Article from today's Ottawa Citizen: Disney mum on makeover of Canada film at Epcot Gatineau's Eva Avila, comedian Martin Short rumoured to be lending talents for Aug. 25 debut http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=93bb3b41-e020-430f-bbba-00625b05dfff&k=28454 Tony Atherton, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 The year was 1982. Pierre Trudeau was prime minister, the Blue Jays played at Exhibition Stadium, Vancouver's False Creek was an industrial wasteland, and a film called O Canada! was the star attraction of the Canada Pavilion at the newly opened Epcot Center at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. A quarter of a century later, the 18-minute, 360-degree film is still packing 'em in at Epcot, but its dated and often hokey portrayal of the country has become a painful embarrassment for Canadian tourism officials and for many of the tens of thousands of Canadians who visit the massive theme park each year. Ancient footage of the RCMP Musical Ride, flannel-wearing fishermen, fleeting and outdated aerial shots of Canadian cities, and voice-overs by actors affecting bad Newfoundland and Quebec accents are all cited in the steady stream of complaints about the film fielded each year by the Canadian Tourism Commission. Soon, however, Canadian visitors to Epcot may no longer be blushing as bright at Mickey Mouse's red lederhosen. Seven years after former Canadian Tourism Commission president Jim Watson launched a campaign to have the Disney-made film updated, it seems a new version of O Canada! will debut August 25th -- with help from some high-profile Canadians: Gatineau's Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila and, Disney buffs say, comedian Martin Short. The folks at Disney won't confirm or deny rumours that the film is being relaunched next month. Walt Disney Canada spokeswoman Angela Saclamacis will only say "we are expecting some good things over at Epcot ... but we're not prepared to announce anything officially at this time." However, an official Disney website notes that the O Canada! film exhibit at the Canada Pavilion -- a circular room with nine large screens surrounding an audience pit -- will be shut down from August 20 to 24 for "refurbishment." Ms. Avila's manager Jim Campbell, and a spokeswoman for her record company, Sony BMG Canada, say the singer has recorded a theme song for the pavilion to be launched next month. Mr. Short, rumoured to be the new film's onscreen narrator, could not be reached for comment. The original film, apparently inspired by an enormously popular circular movie created by Canadian director Robert Barclay for the Bell Canada Pavilion at Expo '67, was largely shot in 1979. The Disney film has been described by Mr. Barclay as "a superficial, glib look at the country." "It could have been a Wal-Mart commercial," Mr. Barclay told a reporter in 2000. Mr. Watson, now Ontario's minister of health promotion, has said the film represents an American's stereotypical view of Canada. O Canada! features snippets of Canadian folk music (including Stan Rogers' Bluenose) and an overweening 1980s-style pop song called Canada, You're a Lifetime Journey. Footage shows cars and clothes a generation out of date, and cityscapes that have changed tremendously since 1982. The Toronto footage, for instance, features the CN Tower but not the Rogers Centre (formerly known as the SkyDome), which has stood prominently beside the tower for 18 years. About half of the footage is new in the restyled movie, according to contributors to Disney fan websites and to an unofficial online Disney tour guide. It is not clear who paid for the changes, which Mr. Watson once estimated would cost several million dollars. Over the years, there have been several attempts to bring Disney together with private Canadian investors with an interest in tourism to fund an update. The federal government has previously declined to become involved in the venture. Epcot Center is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, and the Canada exhibit -- which includes the Victoria Gardens (inspired by Victoria's Butchart Gardens), the Hotel du Canada (based on the Chateau Laurier), some totem poles and an ersatz canyon as well at the O Canada! film -- is one of 11 countries showcased at the park. === Anyone in attractions have any further updates? I will be at WDW the first week of September (for the first time in over 2 years!). I hope that the new film is playing by then. Andy
Yep, it's true, I've got some friends there. It's going down Augist time, might even get a replacement curtain!
