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One of my favorite parts of visiting Walt Disney World as a kid was experiencing attractions that were unlike anything else out there. You couldn’t see a Circle-Vision film in St. Louis; there was nothing even close! Films transported us to another place across the world that was only in our imaginations. One of the key figures behind those films was Jeff Blyth, who directed Wonders of China, The Timekeeper, and more. His filmmaking skills helped make those attractions more than travelogues.
Jeff is my guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his career. He recently wrote the book Polishing the Dragons: Making EPCOT’s Wonders of China. The personal story takes us behind the scenes and explores the challenges to make the Circle-Vision film in a different China in the early ’80s. Jeff and I talk about what interested him in writing the book and his experiences shooting Wonders of China. The opening-day attraction for EPCOT Center played for 21 years and was replaced by Reflections of China, which Jeff also directed.
Another favorite is The Timekeeper, which used the Circle-Vision format to create what’s essentially a theme park ride. Jeff talks about some of the most challenging shots in that film, including a scene that involved a prototype of Nine Eye appearing in a mirror. Also, Jeff discusses his work on other films like American Journeys and Portraits of Canada plus shooting helicopter footage for the opening scene of The Shining. I really enjoyed the chance to learn more about Jeff’s career and his amazing films.
Show Notes: Jeff Blyth
Watch Jeff Blyth’s presentation at the RetroMagic event from October 2019 at Walt Disney World.
Check out the audio commentary from Jeff Blyth about Reflections of China on Youtube along with the Circle-Vision film.
Read my review of Jeff Blyth’s new book Polishing the Dragons: Making EPCOT’s Wonders of China and purchase a copy through Amazon.
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