Thank you to Disney for inviting me to attend the Toy Story 4 press conference. All opinions are my own. #DisneyHosted
Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 hits theaters on June 21st and I’ve already got my tickets. I was able to take my family to a screening and I shared my review just a few days ago. I’ll just tell you now that the kids each gave it two thumbs up!
Our favorites are back but I’m certain that you’ll have new favorites in Toy Story 4. My new favorite is a former spork turned craft project, named Forky. He has the biggest heart of any spork I’ve ever met. Eh, where was I going with that? Anyhow, I had the chance to sit down with the cast of Toy Story 4 last week and got the behind-the-scenes scoop. The interviewees included: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Keanu Reeves, Annie Potts, Christina Hendricks, Tony Hale, Producer Mark Nielsen, Director Josh Cooley, and Producer Jonas Rivera.
I even found out a few tidbits that you probably haven’t heard yet. Tell me if you’ve heard these or if you have other news about the film. I’d love to hear from you!
Tom Hanks & Annie Potts had the chance to record together for the first time.
Usually, when recording audio, the actors are in a sound booth with producers and such, but not other voice actors. For the ending scenes, Tom Hanks and Annie Potts had the chance to record together and man, those scenes are phenomenal.
Tom Hanks said that Tim Allen had texted him before he went into the recording studio to tell him to ‘hold on’ and basically warning him that those scenes were going to be tough. What Tom did was actually turn himself around in the booth so that his back was to the others in the room with him. He took his mic and turned around so he wouldn’t see anyone else. “Because I didn’t want to have any self-consciousness for what I knew was going to be the last time… certainly the last few hours I’m going to be spending on the movie, but also recording the last scenes.” Bring on the tears!
Christina Hendricks has a ventriloquist doll at home!
In the movie, Gabby Gabby has a few “dummies” as friends and when she was pitched with the role she was like “how did you get in my mind?” See, she wanted a Charlie McCarthy ventriloquist doll when she was growing up – even asked her parents for it and they didn’t get it for her. She finally got one as an adult so she does have one in her house and she loves it.
I think it’s pretty awesome that she has always had this secret affinity for ventriloquist dolls and ends up as a baby doll in Toy Story 4, with these dummy cohorts.
Annie Potts never saw the full script!
Of course, she knew she wanted to reprise her role as Bo Peep when she was asked but she didn’t see the full script. Over time she learned how important her role as Bo Peep was going to be.
She says that she told Josh [Cooley, director] after seeing the film – “I said thank you so much for putting this crown on my head. I think she’s so lovely. And I hope that my wish was to bring all the experience of my long colorful life to kick ass, Bo.”
Honestly, when we were watching the film that was my impression of Bo Peep. She was kick ass through and through. The things that she had seen and done and had gone through after leaving Molly’s room have definitely changed Bo Peep. She’s strong and resourceful, fierce and loyal. I mean, she was all of those things before but even more so now.
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Life lessons from a baby doll.
I know, I know! But Christina Hendricks said it best, “you have to listen to everyone’s full story before you make a judgment.” This is true in everyday life but also true when it comes to Toy Story 4 characters, especially Gabby Gabby. She says the doll is a bit Chatty Cathy, a bit Godfather. I have to say I agree, but also that the character of Gabby Gabby is misunderstood and is a pivotal character to help build the Toy Story 4 storyline.
Tim Allen and ad-libs (of course!)
Tim Allen was asked about bloopers and memorable moments and brought up ad libs that actually stayed in the film(s). He says that ‘sometimes my memorable things is saying stuff that Buzz would generally not say – after a long day of doing the same thing over and over again.’
But the classic to me is when I would ad lib. It’s not like Robin when he did Aladdin. When I ad libbed, it’s not a happy moment for the animators. Because they’ll go oh God. That was funny. God darnit that was funny. Which means they’ve got to go back and reanimate. And Miss Nesbeth, when I got drunk on darjeeling tea, and I’m holding my own arm in my hand because I think somebody, I can’t remember when I lost my arm. And I said is the hat too much? Is the hat too much? It’s under my breath as I walk out of that scene. It was hysterical. They left that in.
Here he talks about another of his famous, unforgettable lines.
A legend lives on in Mr. Potatohead
Mark Nielsen said that Don Rickles had signed on for Toy Story 4 before he passed. They had been thinking about using bits and pieces of other voice work that Don Rickles had done but hadn’t used in a film when his family requested they do just that. So, what you hear on film are bits and pieces of Don’s other voice work spliced together by the editorial department. Amazing!
There’s a little bit of Duke Caboom in all of us!
Duke Caboom is this Canadian stuntman toy and he’s all heart and a little scared. Did you know that Duke Cabook was mostly animated by Canadian animators? Yes! Mark Nielsen (producer) actually said that the Canadian animators at Pixar all volunteered to animate all of Duke Caboom’s shots. So he’s almost 100% animated by Canadians.
Keanu says that he said “Kaboom” to get into character – over and over again.
Forky is bound to be everyone’s new best friend.
The unsung hero, the trash. Forky is the spork turned craft project turned toy and is going to be every audience member’s new favorite character. Tony Hale voices Forky and he’s new to the Toy Story series. Tony says there’s a simplicity to Forky, but there is a lot going on with Forky.
Bet you didn’t know that “Forky Asks a Question” is going to be on Disney +! They currently have 10 episodes scheduled to go live in November.
What Tony Hale and Forky have in common.
Coming into a beloved series of movies in the 4th episode is bound to overwhelm anyone. This is what Tony had to say about his new role and going to Pixar.
It’s overwhelming. And which helps because Forky is very overwhelmed. But I remember when they brought me up to Pixar and they kind of described him as he’s kind of nervous. I was like check. He asked a lot of questions. Check. And he’s kind of gullible to a fault now. It’s like bingo. I’m in. So I just love that he sees everything as new.
Easter Eggs
As with all Disney/Pixar films, there are bound to be some Easter eggs hidden within the film. Toy Story 4 is no exception. We were told that Toy Story 4 has a TON of Easter eggs and there is something from every movie Pixar has ever done hidden in the antique store. Let me know when you spot something!
About Toy Story 4
Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So, when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), declares himself as “trash” and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip excursion, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts). After years of being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their worries. Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”), and produced by Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”) and Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”), Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” ventures to U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019.
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