Knowledge (XXG)

Dan Gerson

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get people to come along on this journey even though they know where we're ending up? Can we get people to invest in his wants and desires and...almost cause the audience to forget a little bit about where we're ending up … If we’ve done our job, the audience will get so invested it's still going to be something of a surprise.
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take that long to write. It's just that you're doing different iterations of the movie and it's getting better every time...we both worked on the first one and having those voices in our head, knowing that we want to stay true to those voices even though we're going ten years in the past...so that when you watch
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Gerson also in interview described the format of a college comedy challenging to integrate with an animated film for children: "There's a general sense of the fun of being a college student, without any of the things that might be in a more adult-oriented college film." At an interview with Baird at
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We wanted to try and do a movie in which Mike is our main character and we've had a lot of challenges with this being a prequel. We have never written a prequel, and in fact when we looked at the prequels that are out there, there weren't that many, and the ones that exist aren't great....how do we
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We write a version of the script...and then we blow it to bits, we get in there with the Pixar brain trust, and they just smash it apart, and then you rebuild it and you do that like six, seven times. That's why we were on the movie for three and a half years. People can't understand how it could
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and we would talk about a scene and they would tell me what they were looking for. I would make some suggestions and then go off and write the sequence. We'd get together again and review it and then hand it off to a story artist. Here's where the collaborative process really kicked in. The board
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artist was not beholden to my work and could take liberties here and there. Sometimes, I would suggest an idea about making the joke work better visually. Once the scene moved on to animation, the animators would plus the material even further."
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after he was unable to continue with the project: "I’ve never written anything that I felt was , and Dan Gerson was the guy who came in after I left and kept running with it."
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as a challenge due to the difficulty of writing an engaging prequel when audiences know what the ending will be:
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at the time of his death. The film was completed by several screenwriters and was dedicated to his memory.
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liked so much he kept in the final mix. His name also made a cameo appearance on a scoreboard in
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Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
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Animated Life: A Lifetime of tips, tricks, techniques and stories from a Disney Legend
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as the most unsuccessful monster on the list and as the Desk Sergeant in Big Hero 6.
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the premiere, Gerson again stressed the importance of collaboration and development:
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took seven years from the basic idea of a prequel. Gerson described writing
1001:"Daniel Gerson, Screenwriter of Big Hero 6 and Monsters, Inc., Dies at 49" 428:, the janitors Smitty and Needleman, began as guide vocals which director 586:"Daniel Gerson, 'Monsters Inc' and 'Big Hero 6' Screenwriter, Dies at 49" 242: 1084: 274:
and was also the highest-grossing animated film of 2014. He also won a
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Gerson also took small voice parts in some of his films, including
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Gerson's collaborator Robert L. Baird noted that development of
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in 1999. He married Beau Stacom, with whom he had two children.
78: 303: 299: 837:. Chronicle Books LLC. November 10, 2015. pp. 70, 77. 207:, which was reported to be his last film as screenwriter. 695:"Daniel Gerson Dead: 'Monsters Inc.' Screenwriter Was 49" 725:"On the Horizon:Pixar Learns From 'Monsters University'" 329:, as a highly collaborative process: "I would sit with 561:"Monsters, Inc. Screenwriter Daniel Gerson Dies At 49" 975:"Roy Conli Talks Production on Disney's 'Big Hero 6'" 1029:"Director's Commentary Track Review - Monster's Inc" 718: 716: 177:(August 1, 1966 – February 6, 2016) was an American 668:"'Big Hero 6′: No. 1 Animated Movie Worldwide 2014" 164: 141: 115: 107: 96: 74: 48: 23: 642:"WALL•E: An interview with Pixar's Andrew Stanton" 16:American screenwriter and voice actor (1966–2016) 915: 913: 856: 854: 635: 633: 342:credited him as having rewritten and improved 181:and voice actor, best known for his work with 8: 751: 749: 747: 745: 503:on February 6, 2016, at the age of 49, from 511:-related complications. He was working on 31: 20: 535:"Dan Scanlon Talks 'Monsters University'" 325:Gerson described writing his first film, 246:, as well as television shows including 525: 466:- 2006 - additional screenplay material 402:on structuring his 2014 autobiography. 1157:Deaths from brain cancer in California 789:. Taylor & Francis. p. 141. 757:"Daniel Gerson (classified obituary)" 612:"Screenwriter Interview: Rob Edwards" 7: 1167:Walt Disney Animation Studios people 999:Jusino, Teresa (February 8, 2016). 450:- 2001 - screenplay and voice actor 37:Gerson (left) with Robert Baird at 783:Floyd Norman (February 15, 2013). 474:- 2007 - additional story material 458:- 2005 - additional story material 286:Gerson grew up in New York on the 14: 1094:Interview with Baird & Gerson 559:Libbey, Dirk (February 8, 2016). 189:. He co-wrote the screenplays of 1177:Screenwriters from New York City 1152:American male television writers 1054:Hill, Libby (February 8, 2016). 811:"Monsters Inc: Production Notes" 292:Ethical Culture Fieldston School 490:- 2014 - writer and voice actor 482:- 2013 - writer and voice actor 210:Gerson contributed material to 154: 834:The Art of Monsters University 666:Kinsey Lowe (March 13, 2015). 1: 723:Barbara Chai (June 2, 2013). 187:Walt Disney Animation Studios 1132:American television writers 1127:American male screenwriters 870:. Transworld. p. 322. 1193: 1162:New York University alumni 1147:American male voice actors 1099:Gerson at the premiere of 1142:Cornell University alumni 30: 1137:Animation screenwriters 979:Animation World Network 183:Pixar Animation Studios 699:The Hollywood Reporter 389: 375: 314:Career in film writing 380: 370: 43:premiere in June 2013 175:Daniel Robert Gerson 53:Daniel Robert Gerson 1101:Monsters University 729:Wall Street Journal 479:Monsters University 365:Monsters University 360:Monsters University 353:Monsters University 294:before studying at 198:Monsters University 129:Monsters University 40:Monsters University 762:The New York Times 701:. February 8, 2016 673:Deadline Hollywood 640:French, Lawrence. 618:. January 31, 2014 592:. February 8, 2016 471:Meet the Robinsons 296:Cornell University 272:best animated film 259:Something So Right 253:Big Wolf on Campus 225:Meet the Robinsons 1061:Los Angeles Times 973:Wolfe, Jennifer. 877:978-1-4481-2628-6 864:(April 8, 2014). 844:978-1-4521-4750-5 796:978-1-136-12637-6 290:and attended the 248:Misguided Angeles 172: 171: 108:Years active 1184: 1073: 1072: 1070: 1068: 1051: 1045: 1044: 1042: 1040: 1025: 1016: 1015: 1013: 1011: 996: 990: 989: 987: 985: 970: 964: 963: 961: 959: 944: 938: 937: 935: 933: 917: 908: 907: 905: 903: 888: 882: 881: 858: 849: 848: 829: 823: 822: 820: 818: 807: 801: 800: 780: 774: 773: 771: 769: 753: 740: 739: 737: 735: 720: 711: 710: 708: 706: 691: 685: 684: 682: 680: 663: 657: 656: 654: 652: 637: 628: 627: 625: 623: 608: 602: 601: 599: 597: 582: 576: 575: 573: 571: 556: 550: 549: 547: 545: 530: 158: 156: 118: 80: 79:February 6, 2016 62: 60: 35: 21: 1192: 1191: 1187: 1186: 1185: 1183: 1182: 1181: 1107: 1106: 1081: 1076: 1066: 1064: 1053: 1052: 1048: 1038: 1036: 1027: 1026: 1019: 1009: 1007: 998: 997: 993: 983: 981: 972: 971: 967: 957: 955: 946: 945: 941: 931: 929: 919: 918: 911: 901: 899: 897:Screenwriting U 890: 889: 885: 878: 860: 859: 852: 845: 831: 830: 826: 816: 814: 809: 808: 804: 797: 782: 781: 777: 767: 765: 755: 754: 743: 733: 731: 722: 721: 714: 704: 702: 693: 692: 688: 678: 676: 665: 664: 660: 650: 648: 639: 638: 631: 621: 619: 616:Script Magazine 610: 609: 605: 595: 593: 584: 583: 579: 569: 567: 558: 557: 553: 543: 541: 539:Animation World 532: 531: 527: 523: 499:Gerson died in 497: 442: 408: 394:, who produced 356: 335:David Silverman 323: 316: 306:before joining 288:Upper West Side 284: 160: 157: 1995) 152: 148: 132: 126: 116: 92: 82: 70: 64: 58: 56: 55: 54: 44: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1190: 1188: 1180: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1164: 1159: 1154: 1149: 1144: 1139: 1134: 1129: 1124: 1119: 1109: 1108: 1105: 1104: 1096: 1091: 1080: 1079:External links 1077: 1075: 1074: 1046: 1035:. 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Mingle Media 920:Antwi, Linda. 909: 891:Milly, Jenna. 883: 876: 850: 843: 824: 802: 795: 775: 741: 712: 686: 658: 629: 603: 577: 551: 524: 522: 519: 496: 493: 492: 491: 483: 475: 467: 459: 455:Chicken Little 451: 447:Monsters, Inc. 441: 438: 434:Monsters, Inc. 425:Monsters, Inc. 413:Monsters, Inc. 407: 404: 355: 350: 345:Monsters, Inc. 340:Andrew Stanton 327:Monsters, Inc. 322: 320:Monsters, Inc. 317: 315: 312: 302:and wrote for 283: 280: 213:Chicken Little 192:Monsters, Inc. 170: 169: 166: 162: 161: 150: 146: 145: 143: 139: 138: 123:Monsters, Inc. 119: 113: 112: 109: 105: 104: 98: 94: 93: 83: 81:(aged 49) 76: 72: 71: 65: 63:August 1, 1966 52: 50: 46: 45: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1189: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1155: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1145: 1143: 1140: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1130: 1128: 1125: 1123: 1120: 1118: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1103: 1102: 1097: 1095: 1092: 1090: 1086: 1083: 1082: 1078: 1063: 1062: 1057: 1050: 1047: 1034: 1030: 1024: 1022: 1018: 1006: 1002: 995: 992: 980: 976: 969: 966: 953: 949: 943: 940: 927: 923: 916: 914: 910: 898: 894: 887: 884: 879: 873: 869: 868: 863: 857: 855: 851: 846: 840: 836: 835: 828: 825: 813:. 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Retrieved 1059: 1049: 1037:. Retrieved 1032: 1008:. Retrieved 1005:The Mary Sue 1004: 994: 984:February 11, 982:. Retrieved 978: 968: 956:. Retrieved 951: 942: 930:. Retrieved 925: 900:. Retrieved 896: 886: 866: 833: 827: 815:. Retrieved 805: 785: 778: 766:. Retrieved 760: 732:. Retrieved 728: 703:. Retrieved 698: 689: 677:. Retrieved 671: 661: 649:. Retrieved 646:Cinefastique 645: 620:. Retrieved 615: 606: 594:. Retrieved 589: 580: 568:. Retrieved 565:Cinema Blend 564: 554: 542:. Retrieved 538: 533:Sarto, Dan. 528: 512: 509:brain cancer 498: 485: 477: 469: 461: 453: 445: 433: 423: 417: 411: 409: 395: 390: 384: 381: 376: 371: 363: 359: 357: 352: 343: 326: 324: 319: 285: 263: 257: 251: 247: 241: 235: 229: 223: 217: 211: 209: 202: 196: 190: 179:screenwriter 174: 173: 133: 127: 121: 117:Notable work 101:Screenwriter 38: 18: 1122:2016 deaths 1117:1966 births 1067:February 9, 1039:February 9, 1010:February 9, 958:February 9, 932:February 9, 902:February 9, 862:Catmull, Ed 768:February 9, 705:February 8, 651:February 9, 622:February 9, 596:February 8, 570:February 9, 544:February 9, 501:Los Angeles 440:Filmography 430:Pete Docter 331:Pete Docter 147:Beau Stacom 85:Los Angeles 1111:Categories 1085:Dan Gerson 1033:Pixar Post 521:References 487:Big Hero 6 419:Big Hero 6 396:Big Hero 6 282:Early life 264:Big Hero 6 237:Inside Out 204:Big Hero 6 135:Big Hero 6 89:California 59:1966-08-01 25:Dan Gerson 954:. YouTube 679:March 14, 392:Roy Conli 111:1997–2016 817:June 19, 266:won the 243:Zootopia 165:Children 926:YouTube 734:June 6, 590:Variety 278:award. 159:​ 151:​ 874:  841:  793:  514:Cars 3 406:Cameos 142:Spouse 91:, U.S. 69:, U.S. 495:Death 308:Pixar 276:BAFTA 153:( 149: 1089:IMDb 1069:2016 1041:2016 1012:2016 986:2016 960:2016 934:2016 904:2016 872:ISBN 839:ISBN 819:2012 791:ISBN 770:2016 736:2013 707:2016 681:2015 653:2016 624:2016 598:2016 572:2016 546:2016 507:and 463:Cars 416:and 333:and 270:for 256:and 240:and 219:Cars 201:and 185:and 75:Died 49:Born 1087:at 304:NBC 300:NYU 262:. 1113:: 1058:. 1031:. 1020:^ 1003:. 977:. 950:. 924:. 912:^ 895:. 853:^ 759:. 744:^ 727:. 715:^ 697:. 670:. 644:. 632:^ 614:. 588:. 563:. 537:. 250:, 234:, 231:Up 228:, 222:, 216:, 195:, 155:m. 87:, 1071:. 1043:. 1014:. 988:. 962:. 936:. 906:. 880:. 847:. 821:. 799:. 772:. 738:. 709:. 683:. 655:. 626:. 600:. 574:. 548:. 168:2 61:) 57:(

Index

Writer Dan Gerson describes writing the film Monsters University at the premiere in 2013, with his writing partner Robert Baird on the right. Interview made by Mingle Media; the interviewer is Linda Antwi.
Monsters University
New York City
Los Angeles
California
Screenwriter
Monsters, Inc.
Monsters University
Big Hero 6
screenwriter
Pixar Animation Studios
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Monsters, Inc.
Monsters University
Big Hero 6
Chicken Little
Cars
Meet the Robinsons
Up
Inside Out
Zootopia
Big Wolf on Campus
Something So Right
Academy Award
best animated film
BAFTA
Upper West Side
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Cornell University
NYU

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