DVC Winter 2007 magazine:Layout 1 - Disney Vacation Club

DVC Winter 2007 magazine:Layout 1 12/18/07 9:15 AM Page 28
friendly chatter
the happiest interviews on earth
Disney Files Magazine sat down with Roy E. Disney, Director Emeritus of The Walt Disney Company,
who is bringing his passion for yacht racing to the screen with Morning Light, a Walt Disney
Pictures documentary chronicling the journey of 15 young sailors as they come together to compete
in an epic race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Plans call for the film to hit theaters in spring 2008.
Roy E. Disney
Disney Files: What surprised you most in making this film?
Roy: All 15 kids. This whole concept of bringing 15 strangers
together to compete in the ultimate team sport was just theory.
To see them come together so beautifully, form lifelong friendships
and really become strong competitors has just been
remarkable. As soon as we wrapped shooting, they began asking
about a reunion. They are the heart of this film, which is less
about sailing and more about young people finding their identities.
They’re just fantastic. I’d love to adopt all 15.
DF: Hey, that’s a great idea for a sequel! But assuming that
doesn’t happen, where do these kids go from here?
Roy: Many of these kids have real opportunities to advance in
this sport, and I can promise you that all of them have been
changed by this experience. I think of kids like Steve Manson,
who came to us from inner-city Baltimore. We just fell in love
with him. He‘ll eat you out of house and home, but we love
him. He’s at a maritime college now, and I’m like a proud father.
DF: What do you think will surprise movie audiences?
Roy: I suspect people will be shocked by the amount of work
that goes into a race. It’s a sport of tremendous skill and sacrifice,
and I hope that comes through in the film.
DF: While the kids exceeded all expectations, they didn’t win
the race. That honor went to your son, who captained your
personal craft while you worked on the film. Does that give
him family bragging rights?
Roy: I suppose it does...again. He first got serious bragging rights
back in 1997, when he broke a 20-year-old record. Two years
later, I competed in that same race and broke his record. But his
latest victory was one of the most exciting I’ve ever seen.
DF: Is there another sport you wish you could master?
Roy: Golf. Nobody masters that game. Except Tiger Woods.
My greatest golf highlight was being paired with Jack Nicklaus
in a Walt Disney World ® pro-am tournament the year the place
opened. We actually could’ve won if I would’ve just two-putted
the last green. Anyway, earlier that day, I somehow out-drove
him on a hole–he probably laid up a bit–and just after I made
contact, he walked past me and said, “Nice swing.” I just melted.
I should’ve walked away from the game then.
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