Disney Goes Back to Nature
The Walt Disney Company is betting on a mass craving for prolific nature documentaries as their brand new production unit is developed to deliver two nature films per year starting in 2009, eFluxMedia.com reports.
The company underwent cutbacks in 2006 and this fresh effort, to be called Disneynature, reflects Disney's attempt to stimulate growth at its film unit.
Robert A. Iger, Disney's chief executive, said the success of Warner's March of the Penguins is what helped spark Disney's initiative to truly unveil this intriguing genre. Iger further explained that the mini-series from the Discovery Channel and the British Broadcasting Company, Planet Earth, delivered blockbuster television ratings; an aspect that stood as a true inspiration.
When interviewed, Mr. Iger revealed: "We were blown away by that TV series and we wished the Disney name was on it."
According to the New York Times, Disney hopes that nature's broad appeal will help the studio expand overseas. The company's films have long been successful in foreign countries, but Disney faces cultural barriers in some developing markets like China and India. Nature documentaries, with film gathered from around the globe, cross borders much more easily.
This initiative would not only be enhanced with the box office in mind. Mr. Iger said the new notion might generate a boost for Disney's book and DVD production, as well as forming a basis for the attractions based on 3D nature films being developed at Disney theme parks.
When asked to specify expenditure, Mr. Iger stated "The films will cost enough to deliver the type of quality our customers expect, but less than a typical feature."
The first movie, Earth, from the producer of the Planet Earth series, will be released on April 22, 2009. The film follows the yearlong journey of three mothers, a polar bear, elephant and humpback whale, with their offspring.
Crews are due to spend three years in the Ivory Coast preparing Chimpanzee, to be released in 2012. Oceans, set for a 2010 release, will rely on new technology to film underwater drama with precision.