Writers Wanted

Post by **spaulo** » Apr Wed 18, 2007 1:35 am

Are you a confident writer? Have some strong opinions... even if only occasionally... about the Disney Company? Got some passion behind those opinions? Passion that stems from a love and/or adoration of Disney films, cartoons, theme parks, television, history, etc?

Well then, you belong In the Tiki Room.

There are group-based Disney news blogs/sites out there, from the large-scale MiceAge and MousePlanet to the recently-launched-by-some-of-our-very-own A Kingdom of Dreams... there are also great opinion/commentary sites out there, like The Disney Blog, EPCOT Central, and Re-Imagineering, but they are either run by a single person or speak with a single voice.

The idea behind In the Tiki Room is to be a group-run opinion/commentary blog where the writers, well, may not always agree with each other. Kind of like how Jose, Fritz, Michael and Pierre don't always get along/agree, but they're all there for the show.

Why the Tiki Room?

A) It was, by his own admission, one of Walt's most beloved attractions. The love most of us feel for the Disney Company, past or present (or both) stems from Uncle Walt and his creations.

B) "The Enchanted Tiki Room--Under New Management" at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is, in my opinion, one of the most jaw-droppingly awful creations of the "new" Disney Company. It's cynical, it makes fun of the original show, it is based off of two unrelated characters from unrelated films, and it's just bad show.

C) If we get four people total, we may decide to use aliases and go by Jose, Michael, Fritz, and Pierre. (if this ends up being the case, I got dibs on Jose)

So... who are you? Are you a confident writer? Got something to say? Let me give you the place to say it. A great design to the site is under construction, and it will run on the WordPress platform (easy peasy to use)... Commitment level I'm looking for would basically amount to being able to say something interesting about the Disney Company (ANY division, recent/current event, rumor, etc) 2-3 times per month. I do not expect this blog to update every day, but I do expect the content to be quality.

Interested? Maybe? Only a bit? Give me a shout. Shoot me an email at steve@grizzlydojo.com ... we'll talk.

FYI, I asked Sub ahead of time if this "ad" of sorts would be welcome here. He assured me it would be. I love you folks.

Magique · Post by **Magique** » May Tue 08, 2007 8:38 pm

That sounds like a really good idea. Could you give examples of what could be discussed? I may be interested in writing a little for the site.

Post by **spaulo** » May Wed 09, 2007 12:20 pm

Well, for examples of topics, just keep your ears open to the Disney world'o'stuff... off the top of my head, right now it could be: the new Nemo sub ride at DL, the "cartoonization" of EPCOT ala "Gran Fiesta Tour," the new SSE endshow and upcoming changes due to the sponsorship change to Siemens, the TSI/"Pirate's Lair" makeover at DL, etc.

The project is currently on hold, but I feel good that we will actually be launching some time this summer. I have to go do this whole "wedding" thing this weekend and will be gone for a few weeks immediately thereafter. I'll keep the community updated, of course.

Magique · Post by **Magique** » May Wed 09, 2007 6:35 pm

Sounds great. I can't wait to see it.

QuickGold · Post by **QuickGold** » May Thu 10, 2007 10:03 am

Good luck with the project

NapoleonD · Post by **NapoleonD** » Jun Thu 28, 2007 9:46 am

spaulo wrote:Well, for examples of topics, just keep your ears open to the Disney world'o'stuff... off the top of my head, right now it could be: the new Nemo sub ride at DL, the "cartoonization" of EPCOT ala "Gran Fiesta Tour," the new SSE endshow and upcoming changes due to the sponsorship change to Siemens, the TSI/"Pirate's Lair" makeover at DL, etc.

The project is currently on hold, but I feel good that we will actually be launching some time this summer. I have to go do this whole "wedding" thing this weekend and will be gone for a few weeks immediately thereafter. I'll keep the community updated, of course.

Congrats if this "wedding" was yours. I, too, am interested in this site. Any update?

Post by **spaulo** » Jun Thu 28, 2007 11:08 am

Yes, the "wedding" was mine

Project on hold. Wife is undergoing some really awesome torso/abdominal pain no one can pinpoint and is getting test after test after test... makes it hard to concentrate on projects. Plus we're moving in about a week and after that I will be setting up an honest-to-god home office instead of being a little laptop bedouin with no home (office) to call my own.

Anyway, blah blah blah, project still on hold, but not forgotten.

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Jun Thu 28, 2007 4:00 pm

spaulo wrote:Project on hold. Wife is undergoing some really awesome torso/abdominal pain no one can pinpoint and is getting test after test after test... makes it hard to concentrate on projects.

Ick. I hope she can get that taken care of soon!

Moviemaker137 · Post by **Moviemaker137** » Jun Fri 29, 2007 1:51 am

spaulo congrats on the wedding and prayers for your wife getting better and fingers crossed for you finally getting an office... as for the writing I am more than ready for it I've been trying to find all the details I could from the parks, movies, etc. Anything Disney related to keep up with the rumor mill and everything and I think I am just about ready to take on the task so whenever it does happen just keep me posted

MM137

foldmama · Post by **foldmama** » Jun Fri 29, 2007 12:28 pm

Spaulo - I hope your wife is feeling better. Congrats on the wedding!

Blackie Pueblo · Post by **Blackie Pueblo** » Jul Sun 08, 2007 5:32 pm

I hope everything goes well with your wife.

I'm interested in The Tiki Room. Could you give me more info. I know you pretty much explained it all but could you tell me what kind of writers you are looking for? What kind of experience? How much knowledge of Disney?

"In learning the art of storytelling by animation, I have discovered that language has an anatomy. Every spoken word, whether uttered by a living person or by a cartoon character, has its facial grimace, emphasizing the meaning."
--Walter Elias Disney

casrin · Post by **casrin** » Jul Mon 09, 2007 8:03 am

I'd sent you an e-mail a long while back Steve (when I first joined up here anyway). If this does happen, I'd be interested I think.

TLCMMM · Post by **TLCMMM** » Aug Mon 20, 2007 10:13 pm

I hope your wife makes out alright. I would be glad to help from a travel agent point of view if you want it. best of luck with your site.

Moviemaker137 · Post by **Moviemaker137** » Aug Fri 31, 2007 3:07 pm

Hey Spaulo umm yeah sorry I haven't been on the forums in forever!! I've been getting booked with college and moving and such sooo just wanted to stop by and say if you can let me know when this writers thing gets up and running I'd be more than willing to participate

MM137

Post by **spaulo** » Sep Mon 03, 2007 11:36 am

Still sorting all kinds of stuff out, including a big project wrapping up, started a new job a month ago, all kinds of junk. Want to revisit this probably in the Fall, and will be contacting everyone who expressed interest at that time.