bob weis disney net worth

recruiters came through from WED as Imagineering was known at the time. Were looking for communal celebratory experiences with our friends, family, and other people in our community. The firm already has such an incredible commitment to the cultural vibrancy of cities and the places where we live, work, and play. This is probably the only themed entertainment project that is 100% immersive. The complexities of the project, the needs of the team, the vision of the organization, the daily challenges and frustrations and through it all he never loses his love of it. One of the things we looked at was a new pavilion for EPCOT that would have celebrated entertainment. As a young person who hadnt really traveled much, I liked the idea of going to a far-off place like Tokyo and working with a tight group of senior Imagineers as well as a bunch of kids fresh out of school like me. Structural Info Filmography Awards Known for movies Georgia (1988) as Producer Pure S (1975) as Producer We ended up using pieces from the Tishman collection in this new gallery, showcasing them with contemporary pieces by young African American artists. D23: What are some of the biggest changes youve seen at Walt Disney Imagineering during your career? We ended up trying a lot of new things: we created the biggest castle ever, and we reimagined the traditional Main Street, U.S.A., into Mickey Avenue to bring a stronger character presence. storied culture, and it was critical for us to appreciate that and work closely Bob Weiss is a Taurus and was born in The Year of the Horse Life Everything around you is in a ship. Its always great working with Bob. 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. From the U.S. to Shanghai, Tokyo to Paris, Weis' design and innovation imprint has been indelibly left on theme parks, attractions and rides, resorts, and cruise ships. The Let us know in the comments below! Disney Imagineering President Bob Weis steps down ahead of Lake Nona move Bob Weis stepped down as president of Walt Disney Imagineering this week as his department moves to Lake Nona from. When we 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. Romans and his team at the museum were interested in integrating characters from a leading TV show into the new exhibit. He was working on a project in Chicago [the ACTION! quote, were just getting started., Start planning your dream Disney Vacation nathan redmond mother. Weis brought Seruto on board to manage production on Top of the Rock, a reimagining of the observation decks at Rockefeller Center in downtown Manhattan. He called Weis to see who he knew. BW: This has been high on my mind recently, because Ive been working on [sorting through] this huge discovery of [documents and artifacts] that Marty Sklar collected during his 50-year career. During his time at Disney, Bob led more than 200 major projects around the world with a capital value of more than $30 billion. Where is Anglica Mara today? He was adroit with working with management, instead of bowing to it. After a 42-year-long career, with plenty to be proud of, he had earned a well-deserved restor so it seemed! In 2002, Viola led a group of more than twenty modern Americans on a horseback journey through the Idaho wilderness. D23: Whats it like for an Imagineer to visit a park filled with guests? But the stories he creates aren't limited to movie screens and printed . It doesnt take much with sound effects and announcements to make it feel like youre under attack. Bob Weis is very wise, a good friend, and very helpful. His steady approach allows him to take on intimate projects or scale up to something massive without losing sight of his leadership role and the vision the team is working toward. At the same time, one of its highlights was a series of tours through a real production studio. Bob Weis, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, has accepted a position with Gensler, a California-based architecture and design firm. Weve also discovered that there are certain things that work across the globe that people want to do together. There was a company statement posted on the official Imagineering Instagram page that recognized the scope of Weis contribution. Documenting the adventure were Weis, Associate Producer Steinouer, Editor Greg Jones, and Director of Photography Cameron Roberts. There is such little time just to talk in our busy work lives, so I treasured these moments. I got to learn pretty much everything how to Unlike ACTION!, where actual members of the filmmaking community portrayed themselves in their roles, CSI took actors playing their fictional characters from another medium the exhibit presented a fictionalized world, but embodied with real scientific exploration. The most emotional time for any Imagineer is when you when you stand out front when something opens and you see the fans come in for the first time and hear their reaction for the first time. So, this is a nice time for me, where a lot of these major projects are wrapping up in these next few months. Kurt and I had worked on several projects together, and he suggested Bob talk to me. We had to come up with over twelve hours of audio and six hours of video. Now they just form a minor obstruction that feels like part of the works you observe when looking up., On working with Weis, Seruto notes that some of my favorite memories involve traveling together for work. We were building an exhibit, yes, but also doing a pretty major remodel of an historic building, Seruto was quoted in a 2006 article for Exhibit Builder by Judith Rubin that was reprinted by the TEA in 2007. 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Romans had continued his relationship with the Smithsonian, working with them and Weis on the development of Disneys America and creating an exhibit at EPCOT celebrating the Smithsonians 150th Anniversary. Youre receiving limited access to D23.com. Inside the Magic consists of multiple writers & videographers living near both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks and around the world. was greenlit. It seems retirement didnt suit the former head of Walt Disney Imagineering! When I was with Bob, he was always searching with me, How do we approach this idyllic structure? When in Washington, I told the team to wear ties to a meeting and Bob just laughed. Imagineers have such an incredible Remember to sign in or join D23 today to enjoy endless Disney magic! Before the move, Weis spent more than 30 years at Disney. He cared about the environment so his goal was to create a TV show that would make people love the ocean and the ocean creatures. Even Lewis and Clarks expedition which would have been the theme of a raft ride at the unbuilt park, and did become the subject of his film In Their Footsteps was a US Army operation. Its exciting to think that we can create great stories that people can experience together in new ways and do them in the spaces Gensler already creates. After the resort opened in China in 2016, Weis was named president of WDI, a position he held for six years, a period when more than 200 distinct projects were delivered, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Related: Legendary Disney Imagineer Retiring After 42 Years. dedication and passion for excellence. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Again his humanity, his empathy and love of people and the work we do.. Walt Disney Imagineering shared this on Instagram: Forty-two years after first joining Imagineering, Bob Weis has announced his retirement. got to know and trust each other, which was key to making this project work. However, he also has a significant body of influential work in the museum and attractions fields and even military training simulation pioneering projects that established new models, blurring the line between attraction and exhibit, bringing museum techniques to the theme park world and vice versa. And it becomes very clear that the idea of telling stories for people to experience over and over and in their own wayas I said, as characters in their own experienceWalt was very clear about wanting [the park to be] a seamless environment. From the U.S. to Shanghai, Tokyo to Paris, Weis design and storytelling imprint has been indelibly left on theme parks, attractions and rides, resorts, and cruise ships. This all happened because we rented some successful traveling exhibits such as an early Jurassic Park and determined we should be making them ourselves, then travel them. Bob Weis (BW): Well, thats quite a timespan. I felt like my Dad was with me and this project ended up being a way to honor my father, she said. When I was at Disney, we worked on hundreds of different projects, but theres one project that I think is an interesting example of the types of things we can bring to the many different types of spaces we design at Gensler. 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. 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. thing I learned that has stuck with me for my entire career was the importance Eventually, we added a small gallery at The American Adventure. When I was leading Imagineering, we delivered hundreds of projects that brought new experiences, new stories, new innovations to our guests around the world. China For even more details about how attractions in Disney parks came to be, don't miss Behind The Attraction, also . Hes about ideas, never stopping, and always moving forward. He didnt want to see the world outside. This was an opportunity for him for all of us to help our country. The estate is comprised of investments, real estate, and holdings, which have been divided up between family members. balance between making sure we have the classic things people cherish while 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. Under the Fertile Films banner, Weis and Viola decided to make a documentary about Lewis & Clarks trek through the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. One of his greatest attributes is his strategic mindset. And we took what people think of as the hub to the next level, making it its own land with attractions and magic. Battle Stations 21 is very different from the exhibits, says Tim Steinouer. opportunity to share a vision and then watch it evolve, get built, and debut Kleiman served as part of the executive management team that opened the Thea Award honoree National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia and has provided consultation services to a number of museum projects. For more information about Bob Weis joining forces with Gensler, read this article on Fast Company or view our press release. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. We are thrilled that Bob is joining our global innovation design team, Gensler co-CEO Andy Choen said in a press release. It was very informative to my urban planning and architectural studies, because when you stand out on the street throughout the day, you see behavior; you see how people use the park spaces of Disneyland and how it changes throughout the day and through the cycle of the seasons. We even put in 1,200 trees and took out elements that felt like they could be in any sort of non-Disney amusement park. I had to write a twelve-hour script, shares Chick Russell, It was a twelve-hour script, but twelve different scenarios happen every hour, and all at the same time. We wanted to offer Oriental Land Company something that would complement the original park while still being bold and different. We had a lovely discussion, then as he left he picked up a card from the art show I was mounting. With Bob, its always a collaborative effort. maybe Disney should just outsource that too, itll be cheaper? Among her credits are the traveling tour of the treasures of Tutankhamen, launched by AEG and National Geographic in 2005. On opening day, you saw the culmination of the efforts of those who made it go from muddy fields to a fully realized, magical place. A day or two later, we were told to make a pitch. You can withdraw your consent for these messages at any time. He currently resides in Pennsylvania, United States. Our projects can be taxing, and we all Genslers commitment to leading the future of design is perfectly aligned with my passion for developing unique, immersive experiences with a diversity of creative voices. There are also a lot of artists and designers out there and theyve been doing this for years who are trying new things and pushing the envelope on what an experience is. We used real props from the studios, but more modern props for the time that our younger guests would relate to. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Inside the Magic. As President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Seruto says, Bob brings three key traits that will help the company grow into the future: Vision for where the company can go, of its total potential and with clear insight on how it can and should adapt to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world. As we explored ideas, it soon became apparent that this was bigger than just a pavilion it could be an entire park. I They worked beautifully together. How do you tell a story in [three-dimensional] space? We hired Ricardo Legarreta, a famous architect from Mexico, who was in his 70s at the time. D23: Is there anything else you wanted to say to D23 Members and fans? The premiere of Shanghai Disneyland was a beautiful moment. The second element is that we are immersing people into the space, meaning we are surrounding them with the theme, the story, and the idea. 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. built with tradition, filled with things we want to preserve, so when you come We specialize in creating custom-crafted content designed to appeal to the industrys top designers, creators, developers, owners and operators. And for those of us designing immersive experiences, its up to us to find ways to actively put people more physically and emotionally in the story so that they become truly invested and connected to a place. Under her Seruto & Company moniker, she would collaborate on four museum projects with Weis. If you want to see Weis in action, along with other Imagineers, be sure to watch The Imagineering Story on Disney+! Think of going to the theater, but instead of watching the play from your seat, you are part of the play. Subsequent assignments included creative leadership on Disneys Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios), Tokyo DisneySea, and the reimagining of Disney California Adventure. And it was a joy to work with Leslie [Iwerks] on her documentary about Imagineering [The Imagineering Story, streaming on Disney+]. Think of going to the theater, but instead of watching the play from your seat, you are part of the play. I The firm does business in hundreds of cities all over the world and across 29 different practice areas. He stood up for what he thought was right. recurring theme: there was an intangible something they got in our other 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? When you take away the ceiling on an old elevator, you have machinery, cables, I-beams, obstructions. Whenever we do somethingit might be adventure, it might be fantasy, but its always in the service of great storytelling and fun. exhibit] with Kurt Haunfelner. Bob Weis Design Island Associates Inc. 2000 - 20077 years Design consultant to Smithsonian, DIsney, Dreamworks, Sony, Fox, United States Navy, Paul Allen. Were tired of being at home in front of our computers. When Michael Eisner and Frank Wells came aboard as the senior leaders of the company, they almost immediately prioritized the growth of Walt Disney World. OLC had assembled some incredible talents 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. The second element is that we are immersing people into the space, meaning we are surrounding them with the theme, the story, and the idea. As of 2022, Bob Weiss's net worth is $100,000 - $1M. For Seruto, her projects with Weis often evoked personal experience and personal history. It had been an enormous project: seven square kilometers of property with the theme park, two hotels, Disneytown, subway lines, lakes and boats. We held focus groups with locals and talked with both stakeholders and experts as part of the creative process.. Bob and I share classic film knowledge, he says. The company's vision is to "entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through . Visitors would view the completed trailer in a screening room. authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese which led us to diversify our Read the whole interview with Weis on Gensler.com. Hes very engaging, and that makes you want to engage with him.. Its exciting to think that we can create great stories that people can experience together in new ways and do them in the spaces Gensler already creates. Bob Weis Disney. Now more than ever, design has the power to shape how we experience life. Three sets were constructed a Paris cafe, the interior of a plane headed to Hawaii, and the underwater lair of the films villain. There could be firefighting at one spot, flooding or watch or navigation in another. And it gave me a great understanding For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. BW: Well, I was one of the kids once, and now Im in the older generation. "I will always be proud to have led Imagineering from 2016-2021, and to be your Global Ambassador in 2022," he wrote in an email he shared today with his fellow Imagineers. also want to express my respect and admiration for Imagineers and their endless He would be putting real people in real places with real actors playing characters that would interact with the guests. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters, Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Sometimes the conversations would be deep and personal, and other times we would just laugh and laugh at the absurdity of something. To me, that is the magic of Disneylandthat people take their kids and want them to have the same experiences [that they had as children]. Later, he would lead the team on the conceptual stages of Disneys America theme park near Washington D.C. Had the project gone forward (it was canceled in 1994), it would have depicted America and the fabric of its people through real stories, as told through Disney storytelling techniques and technology. He has 25+ years management experience: in tourism, museums and attractions, in the giant screen industries and as a zookeeper. Later, when back at Walt Disney Imagineering to oversee the Shanghai Disney Resort, Weis invited Seruto to join WDI and executive produce the Treasure Cove area of the park, including its benchmark attraction, the award-winning Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. Weis gave the following exclusive interview just before sharing the news of his departure with his colleagues. A deep love for Imagineering and tremendous respect for the people who built it, but also such enthusiasm for the new and future talent that inhabit those hallowed halls. He's a maker and movie director, known for Georgia (1988), Pure S (1975) and Heartbreakers (1984). CSI happened when Bob and I were in a cab from La Guardia to Top of the Rock. He kept changing the environment, and this brought out peoples ideas that we otherwise might have missed. The Untold Truth of Don Lemons partner & fianc TV Series second unit director - 2 episodes, Raoul Wallenberg: Between the Lines (1986). 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. teams and include local writers, artists, craftspeople, fabricators and many includes serving as president of Imagineering for nearly six years. During his tenure, Weis was instrumental in bringing about many areas and attractions known around the world today. bob weis disney net worth. In this medium of immersive experiences, we want to break out of the screen and really envelop all the senses sight, smell, emotion, the feel all the things that can tell the story in physical ways that you will never forget. strongly that our parks are not museums. 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. Youre under attack Geographic in 2005 proud of, he was always searching with me this! 70S at the museum were interested in integrating characters from a leading TV into... Would just laugh and laugh at the museum were interested in integrating characters from a leading TV into. Things that work across the globe that people want to see Weis ACTION! Thats quite a timespan Company moniker, she would collaborate on four museum projects with Weis the art show was! 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