Caffeinated Clint
Having produced some of today’s finest animated films, including “Beauty and the Beast”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and predominantly, “The Lion King”, the special effects bonanza “Haunted Mansion” is a comparatively new ballgame for Producer Don Hahn. So what pushed him to make the belated transition from ink to i-mac?
“I grew up in California, and the Haunted Mansion ride, which is at Disneyland, is like a piece of pop culture there. I grew up riding it – too many times”, laughs Hahn, who’s in Australia to promote the film. “And I just loved the old haunted house movies too, the ones with Vincent Price, or Abbott and Costello. They were great. There’s some good comedy to be had in Haunted House movies, and not only that, I welcomed the chance to work with Director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King) again and of course the chance to work with Eddie Murphy”.
Hahn says that like the recent “Pirates of the Caribbean” it took a lot more than simply plonking a camera in front of the ride – after all, the attraction doesn’t really have a story. “There’s no story there, so we had to actually develop one”. He continues, “But there’s also this huge fan club for the ride, so you’ve got to keep them happy too. And with some great design by the filmmakers, set design and all…I think we did it”.
Hahn says Eddie Murphy was perfect for the lead role, because of the actor’s outlook on life these days “He read the script and thought it was great. Having five kids of his own – who were on the set most days – was a big factor in him doing the film. He likes to do family stuff these days, films his kids can see. It was just right for him at the time”.
Murphy is a gigantic asset to the movie, says Hahn, citing his favourite scene. “There’s this scene where Eddie’s in the graveyard and the Singing busts pop out. I love that scene – probably also because it’s animation”.
Hahn says cartoon simulation is a big part of his life, he adores it, but things are slowly changing with the way such films are made. “3D is lovely, it’s great technology. 2D still looks great on Television though, and I think there’s some great movies around that worked wonders with it – Brother Bear and Lilo and Stitch for example. 2D is still a beautiful medium and although you’ll probably see us doing fewer and fewer films in that style, I don’t think it’ll ever go away”.
One of the more difficult projects he’s worked on was “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988) which combined 2D animation with live-action. “That was a tough movie because we didn’t have computers back then”, he confesses. “But it was a great result. Working with all the old Mel Blanc characters and having Mickey Mouse and everyone in the film – what a treat. It was fun”.
Hahn’s next project reunites him with “Lion King” musical maestro Elton John. “Gnomeo and Juliet is set up over at Elton’s company, Rocket Pictures. It’s a kitsy comedy featuring lawn gnomes, pink flamingos…it’s coming along great”.
After that, he says, he’d like to do something different. “I’m on a vacation at the moment where I’m reading a lot of scripts, and I’ve decided I’d like to do a musical. Or a couple of musicals. Chicago did great, so I’d love to work on one – a new one. It’s a pricy thing, musicals aren’t a known commodity, so it’s difficult, but then again a few years back no one had ever heard of The Lion King and that’s a musical”.
And after that, possibly a “Haunted Mansion” sequel? “We’re still resting from the first one, but yeah that would be good sometime. It’s done great so I don’t see why not. We opened in the No.1 position in America on our first weekend and it’s been the No.1 film for quite some time in quite a few other places like England and Mexico…so you never know”.
And what does the man behind some of today’s greatest Disney hits like to do with his time off? “I like to go and watch movies, family movies, with my daughter. We’re big Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean fans in our house”.
– CLINT MORRIS
HAUNTED MANSION Commences Thursday around Australia
