Would Disney lie to us? - Of course they would, and Jim Hill offers proof

[Darkbeer]

Sub Scam (http://www.jimhillmedia.com/newarticles/singles/subscam.htm) - Jim Hill Media.com, 10/16/02


Okay. It's been over 13 years now. So I guess that it's okay that the truth finally comes out. Which is: There was no music video being shot on Disney - MGM's New York street over that summer. (I mean, think about it, folks. What sort of video production crew takes 16 weeks to shoot exteriors?) That colorful bunch of technicians was just some Disney cast members who had been hired to portray a professional camera crew. They'd automatically swing into "action" every time a new tram full of tourists would come rolling into view.
Of course, if you folks had been paying particularly close attention as your tram rolled on by, you might have noticed that something wasn't quite kosher about that crew. Like what, for instance? Well - How about the network that this music video was supposedly being shot for: FBC. "FBC" stands for "Fake Broadcasting Company."


And this lie wasn't the only one, if you liked the Subs, read Jim Hill's article to find out how Disney CM's made sure we would never get to enjoy the ride again!:mad:

[Nigel2]

Well they did want to pull off the illusion of it being a working studio even when nothing was going on when guests were arround.:)

I do find the story about them using the worst sub possible with water in the bottom rather funny. But it is true, water attractions seem to have a lot more problems than land ones. If you ever owned a boat you probably know it isn't cheap to maintian it. I wonder if it's a lot worse with the subs?

[cstephens]

Originally posted by Darkbeer
Quoting Jim Hill: That colorful bunch of technicians was just some Disney cast members who had been hired to portray a professional camera crew. They'd automatically swing into "action" every time a new tram full of tourists would come rolling into view.

Why would that not be considered just good theming on the part of Disney, adding to the atmosphere?

[narkspud]

The sub thing was just WDW trying to keep a notoriously difficult upper management guy out of their hair (and it didn't even involve guests). The subs were already defunct when it happened. What's the problem?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally posted by cstephens
Why would that not be considered just good theming on the part of Disney, adding to the atmosphere? The difference is this.

When you bring out a person in a Mickey costume and say "This is the real Mickey Mouse," it's pretty obvious to anyone (that's an adult) that it's not real. When they build New Orleans Square in Anaheim, no one is going be really believe they are truly in Louisiana. But if you are on a studio lot (as the article points out, it was really supposed to be a studio lot, not a mock up), and they say "we are filming a music video", and there are real cameras and believable sets/props/etc., there's no reason you shouldn't believe them. That's when you cross the line from fantasy to lying.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally posted by narkspud
The sub thing was just WDW trying to keep a notoriously difficult upper management guy out of their hair (and it didn't even involve guests). The subs were already defunct when it happened. What's the problem? I think the problem here is that people were angry the ride closed. The fact that it closed on false pretences would probably make them angrier.

[Gemini Cricket]

The whole Jim Hill "20K" controversy just goes to prove that if your employees aren't happy, things will not go well for your business.

[Iceman]

Originally posted by Cadaverous Pallor
But if you are on a studio lot (as the article points out, it was really supposed to be a studio lot, not a mock up), and they say "we are filming a music video", and there are real cameras and believable sets/props/etc., there's no reason you shouldn't believe them. That's when you cross the line from fantasy to lying.

So when the tour trams pull into Catastrophe Canyon and they say that it's a live set where they have been filming today, is that lying or part of the fantasy story? They HAVE filmed real shows at Disney-MGM, so it IS a working studio. Adding additional elements to make it feel like that is, at least to me, perfectly acceptable.

[mrcoffee]

So you mean Ernest really didn't leave his sprinkler running, and got the tour bus all wet?

Geez. Can't trust anybody anymore.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally posted by Iceman
So when the tour trams pull into Catastrophe Canyon and they say that it's a live set where they have been filming today, is that lying or part of the fantasy story? They HAVE filmed real shows at Disney-MGM, so it IS a working studio. Adding additional elements to make it feel like that is, at least to me, perfectly acceptable. Sorry I can't go into this deeper, as I've never been to this park, and frankly don't know much about it. What I posted was just my understanding of the situation/article. If those that have been there know better, I bow to your superior knowledge. :D

[PyroT]

Yes there have been several TV shows shot at the studios. And what is it that disney wants to maintain? Streetmosphere. Make it see, smell, feel, and look what it is supposed to be. A working studio. So to me whether it is real or not, if it belongs to keep up the apperence, then good.

Also, where can I find the Jim Hill article about 20K?