One of the most profound experiences I've ever had was the "Backstage Magic" tour at Disney World several years ago. I was prepared to feel highly cynical, but as we moved through the backlots, and saw various shops and projects in progress and talked with different employees, exactly the opposite happened.
The backlots and shops were filled with people who were genuinely excited about the projects they were working on. One craftswoman working on a highly detailed costume told us, "I can get a job doing alterations work anywhere, but most consumers don't care about high-quality textile work any more. Here, I'm working on custom wedding gowns and show costumes that require incredible amounts of fine detail. This kind of work is nearly impossible to find outside of the [Disney] studio. I'm making stuff I actually *care* about." And she meant every word. Almost every person on our tour - including the guide - was nearly in tears after listening to her.
I'm sure there are gimlet-eyed profiteers lurking in dark corners somewhere in Disney. But I think most of what the company does is pretty special.
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Date: 2006-12-26 11:30 pm (UTC)The backlots and shops were filled with people who were genuinely excited about the projects they were working on. One craftswoman working on a highly detailed costume told us, "I can get a job doing alterations work anywhere, but most consumers don't care about high-quality textile work any more. Here, I'm working on custom wedding gowns and show costumes that require incredible amounts of fine detail. This kind of work is nearly impossible to find outside of the [Disney] studio. I'm making stuff I actually *care* about." And she meant every word. Almost every person on our tour - including the guide - was nearly in tears after listening to her.
I'm sure there are gimlet-eyed profiteers lurking in dark corners somewhere in Disney. But I think most of what the company does is pretty special.