Boardwalk Talk

A Letter from a Host 

Today’s episode of Boardwalk Talk marks the end of a roughly four-year journey. At the precipice of posting the conclusion to our show, I find myself more relieved than I am disappointed. What had once begun as a couple of Disney fans reflecting on their hobby soon revealed itself to be a one-way ticket to the sausage factory, describing in gruesome detail how the things that make us happy can also illicit immense disappointment.

Creating a podcast seems simple at the onset. All we had to do was set up a few microphones, write a basic rundown covering that week’s material, and talk at a blank computer screen for a couple of hours. Though somewhat true, this summary fails to appreciate the crushing nihilism that comes from critiquing a hobby. Pivoting mild interest into routine focus unveils the truths better left unspoken, and in turn, creates a juxtaposition between the hobby you once had and the job you now fill. 

This seems to be the reason why audiences and creators differ so greatly in their opinions. Somebody who engages in the Disney community with the sole goal of enjoying themselves can step away at the thought of genuine criticism. It’s no wonder why so many people love everything made by the company, as it’s a decision towards willful ignorance that preserves the escapism. Were we too negative, or did we choose to address the issues instead of ignoring them? I would like to think the latter. 

As we conclude the show, the Disney content landscape lies at the brim of total decimation. Rather than use a platform for meaningful artistic criticism, creators have begun to reflect the audience’s sheer ignorance of reality. No longer do we see pieces on Disney’s mistreatment of cast members, focus-group filmmaking, or embarrassing management of key products like the parks or Disney+, as most of the content turns directly to what the fans want to hear. It’s all great, and it’s all Disney. I question the journalistic integrity and critical aptitude of anybody who loves everything they see. The moment you trade-in analysis for attention, you admit to being a failure. 

Boardwalk Talk has always been a space for Ryan and me to share our genuine opinions. We loved what we loved, disliked what we disliked, and as fans of the medium, wanted to see theme parks grow. Our core was not negativity, but a passion for a sector of art that we knew could be so much greater. Seeing others use podcasting as a means of garnering attention without adding anything meaningful to the conversation has dampened our will to continue, but I see no reason why this trend cannot be reversed. 

I want to leave you all with a sentiment echoed at the end of the show. Ryan and I share similar perspectives on life, insofar that we both believe in the necessary trait of respect. As Ryan so aptly put it, “be good humans.” Respect others who may be different than you, as their individuality is what truly makes this a life worth living. From this, I ask you to respect yourselves. Be critical when engaging with the world, and always ask for what you deserve. You deserve more than what these companies are giving, and without recognizing this disrespect, you will be doomed to repeat this cycle of consumption ad infinitum. 

 — — Ryan Dorman

From both of us at Boardwalk Talk, we want to thank our listeners for joining us throughout the show. We hope that you enjoyed our brand of commentary and that you’ll continue to follow the site for your Disney news.

We want to thank Zach Perilstein for the platform to speak our opinions and all of our guests for joining us to talk Disney! We couldn’t have done it without your help. 

 You can reach us at @OpenMothersMale and @OpentheDorman on Twitter. 

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You can find the episode here:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/boardwalk-talk/id1265209747?mt=2

Podbean: https://boardwalktimes.podbean.com/

Ryan Dorman is a Columnist and the Content Director for the Boardwalk Times. He can be found on Twitter at @OpentheDorman and as a host of the Boardwalk Talk podcast on iTunes

We have a lovely episode today to round out a jam-packed year of Boardwalk Talk! From interviews to reviews, charity streams to industry analysis, we’ve certainly had an active year within the Disney community. We wanted to thank you all for the support, and we hope that we made this difficult year just a little more bearable. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. 

First up on the final show of 2020, we discuss a little bit of Disney Parks news that sprung up within the last week. We begin by discussing the planned overhaul to the Snow White attraction in Disneyland, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Then, we spend a moment or two discussing two new water additions to Epcot, those being the installation of the HarmonioUS fountains at World Showcase, and the return of the pylon fountain to the park’s entrance. Finally, we direct our attention to Disney Springs as we discuss the opening of Gideon’s Bakehouse, and the mediocre attempts made to provide a safe experience for guests during a pandemic. 

Then, we direct our attention to Disney+ as we review Disney-Pixar’s Soul, a metaphysical adventure through the traits that define humanity itself. Joining us is longtime guest Blake Roark (@NeilNevins), offering a unique perspective on the studio’s most animative film. If you’ve seen the film and want to engage with it more analytically, join us! 

On today’s episode of Boardwalk Talk, we review two-holiday films chosen by you, the audience! If you want updates on future events like this, or want to vote in additional polls for viewers choice episodes, be sure to follow @BoardwalkTimes on Twitter!

Just like receiving a lump of coal in our stocking, the first film lovingly chosen by our viewers was a test of our emotional fortitude. 2009’s Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups follows a titular gang of puppies as they seek to bring Christmas magic back to a town devoid of holiday cheer. Do they succeed? Did anyone watching manage to stay awake during the film’s runtime? Let’s see! 

Long time listeners of the show will know that we often criticize the animation house ImageMovers, and may be glad to see that we’re making another stop into their seemingly endless library! 2009’s A Christmas Carol is a direct retelling of the Dickens classic, featuring some of ImageMovers’ iconic “animation” for additional scenes of climactic “action.” We watch it so you don’t have to… or something like that. 

On our next show, we’ll be reviewing the newest Disney-Pixar film Soul. Be sure to join us then, and have a happy holiday!

Today on Boardwalk Talk, we discuss recent news from the Disney Investor Day presentation! If you’re a fan of the Disney brand or a pop culture fan in general, you won’t want to miss these brand new updates! 

First, we begin by discussing the next steps in the Star Wars franchise. From series to spin-offs, sequels to reboots, the Star Wars universe is about to get a whole lot bigger. 

Then, we spend a bit of time talking about Disney animation. Not only will some of your favorite characters find a new home on Disney+ with brand new series, but the animation giant also has many more feature films in the pipeline! 

Next, we discuss the future of Disney’s partner studio Pixar, and the new projects coming from one of the most unique minds in animation! From a Toy Story reboot to a brand new film taking place on the Italian Riviera, Pixar fans will have a lot to look forward to! 

Finally, we conclude the discussion with Marvel’s range of announcements. Wandavision comes to Disney+ within the month, and with it begins the next era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

If you didn’t catch the show and you want to see some of the things we didn’t talk about, check out the Boardwalk Times Twitter and other articles for more information!

Thanks for listening, and have a magical day!

On today’s episode of Boardwalk Talk, we play catch-up with some of the Disney content you may have missed since the last show. Before watching today’s episode, check out the charity live-stream we did on YouTube!

First, we begin our discussion with our thoughts on Disney+’s star child: The Mandalorian. Recent episodes have started to tie more directly to the Star Wars mythos, and we offer our thoughts on the story thus far. If you’re looking for a more detailed discussion from the perspective of Star Wars fans, check out the This is the Waycast podcast from Boardwalk Times!

After this, we direct our discussion to the additional lay-offs seen at The Walt Disney Company. Despite the company’s justifications, we criticize the decision to leave castmembers without pay during one of the nation's worst economic collapses. The pandemic has made our way of life more difficult, and for cast members that depend on the job for income, Disney’s decision to maintain executive pay while eliminating smaller positions is unforgivable.

Then, we spend a bit of discussing a recent EPCOT “press conference” straight from Disney. The construction has taken a hit, and the promised changes have been curtailed, but the information shared still offers a good look at what’s to come.

Finally, we give our regards to retiring Imagineer Joe Rhode. After 40 years with the company, Joe has decided to use this reprieve as a way to leave his position. Though this information is disappointing to some, his talents are undeniable, and the legacy he leaves behind is unrivaled. We wish him luck in his future endeavors.

The tentative date for the next event is November 6th, 2020. 

An update regarding the technical difficulties during the 10-30-2020 stream.

Donate:

On today’s episode of Boardwalk Talk, we review the movies picked by the viewers on our Viewers Choice Twitter Poll! From time to time, we ask our fans on Twitter to vote for the movie they want to see us review on the next show. If you want to vote in the next poll, be sure to follow @BoardwalkTimes for more information!

First, we cover the 1949 Disney classic Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Though many may not know of this deeper cut, it remains one of the best Halloween (and kind of Christmas?) films in the Disney catalog. If you haven’t seen the cinematic package, or just have a soft spot for Bing Crosby (seriously), check it out!

Then, we spend a bit of time discussing the Disney Channel Original Movie Phantom of the Megaplex. Halloween horror can be fun, but sometimes it’s nice to experience the charm of early Disney Channel films. Compared to the other DCOMs we discussed, this is a wonderfully restrained children’s film that captures the culture of the time, experiences inherent to cinema, and qualities of early 2000s television entertainment. It’s a lot of fun!

If either of these films interests you, they’re available on Disney+ under the Halloween subsection. 

On today’s episode of Boardwalk Talk, we’re devoting some time to cover any news that has developed since the last episode of our show. It’s a slow time in the community, but we wanted to bring to light some of the important changes happening in the parks and entertainment industries as a result of COVID-19.

First, we spend some time discussing the company-wide layoffs that were recently announced by Disney. Our love and support go out to anyone affected by these changes, and we are disappointed to hear that the most financially successful entertainment company would eliminate income for thousands during one of the worst economic crises of our time. We spend a bit of time discussing how many cast members were let go, why this may have happened, and how the company will change as we see the greater effects of this layoff. 

Then, we turn our attention towards Disneyland, as the debate surrounding re-opening grows more contentious by the day. The government has stated that the park could be a pandemic hotspot, but Disney continues to defend re-opening as the only path for financial stability. We spend a bit of time discussing the arguments, and ultimately place blame on both parties for this game of political (and financial) theater.

Finally, we turn to the world of cinema as we discuss the newest Disney-Pixar film Soul and its path for release. The cinema experience is limited in 2020, leaving most companies no other option than to seek alternative methods of distribution.

If you’re a Disney fan on the internet, it’s pretty likely that you’ve heard of the popular YouTube channel Defunctland. Known for their incredibly thorough and niche research pieces on often neglected Theme Park and Entertainment history, Defucnctland continues to deliver genuinely interesting content through experimental means. 

Today, we’re here to discuss their newest venture, which takes them beyond short-form internet content and into the world of a feature-length documentary. In Live From the Space Stage: A Haylx Story, we discover the untold story behind an often forgotten Disney Records Rock n’ Roll Band called Haylx. In just an hour and a half, we learn of the origins, experimental performances, and melancholy end while listening to interviews from former members and the band’s creative team. If you’ve never heard of Haylx or their performances at Disneyland, this documentary is the perfect source to check out! 

After watching the film, we wanted nothing more than to learn more about the creative process. When given the opportunity to talk to the film’s director Matthew Serrano, we knew we had to say yes. Join us as we talk about his inspirations, creative process, experiences during interviewing and research, and much more! 

The Documentary:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0rDLvg-Lfs&t=1555s

Today on Boardwalk Talk, we begin our show discussing some of the Disney Parks news that has transpired in the last few weeks. From Park Openings to Pylons, Poppins to the Play Pavillion, Primeval World to Postponed Spaceship Earth renovations, we have a lot of information to cover! If you think you’ve missed any Parks news over the break, check out today’s show!

After the Audible presentation, we begin our deep dive into some of Disney’s newest entertainment offerings across various platforms of media. First, we check in with the Muppets on their latest attempt at relevancy, Muppets Now. Then, we turn our heads to a groundbreaking new piece of television animation, The Owl House. Finally, we let the tears flow and memories blossom as we discuss the new Don Hahn documentary that recently launched exclusively on Disney+, Howard. 

Time Stamps for Today’s Episode:

• Park News: 0:02:00