Disney Changes Direction – But Which Direction?
By Phil Cooke

September 22, 2009

Friday’s departure of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Group Chairman Dick Cook was a surprise to everyone in Hollywood – apparently even him. There’s been a great deal of coverage from various sources on the move, but all agree it signals an attempt at a new direction for Disney. Whether that direction ends up smart remains to be seen. During Cook’s leadership Disney became a franchise machine, and developed many long term relationships with producers like Jerry Bruckheimer, actors and performers like Johnny Depp and Miley Cyrus, and partners like Pixar Studios. Just three weeks ago, the studio acquired Marvel in a $4 billion deal.

And for anyone involved in family or religious programming, Dick was a significant friend. A few years ago when I called to ask about a delegation from the National Religious Broadcasters organization touring the studios, Dick went out of his way to show them a rough cut of the film “Enchanted,” and personally spoke to the group about the importance of family and moral values in entertainment. He impressed on them his commitment to return the studio to the vision and ideals of founder Walt Disney. He later allowed the studio to stage a spectacular presentation at the NRB’s national convention that year in Nashville.

Dick Cook was on the forefront of the “faith based” move in entertainment that actually respects people of faith, and created entertainment that honored that too-often marginalized audience.

I’m sure many will write tributes to Dick, but early on, this column by LA Times writer Patrick Goldstein captured it well. I don’t know what’s next for Dick, but I for one wish him the best. He’s one of the few in Hollywood that can look back on his entire career and be proud of his accomplishments.

On the other hand, the future for Disney without Cook, remains to be seen.

View the original posting here.