I want people to graduate from there really able to do things. I don't want a lot of theorists. I want to have a school that turns out people that know all the facts of filmaking, I want them to be capable of doing anything needed to make a film - photograph it, direct it, design it, animate it, record it, whatever. That's what I want. Heck, I've hired theorists, and they don't have any knowledge I can use. I want to have everyone in that school come out capable of going in and doing a job. These dilettantes who come out with pseudo-knowledge, they give me a pain. I want it so if an actor is needed, they can get an actor right out of school. If a musician is needed, they can go to the music department and find a musicians who can compose music. **On CALarts (California Institute of the Arts)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Disney wants CALarts to produce capable practitioners, not theorists. He values skills like animation and directing over pseudo-knowledge.
- In plain terms
- Education should focus on practical skills that get people hired.
- What can you take from it?
- Focus education on practical job skills.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you prefer theory or practice?
- What skills are most useful?
Another view
Theory often provides necessary context for practice.
More from Walt Disney
I try to build a full personality for each of our cartoon characters - to make them personalities.
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