Dream On Silly Dreamer

In July 2002, Home On the Range was completed and the Burbank studio closed. The following March, Lund went to the Orlando studio to help out with effects animation and rekindled a friendship with Tony West. West had built his career as an effects animator at the Orlando studio since 1989 at the same time that Lund was at the Burbank studio. During the production of Mulan in the mid-90’s, Lund came to work in the Orlando studio temporarily and he and West became friends. When Lund returned to Orlando in March 2003 with videotaped interviews and the intent to make a film, West was one of the people who agreed to help make it happen.

“We had a covert production meeting away from the studio and issued scenes to a few of our animators,” says West. “There was an air of rebellion and camaraderie that made the meeting all the more exciting.” Attempting to spearhead the film by himself almost became too much for Lund. “I’m not a technical person,” he says, “and as soon as you start getting technical, there are too many things that get in your way and almost convince you not to make your movie.” Lund started to see West not only as part of his crew, but as someone who could kick-up production and contribute to its creative force.

By early December, the Dreamer team knew they were in trouble. “We had very little to show for the five months Dreamer was in production,” says West. I was in the middle of making an important career decision. I had been offered a very good job with CORE Feature Animation in Toronto.” It was then that Lund confronted West on the lanai of a local Virgin Megastore. “We both knew that Dreamer was in trouble, but in all the chaos and drama I had been ignoring the problems. I was being asked if my commitment to the project was still solid. Dan made no bones about the fact that unless we both made it our priority, the film was doomed and we should both start figuring out what our next move should be. At that moment I made the decision to forgo the job in Toronto, take a temporary vow of poverty and devote all of my energy to making Dreamer happen.”