Comic-Con Press Conferences: Frankenweenie, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Wreck-It Ralph

July 14, 2012 Denise

Mousesteps was invited to cover three press conferences at Comic-Con on Thursday for the highly anticipated films Frankenweenie, Oz: The Great and Powerful and Wreck-It Ralph. We sent a reporter to all three, and here are some photos and little about what was talked about during those press conferences.

Frankenweenie Press Conference

Frankenweenie Director Tim Burton took the majority of the questions, flanked by producers Don Hahn and Allison Abbate, along with actor Atticus Shaffer (Edgar).

One of the first questions was fielded to Hahn, who stated he'd never done stop motion before. He said that that was why Allison was there, she is the master of movies like Corpse Bride and The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Hahn said that unlike other types of animation, that he liked that he could actually "see the hands of the artists". Tim Burton later continued in that same vein, saying that there is "something magical about stop motion because you get to touch and feel the puppets". He also used the words "magical" and "special" multiple times to convey his feelings about what he says is a "beautiful art form".

Atticus Shaffer perked up jokingly when called on, and then was asked a question about his latest nightmare. Shaffer was extremely animated with his hands as he said, "What freaks me out the most is like, spiders". He then clarified that to all arachnids.

Director Tim Burton, Mousesteps Image

Director Tim Burton and Producer Allison Abbate, Mousesteps Image

Producer Don Hahn and Actor Atticus Shaffer, Mousesteps Image

Frankenweenie Press Conference, Photo Copyright Disney

Producer Don Hahn, Actor Atticus Shaffer, Director Tim Burton, Photo Copyright Disney

Tim Burton was asked what his favorite ride at Disneyland was, with a suprising answer. "I'm a Space Mountain man myself". He did say that the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction (where the Haunted Mansion is turned into The Nightmare Before Christmas) "is such an honor, I grew up loving the Haunted Mansion".

He also went on to say about stop-motion animation that there is a simplicity to it, that it isn't about technology. When asked if Burton would do straight horror again like Sleepy Hollow, he said that isn't currently in the cards. "This is such a special project, I'm taking time to enjoy that".

Frankenweenie opens October 5th, 2012.

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Oz: The Great and Powerful Press Conference

Next up was the press conference for Oz: The Great and Powerful. Director Sam Raimi joined actors Mila Kunis (Theodora, Wicked Witch of the West) and Michelle Williams (Glinda, the Good Witch), and a few minutes later producer Joe Roth also arrived.

Raimi explained Oz: The Great and Powerful as a "straightforward family picture. I would say it's a very classically Disney movie…how to be the best person you can be is really the story of this film. It's about recognizing those mistakes you make and moving past them".

Michelle Williams was asked what it was like to work with a "cinematic genius like Sam Raimi", and then Raimi was asked what it was like to "work with two of the most beautiful women in the world". Sam made a growling type sound, much to the delight of the audience. After the laughter died down, he stated "It's great to work with them because they are wonderful actresses".

Mila gushed, "Sam is fantastic. I would work in craft service for Sam if he asked me to". Sam then looked at her and asked, "Would you do craft services?" Another round of laughter filled the room. Kunis added, "He is one of the sweetest, most gentle human beings I've had the pleasure of working with"

Director Sam Raimi and Producer Joe Roth, Copyright Disney

Actor Michelle Williams, Copyright Disney

Oz: Great and Powerful Press Conference, Copyright Disney

Michelle Williams called working on Oz: The Great and Powerful "a very holistic experience".

Producer Joe Roth wanted everyone to understand that the film "is a prequel. None of us would try to remake the 1939 movie".

One of the challenges that Sam Raimi needed to learn was how to shoot in 3D, listing many reasons why it's very different than shooting a film without.

Oz: Great and Powerful Press Conference, Mousesteps Image

Actor Michelle Williams, Mousesteps Image

Actors Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis, Mousesteps Images

Director Sam Raimi, Mousesteps Image

Actors Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis Flank Director Sam Raimi, Copyright Disney

There was another tremendously funny moment that came later in the conference. Joe Roth mentioned the different projects that each actor was working on during Oz: The Great and Powerful. Michelle had been working on Marilyn, Mila on Ted, James Franco on "whatever degree he was on" and Rachel Weisz on Bourne. The audience misheard the word (as did I, listening on audio), and Michelle Williams appeared to debate what to say before taking to the microphone and stating "not porn". (it still makes me laugh thinking about it)

Michelle Williams was asked if she would consider a Dawson's Creek reunion. "I would happily do a reunion show, but I don't know what it would be – my character died at the end".

Oz: The Great and Powerful opens on March 8th, 2013.

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Wreck-It Ralph Press Conference

I haven't yet received some of the audio files for the Wreck-It Ralph press conference, but I'll add a short article in here when I do. For the meantime, enjoy the photos of the press conference from Thursday. On hand were actor John C. Reilly (Wreck-It Ralph), Sarah Silverman (Vanellope von Schweetz), director Rich Moore and producer Clark Spencer.