Winners’ Press Conference interview with Pete Docter for Animated Film
Winner: Pete Docter
Q. Please welcome the winner of the Bafta for Best Animated Film, the
director of Inside Out. So how does it feel?
PETE DOCTER: I don't remember what just happened. It was a big blur.
Q. This of course is not your first BAFTA, are you going to have a
range of them on the shelf now?
PETE DOCTER: Battling BAFTAs. Yeah, it was a real pleasure. I was
lucky enough to be here on Up, so, yes, very fine.
Q. Nice together. So congratulations on Inside Out, it's an amazing
film, how long was it percolating in your head?
PETE DOCTER: From beginning to release was about five years. So
that's fairly typical for our films. At Pixar we tend to spend a lot
of time rewriting and rewriting and rewriting, the actual production
is about a year and a half but it's mostly the writing.
Q. What was the first idea? What was the first thing that leapt in there?
PETE DOCTER: The first was just goofing around with emotions with
characters. It seemed kind of like the seven dwarfs could have very
strong caricatured personalities which seemed really fun and what
animation can do really well. Also my daughter was about 11 when I
started and she, like the character in the film, went through a big
change from being goofy and fun to being more quiet and cool and I
remember going through that myself and that just seemed like, Wow,
what's going on in her head? Let's talk about that.
Q. I think one of the things that surprised people about the film was
how emotionally complex it is and how dark it is in many ways. Is
that something that you don't shy away from, you didn't shy away from
it in Up for example?
PETE DOCTER: Yeah, correct. I figure just because it's animated
doesn't mean it doesn't have the responsibility of making people laugh
and cry and reaching them. I was lucky enough to work with a guy
named Joe Grant who came up with the story for Dumbo and worked with
Walt Disney and he would often ask, what are you giving the audience
to take home? And I think by that he was talking about the emotion
and the heart of the story and the themes that hopefully you'll talk
about even after the movie is over.
Q. Absolutely. Any questions now for Pete?
Q. Hi Pete, congratulations.
PETE DOCTER: Thank you.
Q. A couple of things. How old is your daughter now and what does she
think of the movie and, secondly, you gave a really nice speech there
about dedicating this award to all 11 year olds throughout the world
who should do more to create and write, what feedback have you had
from 11 year olds that has really touched you?
A. That was the most nerve wracking screening, for my daughter, she is
now 17, she was 16 when we finished the film and she watched it and I
kind of went up to her afterwards and said, well, what do you think?
And she said, good movie, dad. I figured all right, that's pretty
high praise from a 16-year old. In terms of creativity, I think a lot
of times, for me anyway, as an 11 year old, I felt marginalised, not
part of the world and society and confused by a lot of things and so
drawing was really my refuge and creating these worlds. It's really
what led directly to where I am now and I think there's -- only
strength can come from that, both for the person and the rest of us
who get to see where these people's hearts are, you know, and that's
what art I think can bring.
Q. Any other questions for Pete?
Q. What's the pressure being the Oscar front runner?
PETE DOCTER: Well, we don't really make these films to fight, you
know, against each other, we just try to make them as good as we
possibly can and in terms of being in the conversation. We're just so
happy and grateful to be there, I'm not sure, I mean it's kind of
weird because at this point what can I do? I already did the work,
it's out there, people responded however they're going to respond so
all I can do is cross my fingers. Thank you.
Q. Congratulations. You had some amazing actors that helped in a
sense bring these characters to life. Did you get everyone you wanted
and what did they really bring to this film?
PETE DOCTER: We did. We were able to get, as you say, top notch
casting. Not only perfect for this individual role but they sparked
off each other so well, so Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith recording
together, which we often don't do. A lot of times actors record by
themselves and they really had a great energy and spirit. Each actor
contributed not only to the acting but to the writing in a sense.
They really changed who the characters were. As we got to know them,
we tailored the parts to them and it was a real joy. Ha ha, sorry.
Q. Hi, I notice that you have your joy, anger, fear, buttons tonight.
PETE DOCTER: I do.
Q. Do you have anything special planned for the Oscars, any of the
characters hiding anywhere?
PETE DOCTER: Not that I've thought of so far. You can see Fear was
threatening to be at the top but now Joy is. That's good.
Q. Congratulations.
Q. I was going to ask, what's the overriding emotion that you're
feeling right now?
PETE DOCTER: Right now, I don't know, is relief an emotion? But joy for sure.
Q. Joy for sure.
PETE DOCTER: You know how when Joy and Fear wrestle, you almost can't
see or hear, somebody will have to tell me what I said on stage
because I have no real idea.
Q. Almost like an out of body experience?
PETE DOCTER: Yeah.
Q. Fantastic, on that note, please give it up once again. Thanks.
