG Stichting Kwaliteit Gevelbouw (Dutch) SKG Spielberg, Katzenberg,and Geffen (DreamWorks Studios) SKG Thessaloniki, Greece - Thessaloniki (Airport Code) SKG Smith and Kraus Global . Dreamworks is responsible for one of the year's biggest movies, the animated ``Shrek,'' which passed the $200 million mark at the box office this week. Schneider, who could not be reached for comment, gave no reason for his departure in a written statement released by Disney. ``It has been an honor to be part of this company's fantastic heritage and to have worked with some of the finest entertainment people in the world,'' Schneider said in the written statement. Schneider has been a Disney executive since 1985, serving as head of its feature animation unit and president of The Walt Disney Studios before becoming its chairman. Walt Disney Studios will now be led by three executives: Dick Cook, a 30-year veteran, chairman of The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group; Thomas Schumacher, president of Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Television Animation Walt Disney Television Animation is the animated television production division of The Walt Disney Company. It was formed in 1984. Tom Ruzicka, now at Universal Animation Studios, was one of the original executives in charge of this fledgeling group. and Buena Vista Theatrical Group; and Nina Jacobson, president of Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group. All will continue to answer to Eisner and Robert A. Iger, Disney president and chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. . ``While we regret bidding farewell to Peter, we are fortunate to have three outstanding executives with solid and proven track records overseeing The Walt Disney Studios,'' Iger said. Schumacher, along with Schneider, produced the highly successful Broadway musical ``The Lion King.'' |
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