Boxoffice - October 2016

Interview with Trolls director Mike Mitchell
and co-director Walt Dohrn
by Jesse Rifkin
After decades as one of the most popular toys in the world, Troll dolls come to the big
screen on November 4 with DreamWorks’ animated film Trolls, starring the voices
of Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, James Corden, and Russell
Brand. Boxoffice recently spoke with director Mike Mitchell and co-director Walt
Dohrn, who worked together on the Shrek film franchise and the television show
SpongeBob SquarePants, about Trolls and, among other things, how a Harvard study
on happiness—and Steven Spielberg’s grandchildren—shaped their film’s tone.
Mike, you’re listed as director. Walt, you’re listed as codirector.
How did you divide up the responsibilities? What
did each of you take on with this movie?
Walt Dohrn: I was essentially Mike’s pet. [Laughs.]
Mike Mitchell: That’s not true! [Laughs.] Last time I worked with
Walt, when I was at DreamWorks, was it 10 years before this? I don’t
even remember how far back the last Shrek film was. [Shrek Forever
After was released in 2010.] Walt was not only a valuable storyboard
artist, but we don’t always have the actors available, and Walt is a
tremendous voice talent. So he would do all the voices in the scratch
booth. He has great comic timing; he’s a comic magician. When I
came back to DreamWorks, it was clear that Walt needed to be directing
feature films. So that’s why I was so happy to work with Walt.
Having him as my co-director made everything so much smoother.
84 BoxOffice ® OCTOBER 2016