The second element is that we are immersing people into the space, meaning we are surrounding them with the theme, the story, and the idea. Way back when, Jacques Cousteau used to say that in order for people to care about a thing or a place, they have to love it. As President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Seruto says, Bob brings three key traits that will help the company grow into the future: Vision for where the company can go, of its total potential and with clear insight on how it can and should adapt to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world. after a big project, remembering this always helped reenergize me and got me Our whole mission is to connect to people through space, through places, through the activities that take place in great spaces. Throughout the development and construction process, Weis and his team managed to bring the experience into the 21st century, while maintaining the historical integrity of the structure. He puts team first, self second.. recruiters came through from WED as Imagineering was known at the time. Bob Weiss is a Taurus and was born in The Year of the Horse Life Related: Legendary Disney Imagineer Retiring After 42 Years. Structural Info Filmography Awards Known for movies Georgia (1988) as Producer Pure S (1975) as Producer Now, I get to take my passion, expand it, and inject experiences into projects all over the world that will reach people in their everyday lives.. We learned that story is the most important part of what we do at Imagineering. 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. Everything around you is in a ship. Bob Weis joined Disney Imagineering in 1980 during the transition from Donn Tatum to Ron W. Miller as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. When Michael Eisner and Frank Wells came aboard as the senior leaders of the company, they almost immediately prioritized the growth of Walt Disney World. By submitting this form, you are granting Disney Parks Blog permission to email you. 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. Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost. Disney theme park projects around the globe over the span of five decades. Weis gave the following exclusive interview just before sharing the news of his departure with his colleagues. That led us to come up with a park that would be linked by various ports of call around the world, which became the concept for Tokyo DisneySea. The training staff would act like they were really at sea in these different situations. On opening day, you saw the culmination of the efforts of those who made it go from muddy fields to a fully realized, magical place. Im also passionate about doing things that are closer to peoples everyday lives, and theres no other place I can realize that passion than at Gensler. Its the next step. also want to express my respect and admiration for Imagineers and their endless We did all the graphic and signage design for the exhibition. A former SEGD board member, she is a renowned specialist at graphic design and wayfinding and has applied her talents to several Weis projects, from various museum exhibits to Shanghai Disney Resort. We were creating something entirely new that dealt with the reality of verified history, says Romans. We opened the nighttime spectacular World of Color, so people had incentive to stay into the evening hours. Bob was not just taking advantage of having you on his team. who, like us, had never done something like this before in Japan. Youre receiving limited access to D23.com. He is responsible for furthering Imagineering's vision and developing and delivering extraordinary products and experiences that enhance the emotional connection to the Disney brand. So, theres this balance: How do you how do you keep the classic things that people remember but at the same time be constantly upping your game, making things better? Bob Weis, Former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, on Immersive Experiences and the Story of Our Cities and Spaces January 12, 2023 | Q&A with Bob Weis. It had been an enormous project: seven square kilometers of property with the theme park, two hotels, Disneytown, subway lines, lakes and boats. nathan redmond mother. But first, he had a film to make. The Untold Truth of Don Lemons partner & fianc TV Series second unit director - 2 episodes, Raoul Wallenberg: Between the Lines (1986). Bob had this idea that he would edit everything shot at the end of the day on-site, so one of our crew on horseback was the editor, says Steinouer. And it was a joy to work with Leslie [Iwerks] on her documentary about Imagineering [The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+]. I was incredibly enamored with design from an early age, but also enamored with performance, storytelling, acting, directing, and writing stories. knew the shows executive producer, Jerry Bruckheimer. He has written screenplays and books during a long career in the entertainment industry. There was an intro film that Bob shot in Morocco on the set of Kingdom of Heaven. It featured Ridley Scott, Orlando Bloom, even the costume designer., ACTION! I will always be proud to have led Imagineering from 2016-2021, and to be your Global Ambassador in 2022, Weis wrote in an email sent today to colleagues. My whole business was in there, and I was freaking out about it as we got to the airport. He has 25+ years management experience: in tourism, museums and attractions, in the giant screen industries and as a zookeeper. Subsequent assignments included creative leadership on Disneys Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios), Tokyo DisneySea, and the reimagining of Disney California Adventure. Weir met fellow Grateful Dead founding member Jerry Garcia in a moment of happenstance on New Year's Eve 1963. He recently As of 2022, Bob Weiss's net worth is $100,000 - $1M. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. When I was at Disney, we worked on hundreds of different projects, but theres one project that I think is an interesting example of the types of things we can bring to the many different types of spaces we design at Gensler. Global He made a seminal decision to leave WDI to start Design Island and have more direct hands-on involvement and to make his movie.. Bob invited me to be Associate Producer on a documentary on the Lewis and Clark expedition, says Tim Steinouer, who had previously worked with Weis on an unaired television show episode for another production company. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern. it very quickly became a national landmark. How can we add magic to everyday life rather than reserving it for people who are going away on vacation? On one harried trip, I had left my briefcase on the curb next to the cab driver who was loading the trunk, only he took off without my briefcase. took on the design and artistic disciplines as a coordinator, which involved In 1994 came the launch of Bob Weis Design Island, a boutique, themed entertainment design firm which was co-founded by Diane Fredel-Weis, who was instrumental in its success. He is inspirational, the best of the best in this business, but also so humble and just lovely to work with. In addition, he makes $47,517,800 as Executive Chairman of the Board at Walt Disney Co. Crossing over into a very different field, Weis had the opportunity to utilize his skills as an attraction and exhibit designer in the creation of Battle Stations 21: a realistic, virtual training experience for the US Navy Training Center near Chicago. 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. Its as if youre a character in your own movie and youre drawn through it. The trick for Imagineering throughout our history is finding that thought these skills would be a great fit for the roles they needed to fill. There were a number of videos produced to make it look like live TV. At Disney, Van Romans had assembled the various national galleries at EPCOT and, because of his hard work, had created a bridge between the museum world and the Disney organization. Hes comfortable to listen to. At the heart of his style is the empowerment of the individual and the team, treating all with respect and trust, wrote the Thea Awards Committee of Bob Weis in its official remarks, calling Weis a world class visionary who is sincerely modest, selfless and kind, with a keen ability to align a very large efforttowards success among the more than 100 diverse disciplines required to create a multi-dimensional end product. 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.. What is more surprising is Weiss decision to come out of retirement for the job. Seruto recalled her first meeting with Weis. This is why Gensler is so important in the development of immersive experiences. For more information about Bob Weis joining forces with Gensler, read this article on Fast Company or view our press release. We were asked to redesign the look and feel of a hospital ward for children with cancer. 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. 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. InPark Magazine (IPM) covers the intersection of themed entertainment and technology. D23: In your farewell email, you wrote that Imagineering still reflects [Walt Disneys] creative energy, his storytelling, his belief in talent and collaboration, and his passion for always moving forward. Can you talk a bit more about how Imagineering remains driven by the spirit and imagination that Walt Disney established? For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. Were not directing you specifically one way or the other. "We are thrilled that Bob is joining our global innovation design team," Gensler co-CEO Andy Choen said in a press release. Grateful Dead's style was influenced by the music of The Beatles. Bob Weis Reflects on Prolific Career at Walt Disney Imagineering. Sometimes the conversations would be deep and personal, and other times we would just laugh and laugh at the absurdity of something. Hes very engaging, and that makes you want to engage with him.. He officially departed Disney on January 2, 2023. this is disappointing to hear about. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. quote, were just getting started., Start planning your dream Disney Vacation
If you want to see Weis in action, along with other Imagineers, be sure to watch The Imagineering Story on Disney+! This is what visionary companies are seeking, and what we all are yearning for as we interact with the world around us. This goes back to Walts talking about Disneylandthat he could come in and change it whenever he wanted, that it was a living medium. Described as a 'visionary within the entertainment industry', Weis brings more than 30 years of leadership with him to Gensler, having created, designed and developed some of Disney's most iconic projects around the globe. Whats exciting for me is bringing immersive experiences and stories into everyday normal life so that we can make peoples lives better. points of view to everything they do. It doesnt take much with sound effects and announcements to make it feel like youre under attack. 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. But the stories he creates aren't limited to movie screens and printed . Required fields are marked *. D23: Whats it like for an Imagineer to visit a park filled with guests? color theory to the appropriate use of language. In 2016, Weis was named president of Walt Disney Imagineering. Bob is joining us just as we emerge from the pandemic as people are craving compelling, visceral experiences in the places where they live, work, and play., At Disney, we often collaborated with Gensler, and I was able to see firsthand its culture of design innovation that transforms the quality of life in our world, Bob Weis said. Its now one of our most popular destinations and continues to grow through recent enhancements that include Avengers Campus and Pixar Pier, along with additional plans for the future. We used real props from the studios, but more modern props for the time that our younger guests would relate to. Weis was with Walt Disney Imagineering for 42 years, serving as president of WDI for a time and then Global Imagineering Ambassador. 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. This was an opportunity for him for all of us to help our country. His steady approach allows him to take on intimate projects or scale up to something massive without losing sight of his leadership role and the vision the team is working toward. The Bob Weis has been part of Walt Disney Imagineering executive leadership since 2008 and is now transitioning from the role of President to that of Global Ambassador, a role originated by the late Marty Sklar.His successor as president of Imagineering is Barbara Bouza. When I was leading Imagineering, we delivered hundreds of projects that brought new experiences, new stories, new innovations to our guests around the world. Just over the last decade. But also, as Marty [Sklar] said, our theme parks are not museums. OLC had assembled some incredible talents If we can create experiences in places, it will imprint on people a sense of connection that can be very powerful. Known for movies. realize the things we create are around for decades and will provide joy and In much the same vein, the Disneys America team engaged historians and Smithsonian experts, with the plan to include iconic American artifacts from the Smithsonian and other museums as part of the attraction experiences. Many of Weiss collaborators joined him again in creating exhibits for the Fort Worth museum Nancy Seruto, Tim Steinouer, Jen Bressler, and Chick Russell among them. was greenlit. And 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 cared about his people; people responded with devotion to him and the project as a result. 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. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Bob Weis is very wise, a good friend, and very helpful. 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. Interview by Judith Rubin. Included on his long list of Imagineering accomplishments are Disney Park Tokyo Disneyland, the recent remodel of Disneys California Adventure, and the design of Shanghai Disney Resort! To provide a clear view of the shaft through the now transparent ceiling, we re-engineered the cables and downsized the I-beam. The general sessions court docket. by Tom Barnes, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering. I Now, I get to take my passion, expand it, and inject experiences into projects all over the world that will reach people in their everyday lives. Talking to Bob is like having an open conversation with an old college friend. Former President of Walt Disney Imagineering Bob Weis is joining Gensler as Global Immersive Experience Design Leader! Under the Fertile Films banner, Weis and Viola decided to make a documentary about Lewis & Clarks trek through the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. At the same time, one of its highlights was a series of tours through a real production studio. For me, architecture and storytelling have always been melded together. Remember to sign in or join D23 today to enjoy endless Disney magic! Two years later, the entire museum building, with the exception of the museums IMAX theater, was razed to be replaced by a new multi-million dollar building with new exhibits. One of his greatest attributes is his strategic mindset. The first part was a traditional museum exhibit, says Russell, with descriptions of what crew members do and with artifacts on display. Shame that Disney chased Bob away by forcing Imagineering to move to politically backwards Florida. ACTION! Hes skilled at bringing in and organizing all the right people together. Mr Chapek's total remuneration from the Walt Disney Company as CEO and director is $3,122,027. In addition to his theme park work, Weis has led influential projects in museums, science centers . Let us know in the comments below! For even more details about how attractions in Disney parks came to be, don't miss Behind The Attraction, also . Imagineers have such an incredible Were looking for communal celebratory experiences with our friends, family, and other people in our community. Their computers seamlessly edited the film that guests got to take home with them. Along with Design Island, they also co-founded the film production company Fertile Films. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joe Kleiman is News Editor for InPark Magazine. Now more than ever, design has the power to shape how we experience life. There was a company statement posted on the official Imagineering Instagram page that recognized the scope of Weis contribution. The decks had been closed to the public for a decade and not only needed refurbishment, but an updated feel. In the 1990s, the museum had produced a traveling exhibit called Whodunit? Genslerscommitment to leading the future of designis perfectly aligned with my passion for developing unique, immersive experiences with a diversity of creative voices., Gensler stated that Weis would take the firms design innovation to the next level,expanding its commitment to reclaiming human experiences in the spaces and places where we live, work, and play. He will collaborate with Genslers global leadership platform to envision and bring to life unique experiences for clients across a variety of industries where the firm is immersed from entertainment, lifestyle, hospitality, retail, sports, mixed use, and cultural institutions to wellness and workplace.. There is such little time just to talk in our busy work lives, so I treasured these moments. 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. He would get down in the weeds and work with the team to figure out solutions. The idea of immersing people into a story goes back thousands of years, but because I spent so many years at Disney, I like to point to Walt Disneys invention of Disneyland. The firm does business in hundreds of cities all over the world and across 29 different practice areas. Certainly, the way we design has changed; the way we develop and visualize and engineer things has changed. By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. I may even find some time to just go down and walk around Disneyland once in a while.. "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. Visitors would view the completed trailer in a screening room. Theres an expression in sports, hes a players coach. In the experience design world, the same could be said about Bob. Bob loved to take people to different venues restaurants, the beach, his house. Kleiman served as part of the executive management team that opened the Thea Award honoree National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia and has provided consultation services to a number of museum projects. View Videos. I wrote the script for this, shares Russell. Whats unique about working with Bob is even then, in that point in time, he had a habit of being a leader, but allowing everyone who works with him to have equal standing. But the stories he creates arent limited to movie screens and printed pages. Russell recalls that about the time the whole Fort Worth concept was done, I got a call from Bob. I think those fundamentals are still the same. Were always trying to listen to the audience to see how we could make things betterhow we could take new stories, new IP [intellectual properties], and put them into our kind of artistic medium to create experiences for our audience. Bob received a call from Kurt Haunfelner [then Vice President, Exhibits and Collections] at Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago greenlighting the ACTION! 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. For me this is a very exciting next chapter, the post reads. He totally respected Ricardo and it helps that Bob came out of architecture [Weis received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona in 1980]. Like everything we do at Imagineering, we started with a story. 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! Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Im glad I didnt know more about him his stature, his tremendous accomplishments. And D23 fans who attended the Expo [in September] had a chance to see so many more that we have well under way. Again his humanity, his empathy and love of people and the work we do.. 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. with local vendors and craftspeople. It was a wonderful way to use theme park storytelling, technology, and immersive design in a completely different way. He recently sat down with the Disney Parks Blog to discuss highlights from his work on Disney theme park projects around the globe over the span of five decades. Subjects and filmmakers both rode for nine days, often for twelve hours a day, as Viola led the group to key spots documented by the Lewis and Clark expedition. When we finished our trek, we found out it had been greenlit.. He has written screenplays and books during a long career in the entertainment industry. build steam trains, how to paint ride vehicles and signs, and even figuring out Later, when back at Walt Disney Imagineering to oversee the Shanghai Disney Resort, Weis invited Seruto to join WDI and executive produce the Treasure Cove area of the park, including its benchmark attraction, the award-winning Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. Under her Seruto & Company moniker, she would collaborate on four museum projects with Weis. Bob Weis is President, Creative and New Experience Development of Walt Disney Imagineering. maybe Disney should just outsource that too, itll be cheaper? This is not a new idea for architects. For media inquiries, email var z='zx2e35dace6537df39b14527b6',s=document.getElementById(z),c=document.createElement('span');c.innerHTML=(function(a,b){var i,o='';for(i=0;i