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In today's USA Today, Sir Paul talks about some of his future plans. Not only are his animated films being released on DVD today, but he has also expanded his Tropic Island Hum story into a children's book called High in the Clouds which will be previewed at the Bologna Children's Book Fair this week. The book will be released sometime in 2005. Then he will start to work on a feature-length film version of the book. According to Sir Paul:
"Geoff (Dunbar) and I have been working on this forever, and we finally have an extended story and the expertise to make a feature. It's an idea I've planted in Harvey Weinstein's (co-chairman of Miramax) mind, and he's very interested."
Sir Paul is currently in Los Angeles recording a studio album he intends to release next year when he launched his next U.S. Tour. He still continues to pursue his other "freeing exercises" - painting, poetry and classical music in spite of the cynicism of the critics. Sir Paul has this to say about the critics:
"I'm sort of stupid, because I never see it coming. I'm simply very enthusiastic. A painting exhibition? Wow, I'll do that. Poetry readings? Yeah, I can do that. I never think there's someone lurking out in the crowd who's going to judge me."
And how is baby Beatrice?
"She's absolutely gorgeous. Heather and I are having a wonderful time. I could go on for hours and drag the photographs out, but I'd never get back to the studio."
As for celebrating 40th anniversary of The Beatles' arrival in the United States, Sir Paul says:
"I'm forward-focused. The Beatles notice their anniversaries the least. We were too busy being The Beatles. I haven't got time to notice all that stuff, but I love it when other people do. When I see something on the telly that talks about us 40 years ago, I'm amazed. I think, 40 years? It makes me stop and have a quick heart attack."
A telephone interview last week with Reuters' reporter Larry Fine was also published in many newspapers today. Sir Paul told Mr. Fine that since his days with the Beatles, he has had a wish to follow in Walt Disney's footsteps by making a beautiful feature-length animation film:
"My ambition in the '60s was to make a feature. I don't know why I wanted to but I just loved it so much. It is a passion. I remember saying to the guys in the Beatles, 'I'd love to do it some day,' and them saying to me, 'Then do it!'
"The big new thing that we want to do is to finally fulfill the ambition of making a feature. You could lose yourself in it, it's a magical world, really. I just always loved that stuff as a kid. Disney was a great infiltrator. He taught us against cruelty to animals. He made us sympathize so much with animals. He made us realize we've all got a mother. He gave us a compassion for animals. I credit him a lot."
What are Sir Paul's favorite Disney films? His reply: Bambi, Dumbo, The Fox and the Hound, The Jungle Book, and his all-time favorite, Lady and the Tramp. He told the reporter that he sees the benefit of the "old fashioned" way of producing these classics:
"Everybody's into CGI (computer generated images). I don't love that as much as the old Disneys."
He feels the hand-drawn process produces "a more artistic look, a soft look, a warmer look," however, he might employ technology for some aspects of his feature-length film:
"We'd use computer technology for other things, like coloring in. It's not the same old process, but won't get that sort of shiny, 3D, squeaky clean look."
Isn't too costly to use the hand-drawn process for a feature-length film these days?
"It's a complete fallacy about computers. They take longer than anything. Making a record, we used to make four tracks in a day with the Beatles. Now we've got equipment coming out of our ears and it takes us at least a week to make a track. It's just our modern world. It's a wonderful world. I'm not retro, but there are an awful lot of people getting away from synthesizers and going back" to creating sounds with instruments.
"Releasing this DVD is a first step. Then we'll see how the book does and then the film. People say, 'Why do you do it? Why are you still working?' For me, it's playing."
(kindly submitted by PLUGGED correspondent Joan M. Hopkins)
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