Families love Disney and Pixar’s new movie, The Good Dinosaur, and we got to talk to director Peter Sohn about what makes this movie so special and why families can’t miss it.
What’s your favorite thing about this movie?
My favorite thing during production that surprised me the most was the relationship between Arlo and Spot, especially Spot. He doesn’t even talk, but the animators really brought him to life.
How so?
It’s a communication based on gestures without dialogue, and that’s how I connect with my family because my parents don’t speak English, so it’s a personal connection for me.
When you were working on the movie, who were you making it for?
Definitely in the beginning you do it for your gut, you do it for your heart. You look for truths you connect to, and then later, of course, you also think about the families as the audience.
Many animated movies are no longer just for children, but people of all ages are impacted by them. What about this movie reaches all audiences?
A big thing [in the movie] is getting through fears, which everyone relates to. For example, for me when I was a kid and I was trying to draw, I never wanted to show people. And now, being a parent, I stop my kids from doing things. Why? Because of fear. But love gets us through those fears.
Many changes are made in the creative process of making a project. What was one thing you wanted to preserve for the final product?
The relationship between Arlo and Spot was the thing to protect. It was the special, intimate relationship between these two kids that, like I said, surprised me in the best way at first. The Good Dinosaur is one of the first Pixar movies where both the main characters are kids, and that brings out new and exciting concepts.
What inspired you to get into movie-making?
When I was a kid and I saw a movie, it always taught me something. And my parents didn’t speak English, but when they saw movies they understood anyway. It was a new type of language that showed me how powerful this art form can be.
What advice would you give to aspiring directors or producers, or anyone wanting to make something creative?
The biggest thing I learned about the creative process is to trust your gut, and, boy, does that sound cheesy, but it’s true. Also, loving what you do. Loving what you do will carry in how you tell your story, and how you tell your story is how you make your movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daFnEiLEx70
