Interview: Director Benjamin Lancaster Discusses ‘Walt’s Frozen Head’ and Filming Inside Disney's Magic Kingdom
A film that was shot on Walt Disney World property without the permission or knowledge of The Walt Disney Company. Cultjer's Disney Reporter Zach Perilstein interviews The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head director Benjamin Lancaster.
So when did the story of Walt’s Frozen Head come to you? How did this idea blossom?
The title came first, and I was in film school just joking around with some guys. Gosh, I don’t even know how we got on the subject but we were pitching the craziest titles. And my pitch was The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head. Sorta out of the air, and that was the first inkling of the idea. Then I went home and told my wife, and she said: “that’s a film we have to make.”
I can’t believe it started from a title! I didn’t know if you were just obsessed with the mythology or the conspiracy of it all. This brings me to my next question what films inspired The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head?
I have always enjoyed the classic Hollywood comedy. As a genre, and it was exemplified by the films The Walt Disney Company was making in the sixties. You have films like Blackbeard’s Ghost and The Absent-Minded Professor. That’s what this film was going to always be about a normal guy thrust into a situation with Walt’s frozen head.
So it is sort of a throwback.
A lot of the film is made on nostalgia. It's nostalgia that our main character has towards his daughter growing up. It’s the nostalgia Walt has towards his park. On the audience's part, it's their experiences with the parks and the company.
Speaking of nostalgia what kind of Disney references were you allowed to make? And did you get any blowback from the company yet?
Well as far as allowed too. We did what we wanted too that was legally permissible. We didn’t get permission for anything we did. We haven’t heard anything from the company, and we would like it to stay that way.
So take me back to your first day of filming. It was at the Magic Kingdom right?
Yes, it was. We spent four days filming on Walt Disney World property. We had everything meticulously plotted out. We had a Google Doc which was thirty pages long. It included the script, notes, diagrams of the area, and we went out of scouting missions beforehand so our actors and camera technicians knew exactly what shots we needed. Those four days were about execution. We had runners all in case something went wrong. We didn't run into any issues except for shooting the scene for the security apparatus. Which was our first scene in the film.
During the filming, there were no guests that realized there was a movie going on?
There is one exception to that. This girl who was with her cheerleading team saw a grown man on the ground kneeling talking to a bag. And he was having a fairly long conversation. Yet none of her friends believed her and they kept dragging her along. She was trying to draw their attention to this. So whoever you are out there. You were right you are not crazy. Your friends were kinda being jerks. And we have the footage to prove it!
That poor girl is going to have to go through therapy now.
“I swear he was talking to a bag!”
How long was this process? From the start of production til now. How many years?
Gosh, I think we are coming up on five. It was awhile in advance when I was writing the script, and starting the Twitter account. Which I knew was going to be integral in our fundraising efforts. And the Twitter account was started before we were even making the film. (he actually pulled up the exact month the account started) The account started in August 2014.
The film is debuting this year at the Santa Cruz Film Festival?
Yes. You can buy tickets for that here.
Besides filming in Walt Disney World, where were your guy's other filming locations?
Several places subbed as areas of the Magic Kingdom. We built a construction wall which a scene takes place in front of. There a few special effect shots but they are on a soundstage. We built a homemade Doombuggy that is intercut with footage from the ride. We also had to fake the Utilidors. We shot at various places in Orlando. Which all of them gave us permission. Orlando Brewery was the cryogenics lab.
That cryogenics scene in the teaser trailer now that you mention it I was in awe of the details.
Yeah, there was a fake wall, and then the rest was tanks of their beer.
So who was the hardest actor/actresses to get? Did anyone give you trouble in trying to get them for this film?
Not necessarily we held open auditions for actors/actresses. We held auditions under the name “The Florida Project.” Little did we know it would be an…
The A24 film?
Exactly. But we held open auditions under that name. Just to throw people off. When people went through the script we made them sign an NDA. Which they all happily did. Then we pulled out the script with the actual title. There was a nervous chuckle from the assembled group. Everyone was happy to be on board. Ron Schneider came on the project about a year later. We knew we wanted someone who was connected with the company. Someone that fans who already donated to the film would recognize. So we reached out to him. I met him at a film screening. We asked him to do an audition, and he delivered an absolutely perfect Walt. And we gave him the role.
That was the one (Ron Schneider) I was actually wondering about. Seems like he absolutely nailed it.
We sent him an email detailing the project, and we asked if he wanted a role in it. We got a quick response. “Send me the script.” According to him, he stayed up that night and read the whole script through and he fell in love with the project. So I’ll take him at his word that. We were thrilled to have him.
Speaking of the script how long did it take you?
I worked on the script in bits and spurts for three maybe four months. I tend to do a lot of outlining, and go fairly quickly through the script itself. Then there is a refinement period. In the shooting script, Peter’s daughter goes with him to the Magic Kingdom. At first, it was just Peter and Walt but this was the last minute addition and it added another element to the story.
Gotcha. Will the script ever be released online? Or would that get too much blowback?
Umm. Early backers actually got a copy of the script. So some of them can check their inboxes from that long ago. I don’t necessarily see myself releasing the screenplay online but you never know.
Yeah, I know places like Script Slug and others use the scripts for educational purposes of course.
So after this five-year project. What’s the plan for your filmmaking career?
Will play it by year. But what I’m moving into is podcasting. I’ll preview it here. I got a fictional podcast I’m working on right now. It is set in the City of Tomorrow.
Really?!
It’s about the first murder in the City of Tomorrow.
The podcasting allows more storytelling. You can possibly tell more tales.
Yeah, location isn’t an issue. It’s going to be like a ten-part series. It’s going to be fun.
That is going to be a fascinating listen. I’ll be sure to check that out. That actually sparked my next question does Walt’s Frozen Head reference Walt and his thoughts on the company never making Progress City?
In the film Walt has been functionally aware of what has been going on for the last fifty years. So we didn’t really address his vision for the parks. He’s aware of what has been going on.
That makes sense. This next one if it is a spoiler you don’t have to answer it but will there be a post-credit scene?
I can confirm and this wasn’t shown at the backers screening. There will be a mid-credits scene.
You have that filmmaking mind. Do you have any films you want to make down the line?
There is a film I would love to make about the professional rivalry between Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber. I’ve been kicking around script ideas for a while. As a biopic, it would be a film I’d love to make. It would require a several million dollar budget at least. To get the production design right because you need it for that type of movie.
So all we can hope for is that this film blows up. We get a second Kickstarter, and we get the sequel, your dream biopic, and you take over Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.3 and were all good?
You know what if they gave it to me. I’d assure them I don’t have bad tweets.
Can you reveal any more film festivals you are heading too?
We will be having a screening in Orlando on October 13. Tickets are available now at https://waltsfrozenheadscreening.eventbrite.com.
So after these film festival will there be more ways to watch the film? Like a direct-to-video release?
We are planning a home media release. That is probably many months off after being on the film festival circuit.
I have a feeling this is going to be one of those breakout, hidden gem films.
I’m excited to see it. That’s what we're hoping for. We really want to be a cult classic.
Do you have any advice for screenwriters out there?
There is a lot of great books out there. Read the important ones that people talk about. Robert McKee’s Story, Save the Cat, and Screenplays is great. But you got to make it work for you.
Do you have any advice for filmmakers?
Make friends. Make friends with cameras. Go out and shoot something, and hope you get better next time.
If you want to see The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head.
Here are some announced dates with links to buy tickets.
Santa Cruz Film Festival: Buy Tickets
Orlando Screening on October 13: Buy Tickets
Follow @WaltsFrzenHead on Twitter.
Synopsis: During his yearly thaw to oversee the direction of his company, the cryogenically frozen head of the world's largest media conglomerate, Walt Disney, convinces Peter, a low-level park employee, to kidnap him for a day in the Magic Kingdom.
*This article is a part of the Cultjer-Boardwalk partnership.
