on the occasion of the broadcast on the Disney+ of “In another world : behind the scenes of the Snow Queen 2”, we asked some questions to Marc Smith, director of the story on the animated movie. He explained to us how has been created this highly-anticipated sequel.
In a broadcast on Disney++, the documentary series in six episodes “In another world : behind The scenes of the Snow Queen 2” has the purpose to share with us the creative process that has allowed the animation studio Disney to bring to life The Snow Queen 2. It follows in particular the producers, the songwriters of the songs, but also artists and actors of the film in this making-of six songs that allows you to give an account of the way in which a blockbuster movie is made on foot. It follows in particular the recording of the songs by the actors, the discussions stick broken about the key scenes of the film, or even the various presentations organized internally to know if the film is on the right track, or if it should be modified.
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Who are the actors behind the characters of the Snow Queen 2 ?
Among the major actors in the creation of The Snow Queen 2, Marc Smith is the Director of the history, that is to say that he leads the team in charge of the storyboard of the film, in other words the visual thread of the film from which facilitators can work to give life to the vision of filmmakers. Mark Smith works at the animation studio to Disney for over 25 years. He has recently worked on Zootopie, Rapunzel and The Snow Queen 1 and 2. During a telephone interview, Marc Smith has responded to our questions about the creation of The Snow Queen 2, which has not been easy as you can read in this interview but also see in the documentary series on Disney+.
You have worked on the storyboard of The Snow Queen 1. For the Snow Queen 2, you have been promoted to Director of the Story. What is it that changed for you ?
as an artist to storyboard for The Snow Queen 1, I was running not the team and I arrived on the project later that for The Snow Queen 2. For the second film, I had the opportunity to begin the project very early on, and to participate in the research trip. This is something that we have done a lot for our films. For this one, we went in Iceland, Finland and Norway. This trip had a very important role in the creation of the film. I had not had the chance to be a part of for the first.
what is your job as a Director of the Story about The Snow Queen 2 ?
At the beginning of the process of creation, it is a lot of discussions with the directors about the characters and the plot. I am trying to learn more about their vision and how to bring it to the screen. Once the film starts, my team and I begin to draw storyboards of the film. We draw, by hand, the characters and the scenes. We’re trying to create the entire film in storyboard. In general, we add to the votes temporary doubled by the directors or the members of the team. Once it was all made up, we look at what it would be like this version of the film. It offers between six and twelve film versions, sometimes very different from what looks like the movie in the end.
The Snow Queen is a musical film, it is also necessary to find a way to integrate the plot. This must be a hell of a challenge !
Kristen Anderon-Lopez and Robert Lopez [the authors-composers of the songs for The Snow Queen 1 and 2, ed] have contributed greatly to the film. We held meetings with them every morning, them in New York and Los Angeles. They showed what they were experimenting with, and we were showing what would look like the movie. In this kind of movies, you really need to combine forces to find the right songs at the right time. There has been a lot of exchanges between the authors-composers and filmmakers. Working on a film musical is a unique challenge. The other hand, the songs also allow to present the history in our place. A large part of our job is to make sure that the logic of the film allows these songs to shine in these specific places.
As you can see in the documentary, “I seek thee” was a sequence particularly difficult to create. Can you explain to us why ?
“I seek thee” is a sequence difficult because it is the culmination of the arc of a narrative of Elsa, not only for The Snow Queen 2 but also The Snow Queen 1. As soon as the first movie, we wondered where were the powers of Elsa. This sequence in the 2, therefore, represents the culmination of his story about the two films. It took a lot of work, a lot of exchanges, conversations and storyboard and then re-storyboard it, so that we can consider that it was part of the logic of the film.
The documentary also shows how the animation work must be repeated and re-repeated. How many versions of The Snow Queen 2 has-t-he had it before the final version ?
I may be wrong but I think it may have been eight versions before the pre-screenings to the public. So eight versions of the film, some being very different from the final version, other more close. The more we advance in the project, the less things change. But yes, probablement between eight and ten versions.
It also means that, sometimes, entire scenes or even songs must be removed from the film. It should you and heart-rending…
At the beginning yes because most of the time, these are very, very good songs and very good scenes. Everyone loves them and we can see what place they might have in the story at this point. But when the story evolves, certain songs or scenes become superfluous. Some of the sequences of emotion appear elsewhere, or it modifies something. I think everyone understands when you must remove a song or a scene. But at the beginning, indeed, it is difficult.
throughout the creation of the film, you organize the screenings to get feedback. Often, these returns unravel your work in a very direct way. Is it difficult to cope ?
This is true and this can be hard at the beginning. But we can accept it as long as one keeps in mind that everyone is working toward the same goal. It is also fairly unique to our studio. No matter who one is : that we are working on the history, construction, security, technology,… everyone works for the same purpose. I think it makes the thing easier to know that we all have good intentions.
The team, she felt a certain pressure to the idea of working on this sequel of a successful film ?
For me, this pressure comes from the fact that these characters are very important for many people. We don’t want to betray that. We don’t want to change these figures but go further with them. It was my desire and that of the filmmakers.
What did you think of the feedback from the public on the film ?
It is an honor that so many people have returned to see these characters and this world. I have the impression that people are still so attached to these characters. It is an honour for me to be part of this adventure.
Sometimes, we compare the animation studios Disney and Pixar. Do you think that this comparison is valid ?
We do the same thing so I guess you can compare us from this point of view. We work hard to make animation films that are of interest to the greatest number and that are important to us. We work with Pixar, also. A lot of my friends work at Pixar. The animation is a small world. It does not seem to me that there is a rivalry between us. It is a little bit like brothers and sisters !
there is also a challenge that pushes both studios to push their limits ?
I am sure that there is a healthy competition between the two studios. Or simply inspirations because we look at what makes Pixar and we love their films. Sometimes, we show them our films and they seem to love them. Sometimes they ask us how we managed to do some things. This relationship seems to me to be healthy. I am very fortunate that we have the opportunity to share between us.
