Its been gratifying to have that connection to D23 and to be able to show some pride about what we do and show a little bit behind the curtain. By Bruce Steele. NBA coach who spent 12 years as an assistant coach with the Seattle SuperSonics. Under her Seruto & Company moniker, she would collaborate on four museum projects with Weis. Battle Stations 21 was the Navys attempt to upgrade training. To understand more about Bob Weis as a themed entertainment professional and his lifetime of distinguished achievements, InPark editor Joe Kleiman explored a series of projects completed between 2002 and 2009. It was professionally produced with sound effects and music, and they could email it to family and friends. got to know and trust each other, which was key to making this project work. In this medium of immersive experiences, we want to break out of the screen and really envelop all the senses sight, smell, emotion, the feel all the things that can tell the story in physical ways that you will never forget. Gensler also interviewed Weis about immersive experiences, and he laid out what he thinks the three main elements of an immersive experience are: First, these are experiences that people want to do together. the press release of the Gensler vision and Weis new responsibilities literally sounds like what a modern day WDI division and its President would be striving to do for the 21st century Disney fan. BW: This has been high on my mind recently, because Ive been working on [sorting through] this huge discovery of [documents and artifacts] that Marty Sklar collected during his 50-year career. Gensler, who has worked with Disney before, will offer Weis the opportunity to bring his expertise in design, storytelling, and immersive world-building to a broader audience. A day or two later, we were told to make a pitch. Theres an expression in sports, hes a players coach. In the experience design world, the same could be said about Bob. I was For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. Instead of the traditional Adventureland we created Adventure Isle, plus an entire land themed to pirates. balance between making sure we have the classic things people cherish while Bob is so familiar with movies and studios that he made sure we made it look and feel like a real soundstage. We never broke the fourth wall in Battle Stations 21. He currently resides in Pennsylvania, United States. It certainly wasnt guaranteed at that time. of how the company worked and how the different groups supported each other. Among her credits are the traveling tour of the treasures of Tutankhamen, launched by AEG and National Geographic in 2005. It might have made me nervous and impacted the ease with which we spoke at this first meeting.. Related: Legendary Disney Imagineer Retiring After 42 Years. And it was a joy to work with Leslie [Iwerks] on her documentary about Imagineering [The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+]. And so, I elected to go on the Tokyo team. I wrote the script for this, shares Russell. That was another great family connection because to work alongside your sister who for your whole life is in such a completely different field than you, and learn about each others work, was bonding and great and a really wonderful way to get to know her.. He recently The oldest prop was from Titanic. is a vibrant place with a dynamic culture, and we knew we couldnt just bring There was a company statement posted on the official Imagineering Instagram page that recognized the scope of Weis contribution. dedication and passion for excellence. Bob Weis, Global Imagineering Ambassador and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), announced today that he will retire at the end of the year. The firm already has such an incredible commitment to the cultural vibrancy of cities and the places where we live, work, and play. He cared about the environment so his goal was to create a TV show that would make people love the ocean and the ocean creatures. But fans inspire you. But he was right. He would get down in the weeds and work with the team to figure out solutions. was greenlit. In addition to his theme park work, Weis has led influential projects in museums, science centers . There was a lot of prototyping and a lot of coordinating with the facility elevator operations team, Seruto told Rubin. Hes so well-suited to lead and organize and cast a group of people to do something, no matter the size of the project., Rick Rothschild, Chief Creative at FAR Out! Think of going to the theater, but instead of watching the play from your seat, you are part of the play. But also, as Marty [Sklar] said, our theme parks are not museums. I had to write a twelve-hour script, shares Chick Russell, It was a twelve-hour script, but twelve different scenarios happen every hour, and all at the same time. And thats one of the great joys of being an Imagineer. And I think the important thing is for Imagineers to listen to fans and listen when things are working and also be willing to admit when things arent workingand so, its time to update or to make some changes. It really was a great way to learn from Disneyland. We ended up using pieces from the Tishman collection in this new gallery, showcasing them with contemporary pieces by young African American artists. Then they would board a missile destroyer. The closest we got to civilization was a rental car that a crew member drove out to camp each night, full of replacement batteries for the equipment and a satellite phone. People are really looking for an experience about optimism. Now they just form a minor obstruction that feels like part of the works you observe when looking up., On working with Weis, Seruto notes that some of my favorite memories involve traveling together for work. the architectural ornamentation of the castle. I will always be proud to have led Imagineering from 2016-2021, and to be your Global Ambassador in 2022, he wrote in an email he shared today with his fellow Imagineers. But the fundamental power of storytelling, of getting people together for a Disney experience [has not changed]. Whats exciting for me is bringing immersive experiences and stories into everyday normal life so that we can make peoples lives better. Kurt and I had worked on several projects together, and he suggested Bob talk to me. Read our privacy policy, #91 Trending technology, risk and reward, #90 Branding + Licensing, AV Technology, Expo 2020 Dubai, #87 Spellbinding immersive digital environments, #84 Everything the industry has to offer, #68 Going Global: Technology on the International Stage, #67 Experience Design: Many Faces Many Places, #54 Waterparks, Zoos and Aquariums 2014, Screens to scenes: Christies visual technology. The Tokyo group was much smaller, because most of the work was going to be done in Japan. We learned to put ourselves in the shoes of the guests. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. Subsequent assignments included creative leadership on Disneys Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios), Tokyo DisneySea, and the reimagining of Disney California Adventure. maybe Disney should just outsource that too, itll be cheaper? First, these are experiences that people want to do together. We cut through two floors of Rockefeller Center and we had to keep the building going for the tenants 24/7.. He takes his work seriously, but also has an amazing sense of humor dry, insightful and super funny that comes out when you least expect it and always comes from a place of keen observation. And it did work out. He and the other Thea award recipients in 2021 will be celebrated in a series of virtual Thea Awards Case Studies later this year, and in the official Thea Awards Program publication (TEA expects to resume hosting its in-person Thea Awards Gala in 2022). He empowers the team; he doesnt micromanage them that comes with respect, it comes with a certain ability to understand personality types in the process and how to motivate. Serving the themed entertainment industry, Buzz Price Thea Award Recognizing a Lifetime of Distinguished Achievements, The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, New Jerseys Clementon Park up for auction March 23, BREAKING: California parks hopeful about April reopening prospects, Wt Workshop Unleashed honored with Thea Award for innovative hybrid tour experience, 27th Thea Awards Digital Case Studies lineup announced, Analog Way Picturall Pro Media Server drives 2021 TEA Thea Award recipient Entrance Experience at St. Louis Aquarium, ISE Open Innovation Challenge ready for submissions, Chessington World of Adventures Resort welcomes Jumanji themed land this spring, Digital Projection and VIOSO team up for ISE 2023 demo, Plans announced to create Hollywood Sign Visitor Center, DEAL Show 2023 set for March 14-16 in Dubai. Creative Direction, former Disney Imagineer, Chick Russell, Executive Producer and Creative Director at Chick Russell & Company, former Disney Imagineer, Van Romans, President of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, former Executive Director, Cultural Affairs, Walt Disney Imagineering, Tim Steinouer, Creative Producer at Steinouer Creative, former partner at Design Island, Nancy Seruto, Owner of Seruto LLC, former Disney Imagineer, John Beckman, Director, Exhibit Design and Production at Adler Planetarium, former Director of Exhibit Design and Development at MSI, Chicago, Kurt Haunfelner, Senior Vice President for Exhibitions at California Science Center, formerly Vice President of Exhibits and Collections at MSI, Chicago. The decks had been closed to the public for a decade and not only needed refurbishment, but an updated feel. Bobs magic trick is to show how the illusion could be so convincing and real., In 2002, John Beckman, now Director of Exhibit Design and Production at Chicagos Adler Planetarium and Principal at Sage Creative Group (Hamilton: The Exhibition), was just settling into his new position as Manager of Temporary Exhibits at MSI Chicago when ACTION! It all comes back to the three things I talked about earlier. Thats just been a huge growth curve in my experience. We were trying to explain to young people that every kind of job imagined and skill needed exists in the film business. A lover of history and cinema, whether overseeing a Disney theme park or a traveling museum exhibit, he was, as one of his team members called him, never a micro-manager, but always a collaborator., Its kind of a life story arc, colleague and former fellow Imagineer Rick Rothschild said of Weis. Thats one of the big things that Marty was writing and speaking about: a sense of optimism. When I was with Bob, he was always searching with me, How do we approach this idyllic structure? When in Washington, I told the team to wear ties to a meeting and Bob just laughed. Stream The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+ on Disney+, Bob Weis to Retire from Imagineering After 42 Years. We learned so much at WDI. It laid the groundwork for many popular exhibitions, including Weiss subsequent CSI exhibit. An Adventure in Movie Making; Top of the Rock; Battle Stations 21; The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History; and CSI: The Experience. He wanted people to really escape the world that they were living in and have a great timean experience that was reassuring, that was celebratory. Their computers seamlessly edited the film that guests got to take home with them. Editors note: We took a tribute approach to this story, interviewing Bob Weiss creative collaborators to learn and share their experiences of working with him. When we reached one of our last stops, the Today Show was there to greet us., Steinouer continued, When we were packing the horses at the start of the trip, Bob nonchalantly mentioned a movie exhibition that was being considered in Chicago. He has also consulted with major clients including Smithsonian, National Geographic, NASA, and the United States Navy, among others. After college, I was lucky to go straight to Walt Disney Imagineering where I could combine these skills of design with an understanding of storyline and how those two things bring spaces to life with live entertainment and embellishments of things like graphics, color, and light. Certainly, the way we design has changed; the way we develop and visualize and engineer things has changed. Disneys America, as planned, would have had lands themed to the Civil War and World War II. parks that they just werent feeling at this one. There are also a lot of artists and designers out there and theyve been doing this for years who are trying new things and pushing the envelope on what an experience is. Our whole mission is to connect to people through space, through places, through the activities that take place in great spaces. Theres a familiarity with being relaxed, having faith in your team, giving leeway. Bob loved it because it was related to America. recurring theme: there was an intangible something they got in our other Bob Weis is very wise, a good friend, and very helpful. The Japanese have a rich, And it had a huge impact. Forty-two years after first joining Imagineering, Bob Weis has announced his retirement, it read. In recent years, he led the creative team for the development, design, and construction of Shanghai Disney Resort. Youre receiving limited access to D23.com. I have huge admiration for [The Walt Disney Company CEO] Bob Chapek for marching ahead [with us] and believing in the projects that Imagineering does and that the audience would be there [when the pandemic eased]. Genslers commitment to leading the future of design is perfectly aligned with my passion for developing unique, immersive experiences with a diversity of creative voices. A deep love for Imagineering and tremendous respect for the people who built it, but also such enthusiasm for the new and future talent that inhabit those hallowed halls. Bob and I share classic film knowledge, he says. Profiled are: In Their Footsteps: Lewis and Clark; ACTION! We take your privacy seriously. 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