Documenting the adventure were Weis, Associate Producer Steinouer, Editor Greg Jones, and Director of Photography Cameron Roberts. got to know and trust each other, which was key to making this project work. as we embark on our next 70 years, I truly believe in Walts great We cut through two floors of Rockefeller Center and we had to keep the building going for the tenants 24/7.. 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. Its as if youre a character in your own movie and youre drawn through it. BREAKING: 'Hey, Disney!' They had a huge impact on the park and guided us on everything from Looking at the card he said and I will never forget it Now I know a lot more about you than when I walked in, and I could see he valued that I was also a fine artist, which meant a great deal to me. I D23: You were president at WDI during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heartfelt thanks to all of them, and to Walt Disney Imagineering, for their cooperation. Russell recalls that about the time the whole Fort Worth concept was done, I got a call from Bob. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Every one of these practice areas from sports and retail to airports and the workplace will all potentially have an application to this type of immersive storytelling. Editors note: We took a tribute approach to this story, interviewing Bob Weiss creative collaborators to learn and share their experiences of working with him. I may even find some time to just go down and walk around Disneyland once in a while.. I went back to Shanghai after we opened and saw how quickly the Shanghai audiencerelatively inexperienced in theme parks or in Disneyadopted it and made it their own. Were tired of being at home in front of our computers. Weir and a fellow teenaged friend were wandering the back alleys of Palo Alto. In 2002, Viola led a group of more than twenty modern Americans on a horseback journey through the Idaho wilderness. The oldest prop was from Titanic. Your email address will not be published. 2023 Gensler, All Rights Reserved And it gave me a great understanding We were asked to redesign the look and feel of a hospital ward for children with cancer. It laid the groundwork for many popular exhibitions, including Weiss subsequent CSI exhibit. Disney over as-is. Weis, a history buff and cinephile, always built upon what he learned from project to project. Weve also discovered that there are certain things that work across the globe that people want to do together. He has also consulted with major clients including Smithsonian, National Geographic, NASA, and the United States Navy, among others. Again his humanity, his empathy and love of people and the work we do.. Structural Info Filmography Awards Known for movies Georgia (1988) as Producer Pure S (1975) as Producer 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. Battle Stations 21 was one of the first major applications of themed entertainment design to training simulation, leading the way for other companies to provide similar training services for first responders, the military, and municipal infrastructure. Theres plenty in there that Marty wrote, and theres plenty of references to Walts philosophy in his first decade in this business. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed I had designed galleries for the various countries, like Mexico and China, using a countrys national treasures. Now, one such Imagineer is back in the news! Hes very fluid. Steinouer would up joining Weis at Design Island (now Steinouer Creative), eventually taking its reins in 2007, after Disney recruited Weis back into the fold to lead the reboot of the Disney California Adventure park. talented people in the world who bring their unique backgrounds and diverse A few months after announcing his retirement from The Walt Disney Company, former Imagineer Bob Weis has joined design and architecture firm Gensler as their Global Immersive Experience Design leader. In recent years, he led the creative team for the development, design, and construction of Shanghai Disney Resort. We used real props from the studios, but more modern props for the time that our younger guests would relate to. Thats just been a huge growth curve in my experience. but now its been outsourced to a completely different company, so where are we getting the next generation of creativity from for the Disney parks? Bob Weis joined Disney Imagineering in 1980 during the transition from Donn Tatum to Ron W. Miller as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. Whenever we do somethingit might be adventure, it might be fantasy, but its always in the service of great storytelling and fun. Mr Chapek's total remuneration from the Walt Disney Company as CEO and director is $3,122,027. Taking a child to a childrens hospital for anything is probably the most traumatic moment for that child and very likely for that childs parents. During his time at Disney, Bob led more than 200 major projects around the world with a capital value of more than $30 billion. I wrote the script for this, shares Russell. Regarding why he chose to join Gensler, Weis said: Gensler has long designed for the human experience, and I hope to build on the amazing work and culture the firm as created. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. 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? I was We learned to put ourselves in the shoes of the guests. Another Bob was very responsible for not getting in the way of this famous architect, but actually working with him.. Serving most recently as Global Imagineering Ambassador and before that as president of the organization, Bob cemented his legacy as a leader and creative force helping to bring to fruition countless attractions, lands, resort hotels, cruise ships, and theme parks around the globe., A post shared by Walt Disney Imagineering (@waltdisneyimagineering). Subsequent assignments included creative leadership on Disneys Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios), Tokyo DisneySea, and the reimagining of Disney California Adventure. The Science of Solving Crime. The exhibit took guests through the processes of forensic science, examining clues both at a crime scene and in a lab. balance between making sure we have the classic things people cherish while A computer program would cut this together. I was incredibly enamored with design from an early age, but also enamored with performance, storytelling, acting, directing, and writing stories. 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. recruiters came through from WED as Imagineering was known at the time. studying for a degree in architecture with a minor in theater design, and I HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. DETAILS BELOW Bob Weiss (born May 7, 1942) is famous for being basketball coach. So, this is a nice time for me, where a lot of these major projects are wrapping up in these next few months. Were really thankful to the fans because of the way that they love [the parks], but also because of the way we are able to learn from them by watching how they react to things. Its an active role. spoke to guests to understand where we had missed the mark, we discovered a Having joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1980, Weis became president of the studio in 2016. It was a natural fit for Bob hes a producer on all media. Bob Weis is a storyteller. For Seruto, her projects with Weis often evoked personal experience and personal history. Walt Disney Imagineering shared this on Instagram: Forty-two years after first joining Imagineering, Bob Weis has announced his retirement. He would be putting real people in real places with real actors playing characters that would interact with the guests. We ended up using pieces from the Tishman collection in this new gallery, showcasing them with contemporary pieces by young African American artists. I was brought onboard to produce the media for the show. Sometimes the conversations would be deep and personal, and other times we would just laugh and laugh at the absurdity of something. The project made sailors feel like they were at sea for twelve hours. Theres a hunger to try things, which is creating this beautiful point in time where people are trying things, but there arent a lot of rules or known best practices. He has 25+ years management experience: in tourism, museums and attractions, in the giant screen industries and as a zookeeper. As exhausted as I would be is a vibrant place with a dynamic culture, and we knew we couldnt just bring It really was a great way to learn from Disneyland. Bob came on and, sure enough, he was the right guy. After a 42-year-long career, with plenty to be proud of, he had earned a well-deserved restor so it seemed! You have a real authentic impact on the experience. asked to lead the creative aspects of an expansive reimagination plan. An Adventure in Movie Making; Top of the Rock; Battle Stations 21; The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History; and CSI: The Experience. We held focus groups with locals and talked with both stakeholders and experts as part of the creative process.. 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 added Cars Land and a Little Mermaid attraction to immerse guests in more Disney storytelling. Bob Weis, Global Imagineering Ambassador and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), announced today that he will retire at the end of the year. And that hasnt changedthat life-affirming, aspirational way of thinking and having a day together where you can celebrate that. At the time, I was working freelance TV and film in Orlando. Let us know in the comments below! 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). the press release of the Gensler vision and Weis new responsibilities literally sounds like what a modern day WDI division and its President would be striving to do for the 21st century Disney fan. And I think the important thing is for Imagineers to listen to fans and listen when things are working and also be willing to admit when things arent workingand so, its time to update or to make some changes. 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.. Weir met fellow Grateful Dead founding member Jerry Garcia in a moment of happenstance on New Year's Eve 1963. Were looking for communal celebratory experiences with our friends, family, and other people in our community. He cared about his people; people responded with devotion to him and the project as a result. Joes blog, Themes, Schemes, and Dreams can be found at themesrenewed.home.blog. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. All Rights Reserved. Bob was not just taking advantage of having you on his team. Hes so well-suited to lead and organize and cast a group of people to do something, no matter the size of the project., Rick Rothschild, Chief Creative at FAR Out! As of 2022, Bob Weiss's net worth is $100,000 - $1M. One of our primary goals was color theory to the appropriate use of language. [weve been able to] lift the veil a little bit and not be so secretive. There was a true sense of collaboration., I was persuaded by the talent Bob brought in, adds Beckman. was greenlit. One of the highlights of Weiss Top of the Rock was the ascent from a history gallery to the observation floors themselves. Before the move, Weis spent more than 30 years at Disney. 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. It was a wonderful way to use theme park storytelling, technology, and immersive design in a completely different way. Bob Weis Reflects on Prolific Career at Walt Disney Imagineering. I think there are three main elements of an immersive experience. 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. 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. Its been great to have the confidence of the company behind us, Weis says. For even more details about how attractions in Disney parks came to be, don't miss Behind The Attraction, also . We learned that story is the most important part of what we do at Imagineering. A day or two later, we were told to make a pitch. this is disappointing to hear about. Remember to sign in or join D23 today to enjoy endless Disney magic! took on the design and artistic disciplines as a coordinator, which involved Hes very casual, but hes very focused and strategic on the end goal. How do you attract peoples attention to move into a space? Recently, Bob joined Gensler to lead Global Immersive Experience Design and 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. And they want experiences in which they feel like they are impacting the story in some ways. The For more information about Bob Weis joining forces with Gensler, read this article on Fast Company or view our press release. Seruto recalled her first meeting with Weis. Mini Biography. This is probably the only themed entertainment project that is 100% immersive. Braden has been a Disney fan from the word go, and if not in the parks with his wife and family, can often be found doing things to incorporate Disney in the day to day, whether that be painting, trying out park recipes at home, or collecting the odd Disney antique! Bob loved it because it was related to America. BW: Seeing the parks with people in them and seeing the way that people love the parkswhether its their first visit, their 10th visit, or their 100th visitis so inspiring to me and to all people who work or have worked in Imagineering. What is more surprising is Weiss decision to come out of retirement for the job. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. After a decade and a half at scenic fabricator Lexington, which she left as Vice President of Design & Production in 2000, Seruto established her own boutique studio specializing in the design and production of traveling exhibitions and events. was my introduction to Bob, he says. 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. Bob Weis was created on November 14, 1947 in Germany. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters, Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. exhibit] with Kurt Haunfelner. He lives in Sacramento, California with his fianc and two dogs. storied culture, and it was critical for us to appreciate that and work closely 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. Bob Weis Design Island Associates Inc. 2000 - 20077 years Design consultant to Smithsonian, DIsney, Dreamworks, Sony, Fox, United States Navy, Paul Allen. put in long hours. opportunity to share a vision and then watch it evolve, get built, and debut

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