Walt Disney Company Picks Up 102 Daytime Emmy Nominations

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Kudos to the Walt Disney Company! They have received 102 daytime Emmy nominations which is no small feat. The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards has nominated the Walt Disney Company across many platforms from talk shows like The View, to cable networks like Disney Junior, and ABC’s daytime drama General Hospital. Check out all the details and nominations below as shared by The Walt Disney Company. Catch the award show in a two-hour special airing on Friday, June 26.

The Walt Disney Company’s networks and brands combined to earn a total of 102 nominations for the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards. ABC’s daytime drama General Hospital received 23 nods, the most received by any program this year, and overall the network has 38 nominations in all. The View was the most-nominated talk show this year with eight nominations. Now in its 23rd season, The View received the most nominations since its eleventh season.

Among cable networks, Disney Junior was the most-nominated cable network, with 25 nominations, including seven for the animated preschool series Elena of Avalor; followed by Disney Channel, with 23 nominations, including seven for Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure.

The streaming service Hulu received seven Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including six for the series Light as a Feather.

Additionally, syndicated series Live with Kelly and Ryan and Tamron Hall also earned multiple nods.

National Geographic earned a nomination in the Outstanding Special Class—Short Form Daytime Program category for Rewind Nature.

The awards will be presented in a two-hour special airing Friday, June 26. Awards will be presented in leading categories during the telecast, with recipients and other special guests appearing from their homes. Visit TheEmmys.tv for additional details.

Here is the complete list of nominees from across The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of brands:

WALT DISNEY TELEVISION

ABC

General Hospital (23 nominations)

  • Outstanding Drama Series
  • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Finola Hughes
  • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Maura West
  • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Burton
  • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jon Lindstrom
  • Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Tamara Braun
  • Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Rebecca Budig
  • Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: James Patrick Stuart
  • Outstanding Young Performer in a Drama Series: Katelyn MacMullen
  • Outstanding Young Performer in a Drama Series: Eden McCoy
  • Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series: Michael E. Knight
  • Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Original Song: “North Star”
  • Outstanding Casting for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
  • Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama or Digital Series
  • Outstanding Technical Team for a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
  • Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing for a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
  • Outstanding Costume Design for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
  • Outstanding Hair Styling for a Drama Series
  • Outstanding Makeup for a Drama Series

The View (8 nominations)

  • Outstanding Informative Talk Show
  • Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman & Ana Navarro
  • Outstanding Lighting Direction
  • Outstanding Technical Team
  • Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing
  • Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
  • Outstanding Hair Styling
  • Outstanding Makeup

GMA3 Strahan, Sara & Keke (3 nominations)

  • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
  • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: Michael Strahan, Sara Haines & Keke Palmer
  • Outstanding Directing for a Talk, Entertainment News or Morning Program

Good Morning America (2 nominations)

  • Outstanding Morning Show
  • Outstanding Directing for a Talk, Entertainment News or Morning Program

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade

  • Outstanding Technical Team

Disney Team of Heroes (ABC)

  • Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement—Brand Image Campaign—Network or Program

DISNEY JUNIOR

Elena of Avalor (7 nominations)

  • Outstanding Writing Team for a Preschool Animated Program
  • Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program
  • Outstanding Music Direction and Composition
  • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “Never Leave”
  • Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
  • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program
  • Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

The Rocketeer (5 nominations)

  • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Maurice LaMarche—The Rocketeer
  • Outstanding Writing Team for a Preschool Animated Program
  • Outstanding Main Title for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program
  • Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

Muppet Babies (3 nominations)

  • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Eric Bauza
  • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Matt Danner
  • Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program

Puppy Dog Pals (3 nominations)

  • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Kevin Michael Richardson
  • Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
  • Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

Vampirina (2 nominations)

  • Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series
  • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “The Vamp Opera”

Doc McStuffins

  • Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series

Elena of Avalor: The Magic Within

  • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

The Lion Guard

  • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “As You Move Forward”

Muppet Babies: Play Date

  • Outstanding Short Format Children’s Program

T.O.T.S.

  • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Christian Simon

DISNEY CHANNEL

Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (7 nominations)

  • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Directing for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Music Direction and Composition
  • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “Waiting in the Wings”
  • Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
  • Outstanding Main Title for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program

DuckTales (4 nominations)

  • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Paget Brewster
  • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Sound Editing for an Animated Program

Big City Greens (3 nominations)

  • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Marieve Herington
  • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Chris Houghton
  • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program

Big Hero 6 The Series (2 nominations)

  • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “Gonna Go Good”

Disney Mickey Mouse (2 nominations)

  • Outstanding Directing for an Animated Program
  • Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program

Big City Greens: Green Christmas

  • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

BUNK’D

  • Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series

Milo Murphy’s Law

  • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

Pup Academy

  • Outstanding Directing for a Children’s or Young Adult Program

Shook

  • Outstanding Young Adult Program: Shook

SYNDICATION

Live with Kelly and Ryan (4 nominations)

  • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
  • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest
  • Outstanding Directing for a Talk, Entertainment News or Morning Program
  • Outstanding Hair Styling

Tamron Hall (3 nominations)

  • Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: Tamron Hall
  • Outstanding Costume Design/Styling
  • Outstanding Makeup

HULU

Light as a Feather (6 nominations)

  • Outstanding Young Adult Program
  • Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program
  • Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program: Liana Liberato
  • Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program: Jordan Rodrigues
  • Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program: Brianne Tju
  • Outstanding Directing for a Children’s or Young Adult Program

Holly Hobbie

  • Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series

LUCASFILM

The Star Wars Show

  • Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement—Topical

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Rewind Nature

  • Outstanding Special Class—Short Form Daytime Program

NBA Confirms Talks With Disney About Use of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

It’s been reported that the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World was the clear frontrunner to house the NBA for the remainder of its 2019-2020 season, and the NBA has just released a very interesting statement on Twitter. Executive Vice President of Communications Mike Bass confirmed that the NBA and the Walt Disney Company are “engaged in exploratory conservation”.

Read the full text below from the official NBA Twitter account:

NBA Statement

With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ declaration that live professional sports are essential services, as well as former Cast Member turned Sports Commentator Keith Smith’s piece in Yahoo Sports calling the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex an “ideal spot” to salvage the 2019-2020 NBA season, the Twittersphere has been speculating about upcoming announcements for weeks now.

In his article, Smith explained that he favored the complex because it has the capacity to house all of the players, coaches, trainers, officials, broadcasters, and other essential personnel in one location, limiting their exposure to the outside world, and therefore, the coronavirus. Smith also outlined possible options for accommodations including Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, as well as Disney’s Riviera Resort if more higher-end housing was needed.

The Visa Center within the complex can accommodate as many as six full-sized basketball courts, or be configured stadium-style with one primary court, and it broadcast-ready, making it a great option for practice as well as games.

Aside from the practical logistics that the complex can provide, the Walt Disney Company and the NBA already have demonstrated an effective way of working together with the opening of the NBA Experience at Disney Springs last summer.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek Cnbc Interview On The State of Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Today, Disney CEO Bob Chapek gave an exclusive interview to CNBC just hours after Shanghai Disneyland closed after its first historic day back in operation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The market generally looks towards Disney as the proxy on how to carry out phased reopenings on a large scale, so not only are Disney Parks fans following reopening guidelines, but the general public is interested in just how Disney is going to manage the reopening.

Currently, “stay-at-home” stocks for companies that specialize in video conferencing, broadband, and online gaming (like Zoom and Blizzard) are on the up and up, with Disney still struggling to keep their parks, cruise line, and film studio afloat during the extended, unprecedented closures. Not surprisingly, Disney+ has been the company’s saving grace, with the streaming service surpassing 54.5 million subscribers this past week.

Watch the whole interview here:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/05/11/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-disney-ceo-bob-chapek.html

Earlier today, former Disney Imagineer Bill Coan, now CEO of ITEC Entertainment also spoke to CNBC regarding the Disney model for reopenings. Given that Disney Parks are essentially small cities in and of themselves, adapting things such as public transit, restaurants, and entertainment to new health and safety guidelines will take some time as they face the same challenges as the rest of the world does in reopening. Coan stressed the importance of cleanliness, or at least “the perception of cleanliness”, as the company’s reputation precedes them, and guests anticipate a high level of safety within Disney Parks. Coan believes Disney’s reopening will still rely on state and federal regulations, but once they are able to reopen, business will be back up very quickly.

Chapek referred to Shanghai as a short-book market, where typically tickets are sold on a week-by-week basis. The phased reopening was controlled through the sale of “significantly constrained” ticket quantities. Nearly all advance reservations have been booked, with the exception of a few weekday slots, which speaks to the love that consumers have for the brand across the world. Chapek stressed the fact that fans can’t wait for the parks to reopen, as many look to it as the return to “some semblance” of normal. While the company is looking to reopen the parks as soon as possible, they also need to ensure that they do so in a responsible way. The company is excited to welcome back guests and Cast Members, and they’re encouraged by what they’ve seen in Shanghai so far, as “a first step.”

In terms of furthering the current phased reopening, Chapek remarked that the company needs to be “very conservative, very prudent” in moving forward. At Shanghai Disneyland, the plan is to increase the amount of guests by 5,000 each week, with the government’s permission.

When asked whether the parks can potentially manage 100% capacity while maintaining social distancing guidelines, Chapek answered that it really “depends on the guests.” He emphasized the need for guests to be diligent about maintaining social distancing:

“If guests continue to behave in the way that they have, we may be able to approach that… We’re all playing our part in this ecosystem of safety, if you will, and we’re going to do our part and we need our guests need to do their part, too.”

When asked about a potential July reopening date, Chapek declined to comment on any specific dates, as he stated that it will depend on state and  local government regulations, plus hospital capacity at medical centers near the Disney Parks. With Disney Springs reopening on May 20, they’re looking to test protocols much like they did with Disneytown in Shanghai Disney Resort.

CNBC asked the key components needed to get the parks to reopen. To that, Chapek responded that social distancing, as well as masks, will be required for all Cast Members and guests. While masks are a cultural norm across parks in Asia, he also recognized that guests across U.S. parks will have to adapt to wearing masks in hot, humid environments (like Walt Disney World.)

As the conversation shifted to movies, Chapek stated that limited capacity across movie theaters moving forward will mainly be an issue on Friday evenings and weekends, and can be something that is managed by the exhibitors the company partners with.

“At Disney, we’re a bunch of optimists. We have to manage people’s anxieties with people’s demands. If you do it in a relatively smart, responsible way, it’s possible.”

Big, tentpole films will continue to go to theaters, but they’ll continue to look at Disney+ for releases on a case-by-case basis in order to remain flexible with theatrical releases.

Finally, Chapek was asked about his ongoing tenure as CEO, where former CEO Bob Iger has had to notably step in at various stages throughout the health crisis:

“This is an unprecedented situation… I knew there would be disruption in my tenure as CEO. What I didn’t realize––it would happen that fast or that profoundly.”

Chapek mentioned that the company is wholeheartedly embracing a team approach to figure out what’s best for investors, guests, and Cast Members alike. In closing the series of questions regarding parks, films, and his tenure as CEO, Chapek said, “Disney will be back stronger than ever.”

Disney Introduces Themed Face Masks; Proceeds to Go To Communities In Need

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

We’re all getting used to the reality of wearing face masks during this epidemic. Disney has introduced some non-medical face masks featuring some of our favorite characters while committing to donate masks to those in need. Catch all the details below.

Disney is committed to serving the communities where we live and work. During these challenging times, we’re using the power of our timeless stories and beloved characters to address our guests’ needs.

Following the CDC’s recent recommendation to wear cloth face coverings in public settings, Disney is introducing non-medical, reusable cloth face masks featuring favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters in the U.S., available for pre-order now on shopDisney.com.

To further help those in need, Disney is donating one million cloth face masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S., including California and Florida, that will be distributed by MedShare. Disney will also donate all profits from the sales in the U.S. of Disney’s cloth face masks to Medshare, up to $1 million, now through September 30, 2020.

“Disney’s donations will make a tremendous impact in the communities we serve,” says Charles Redding, CEO and president of MedShare. “Their contribution of one million Disney cloth face masks will be provided to families in underserved communities and organizations working to limit the spread of COVID-19, while their monetary donation will be used to support the medical community’s ongoing efforts to provide lifesaving care to those who need it most.”

The cloth face masks are available for $19.99 for a four-pack, and feature a wide range of fan favorite characters, including: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Anna and Elsa, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, The Avengers, the Child – affectionately known as Baby Yoda – and more!

“We realize this is a challenging time for families and wearing any type of mask can be daunting,” says Edward Park, senior vice president, Disney store and shopDisney. “Our hope is that Disney’s cloth face masks featuring some of our most beloved characters will provide comfort to the families, fans and communities that are so important to us.”

The cloth face masks align with the FDA’s latest recommendations on non-surgical, non-industrial grade face masks.

You can pre-order the cloth face masks – available in small, medium, and large sizes – now on shopDisney.com in the U.S., for estimated shipping in June. Care instructions, including washing and fitting guidelines, can be found on shopDisney.com. Disney’s cloth face masks are just one example of the company’s commitment to helping communities in need during the current healthcare crisis. As part of its nearly $5 million in-kind donations benefiting communities around the globe, The Walt Disney Company has already donated more than 100,000 N95 masks to the states of New York, California, Florida and Washington, D.C., and 175,000 rain ponchos to hospitals in need of additional protective garments.

Pixar’s “Loop” Promotes Autism Awareness

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+, Uncategorized

April is all about Autism acceptance! Pixar Animation Studios’ SparkShorts program promotes Autism with a short film available on Disney+ called “Loop”. Check out the wonderful details behind “Loop” from The Walt Disney Company here:

Throughout April, celebrations across the globe promote autism acceptance and ensure that autistic people are seen, heard and celebrated for their unique experiences of the world. Inclusion is also at the heart of Pixar Animation Studios’ SparkShorts program, an experimental storytelling initiative that welcomes new creative voices at the studio to share their stories.

Erica Milsom is the director of “Loop,” a SparkShort now streaming on Disney+, which is centered around two kids at canoe camp who find themselves adrift on a lake, unable to move forward until they find a new way to connect and see the world through each other’s eyes. This film breaks new ground by featuring Pixar’s first non-verbal autistic character. In this Q&A, Milsom talks about the care and authenticity that went into bringing “Loop” to the screen.

What inspired the story of “Loop”?

Erica Milsom (EM): A year prior, I was volunteering at a non-profit arts program for adults with disabilities and had this profound experience of sitting next to an artist who didn’t communicate using words. I found myself nervous without language to connect, and I put forth a lot of effort to create small talk with them, which didn’t work at all.

One day, the teacher gave me the task of making a rain stick by nailing hundreds of nails into a long tube. When I stopped talking, and worked on this tube, I found that the people around me came to life. They didn’t talk, but they would look at what I was creating, and they’d take me over to look at what they were creating. It was an eye-opening experience for me to learn how people connect so differently.

One of Pixar’s strong suits is creating stories using characters without dialogue. So I had the thought to put our Pixar animators in the shoes of someone who communicates without language.

When did you decide to make this a story about autism?

EM: I reached out to a couple of groups in Pixar, [including] one called Quirky Kids, which is a group of parents with kids who are different. I asked them how their kids who have differences around communication would react in the situation of two kids in a canoe who don’t share a common language. Everyone I spoke with reacted differently, but it became clear that [parents of children with] autism had this really interesting point of view with how they experience things.

What was important to you when bringing “Loop” to life?

EM: There’s a movement in the disability community called “Nothing about us without us.” What it means is that you shouldn’t tell stories about people with disabilities without including them in the process of making the story—and in a significant role.

For me, it was important that our voice talent for “Loop” was someone who’s autistic. As part of the process, we needed to understand what made her comfortable and what she needed. For Madison Bandy, the voice actress who portrayed Renee, being comfortable meant not auditioning, as well as recording at her house, with her family all together as a support system.

I love how perfect she was for the role because she could be an authentic voice for the character. Without her, we wouldn’t have made something that feels so authentic and true.

How did you go about depicting the autistic experience in “Loop”?

EM: During the film, we brought in consultants from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) to help us understand and depict our autistic character, Renee. The first and most important thing we learned from them is that Autism is a spectrum, so no one person will represent the entirety of the autistic experience.

But I’d noticed in films I’d seen about autism that their sensory experience is so often displayed negatively, and I got really excited by the positive potential in it. So many of us try to hide what we feel and shove those feelings down. In “Loop,” I love how you can see what Renee is going through, and we tried to display that in the scene where she and Marcus are touching the reeds. It’s a wonderful thing when you can experience the positive side of that sensory difference.

The lighting department helped us figure out what a sensory experience could look like, and I loved one that had saturation and more color, because it showed how it could be positive.

What can viewers take away from Renee and Marcus after watching “Loop”?

EM: Listening to autistic people, it profoundly hit me that sometimes the way they are experiencing the world may come across to non-autistic people as though they want us to go away, but they actually just want someone who will stick around, let them be and protect the space around them. That’s why in “Loop,” Marcus just stays with Renee throughout the film.

It demonstrates the idea that any moment of stress or misunderstanding will pass, and staying open to the moment and relaxing helps everyone. In “Loop,” Marcus doesn’t know what’s happening, but in just giving Renee her space, he finds a way to the other side. From Renee’s perspective, it’s about understanding that someone can give you space and will see your point of view.

Even when it looks like there may not be a possibility to connect, there is. That’s the message here.