TLDR;
Jeff Nimoy discusses the making of "Digimon: The Movie," focusing on the challenges and creative processes involved in combining three separate Japanese films into one coherent narrative. He covers the initial struggle to find a unifying story element, the constraints imposed by the studio, and the writing process, including the creation of jokes and new storylines. He also reflects on his personal experience during the production, his frustrations, and how his perspective has changed since then.
- The Digi-Egg was used as a central element to tie the three films together.
- The writing process involved creating a spine from existing footage and then writing dialogue to fit.
- The studio's insistence on using all three films, including the less favored third film, caused frustration.
- New jokes and storylines were added, such as the running gag with Ty's mom's cooking, to enhance the movie's humor.
The Puzzle Pieces [0:04]
Jeff Nimoy and Bob faced the challenge of merging three distinct Digimon movies into a single, coherent film. They identified the Digi-Egg as a common element across the movies and decided to use it as the central plot device to connect the narratives. Despite having the freedom to re-edit the footage, they struggled to develop a storyline that logically tied everything together. Eventually, they devised a story that made sense, albeit a complex one, that required close attention from the audience to follow.
The Studio Mandate [1:48]
Jeff Nimoy expresses his frustration with the studio's insistence on incorporating all three films into "Digimon: The Movie," especially since the third film was considered weaker. He felt that introducing eight new major characters an hour into the movie went against basic screenwriting principles. Despite his objections, the studio mandated the use of all three films, leaving him and Bob to make the best of the situation.
Creating the Spine [2:56]
After the studio's decision, the team began editing and piecing together the footage to create a "locked picture," which is a final version of the film's visuals. This locked picture was then distributed to various departments, including sound effects, music, and foley, to begin their work. For Jeff and Bob, the locked picture served as a spine, allowing them to write dialogue and create a coherent story around the existing footage. This process was the reverse of traditional screenwriting, where the story comes first.
Writing the Dialogue [5:35]
Jeff describes writing the dialogue as both fun and frustrating. He and Bob wrote many jokes, but only a few made the final cut. Jeff was bothered by the inclusion of the third film's footage, which he felt would detract from the movie's overall quality. He admits that he was angry and let the studio's decision affect his enjoyment of the creative process. He acknowledges that he may have been difficult to work with during that time and apologizes to his colleagues.
Personal Reflections [8:05]
Jeff reflects on his state of mind during the production of "Digimon: The Movie," noting that he was working long hours and was generally angry. The stress of the project, combined with his personal frustrations, made the experience challenging. He mentions that the New York Mets being in the playoffs provided a brief distraction, but ultimately, he was consumed by the task of writing the movie.
The Jokes [9:19]
Jeff discusses the comedic elements added to "Digimon: The Movie." Since Ty wasn't in part three, Kari got more dialogue. One joke that didn't make it involved Diaboromon heading to Yankee Stadium, with Ty quipping that the Yankees needed pitching more than Diaboromon. The team also created a new storyline involving Ty's mom, who was portrayed as a terrible cook. This led to a running gag where Izzy unknowingly eats her inedible concoctions, much to Ty's amusement.