If Disney made a movie about OTMA...?

[GDSophie]

What would you like it to be about? (Personally I wouldn't like to have magical elements but a story about four royal sisters with different personalities who were one with each other. Paint a positive picture of the girls, Nicholas, Alexandra and Alexei and bring OTM to attention, especially Olga and Tatiana as a majority of people don't know about them much, people know Maria a little bit but only because of the rumours of which body was in the second grave. What the plot could be about I don't know).

Who would you want to voice and sing Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, Alexei, Nicholas and Alexandra?

Who would you like to sing? For example four separate songs for OTMA, duets between them, an Alexei score? Nicholas and Alexandra duet (thinking about it, that would be adorable!)?

2D or 3D?

Just fun questions I was thinking about early today. I'm excited to see your thoughts.

[TimM]

Yeah, but don't expect the usual Disney happy ending...

[GDSophie]

Of course! Unless you have it in a certain year for example 1911 or a year before the war. But like Pocahontas and Mulan, both films based on real people, they don't have to be accurate historically wise for the happy ending (Mulan stays true to the original tale, Pocahontas not so much)

[TimM]

Yeah, they would have to end it before WW1 began...

[GDSophie]

Also, so many people would research the children themselves, bring the family into the light, thousands possibly millions of people watch Disney movies, so people would rediscover the Romanovs and learn about them; become fascinated with this closely knitted family.

[TimM]

Yeah, that could happen.

[1130 WNEW]

I remember watching the 1997 Anastasia movie as a child and saying "This is all historically inaccurate!"

Do we really want that again?

[TimM]

Well, the only solution would be, as GDSophie said, ending the movie before the First World War began.

[JamesAPrattIII]

It would be a great Disney movie, but it does not have a happy ending.

[TimM]

It would be a great Disney movie, but it does not have a happy ending.

Must be an echo in here 

[GDSophie]

(Forgot about this but something came to me)

Disney researches their movies; for example, Moana stayed true to the Polynesian culture by visiting the islands and getting a hands on experience. Disney could easily send people to Russia-St. Petersburg and Moscow-to their Palaces and the Archives to learn about the girls. Or they can come to this forum, talk to people like Helen who have published books (diaries or not) about them. Maybe they can end/start it in 1911 at Olga's Ball at Livadia. 

[edubs31]

(Forgot about this but something came to me)

Disney researches their movies; for example, Moana stayed true to the Polynesian culture by visiting the islands and getting a hands on experience. Disney could easily send people to Russia-St. Petersburg and Moscow-to their Palaces and the Archives to learn about the girls. Or they can come to this forum, talk to people like Helen who have published books (diaries or not) about them. Maybe they can end/start it in 1911 at Olga's Ball at Livadia. 

A nice idea with Olga's ball being the centerpiece.

However you need to ask yourself why would a production company like Disney make a movie about the Romanovs in the first place if they weren't going to tie it in with the dramatic events of the era.

If you're going to do OTMAA without Rasputin, Revolution, WW1, Ipatiev House, etc., what's the point of doing it in the first place...and doesn't it just become another princess movie? (Hamlet without the Prince?)

Of course we Romanovs fans might take kindly to the idea and watch it, but how do you go about attracting a wider audience? How would Olga & Tatiana be any different from Elsa & Anna? And what do younger girls (the primary demographic here) really care about historical accuracy?

[GDSophie]

(Forgot about this but something came to me)

Disney researches their movies; for example, Moana stayed true to the Polynesian culture by visiting the islands and getting a hands on experience. Disney could easily send people to Russia-St. Petersburg and Moscow-to their Palaces and the Archives to learn about the girls. Or they can come to this forum, talk to people like Helen who have published books (diaries or not) about them. Maybe they can end/start it in 1911 at Olga's Ball at Livadia. 

A nice idea with Olga's ball being the centerpiece.

However you need to ask yourself why would a production company like Disney make a movie about the Romanovs in the first place if they weren't going to tie it in with the dramatic events of the era.

If you're going to do OTMAA without Rasputin, Revolution, WW1, Ipatiev House, etc., what's the point of doing it in the first place...and doesn't it just become another princess movie? (Hamlet without the Prince?)

Of course we Romanovs fans might take kindly to the idea and watch it, but how do you go about attracting a wider audience? How would Olga & Tatiana be any different from Elsa & Anna? And what do younger girls (the primary demographic here) really care about historical accuracy?

Every Disney Princess movie is a Princess movie; I wouldn't want to let my children watch the mental torture of the Imperial Family (being locked in the house, painted windows, stuffy rooms that kind of torture) and then their massacre, so Ipatiev House is out of the question. Rasputin can be shown to be a kind man who gave the Imperial family hope instead of a walking corpse with magical powers and a tiny albino bat as a sidekick.

This movie can be before the Revolution, and the only historical inaccuracy that can occur is giving all/few/couple/one of them a love interest and an adventure to go on. Their can be references to history through the plot, and I can finally have a Romanov film that has Olga, Tatiana and Maria in it more who actually have lines.

Olga and Tatiana will be different to Elsa and Anna as they're not Scandinavian and Olga does not possess winter powers (unless she wasn't telling us something). Olga and Tatiana have a sister bond that rivals Lilo and Nani from Lilo and Stitch, and much stronger than Elsa and Anna's definitely. Heck, their bond may rival any siblings in the Disney universe, so not only do they show a tight bond that sisters lack (myself for instance) but their different personalities would resonate inside someone who may show qualities they hate that Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia possess. 

Your last question is the answer I've been asking myself since Anastasia (1997) came out. Do younger children really care about historical accuracy? No, but guess who did? Adults. Adults who knew about the Romanovs were angry at how inaccurate it was, but young boys and girls, mostly girls, didn't care. It was a children's movie, it will forever be a children's movie, but some people forget that and hate on it. Like Disney is an animation studio focused on making movies for children. It would be targeted for little children whilst making small jokes for adults who watch the movie. Children and most teenagers only care for the songs, dresses, the characters and animation style, they won't care about the historical accuracy and the plot, but like I said Disney tries to target adults as well, so they could put in some historical accuracies like hints to Alexei's haemophilia for example.

[edubs31]

Good response there Sophie.

Every Disney Princess movie is a Princess movie; I wouldn't want to let my children watch the mental torture of the Imperial Family (being locked in the house, painted windows, stuffy rooms that kind of torture) and then their massacre, so Ipatiev House is out of the question. Rasputin can be shown to be a kind man who gave the Imperial family hope instead of a walking corpse with magical powers and a tiny albino bat as a sidekick.

Yes I suppose you could make Rasputin out to be the spiritual guide & friend as he was viewed by the Imperial Family rather than the villain most of the outside world saw him as. Perspective is in the eye of the beholder.

This movie can be before the Revolution, and the only historical inaccuracy that can occur is giving all/few/couple/one of them a love interest and an adventure to go on. Their can be references to history through the plot, and I can finally have a Romanov film that has Olga, Tatiana and Maria in it more who actually have lines.

You can always choose a "what if" route, or play around with history. Tarantino certainly did that with "Inglorious Basterds" for example. I'm just wondering how that would go over with both filmmakers and audiences.

Olga and Tatiana will be different to Elsa and Anna as they're not Scandinavian and Olga does not possess winter powers (unless she wasn't telling us something). Olga and Tatiana have a sister bond that rivals Lilo and Nani from Lilo and Stitch, and much stronger than Elsa and Anna's definitely. Heck, their bond may rival any siblings in the Disney universe, so not only do they show a tight bond that sisters lack (myself for instance) but their different personalities would resonate inside someone who may show qualities they hate that Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia possess. 

This is good. You sound passionate and articulate. I would suggest then that you simply begin writing scenes. They don't have to be connected for now or in any sort of chronological order...simply see where the writing takes you.

Your last question is the answer I've been asking myself since Anastasia (1997) came out. Do younger children really care about historical accuracy? No, but guess who did? Adults. Adults who knew about the Romanovs were angry at how inaccurate it was, but young boys and girls, mostly girls, didn't care. It was a children's movie, it will forever be a children's movie, but some people forget that and hate on it.

Right. And of course you have those children who were enthralled at the time that twenty-years later, now as 30-somethings and far more educated in the topic, completely dismiss with the movie. However that doesn't change the fact that the movie did well upon its initial release. It wasn't a blockbuster but it was still a success. If you can produce a script that a production studio believes it can turn into a $100-million+ film I'm sure they'll gladly cast both historical accuracy and criticism aside.

Like Disney is an animation studio focused on making movies for children. It would be targeted for little children whilst making small jokes for adults who watch the movie. Children and most teenagers only care for the songs, dresses, the characters and animation style, they won't care about the historical accuracy and the plot, but like I said Disney tries to target adults as well, so they could put in some historical accuracies like hints to Alexei's haemophilia for example.

Sounds to me like this type of script might be the job of someone who isn't particularly attached to the Romanov legacy. I for one would have a hard time putting my fingerprints on something that deliberately distorts facts, alters history, and/or desecrates their names.

What I could see perhaps working is an historical fiction inspired by the real characters. A saga involving four sisters - perhaps as wealthy aristocrats (rather than royalty) living somewhere else besides Russia - and their ill younger brother (give him a disease or disability). The mother is foreigner and the father is the head of a large company he inherits from his father & grandfather. Take the events of early-20th century Russia and modify them to fit on a smaller scale. Workers go on strike, father is falsely accused of corruption. Mother is ostracized by locals and friends for being a German (perhaps living in the UK or France) once war breaks out (WW1 or WW2 could be the time period). Your Rasputin character could be a local clergyman who has had a falling out with the church and seeks refuge by coming to the aid of the family, and helping their ailing boy. The eldest daughters find romance but struggle to keep their relationships together amidst the chaos. The story ends with the family, nearly broke but still having each other, being taken in by the wealthy family members of one of their daughter's fiances. Perhaps they leave Europe and head overseas to America or Canada to begin a new life.

Sounds like something along the lines of the Romanovs meets 'The Sound of Music'.

[GDSophie]

You misunderstood me. I won't be writing it! I'm writing something else, no time in my schedule for a Disney script.

But you do have a point. Disney would most likely make up their own family that resemble and represent NAOTMAA, and if they didn't and made it sorely on them would critics pull up Anastasia and compare just because all of the family one way or another are in both of them?