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One of my favorite conversations on this podcast happened two years ago. My guest was Rick Harper, the director of Impressions de France at EPCOT Center. That incredible film was an opening day attraction in 1982 and still plays today. Rick was kind enough to talk about his work on that movie and his career. He’s also been a great friend to the podcast and connected me with other amazing guests.
On this week’s episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast, Rick is back to talk even more about his beautiful movie. He delves more into the technical challenges of shooting helicopter footage and other tricky scenes with simpler technology. It took inventive thinking and innovations on the spot to make the attraction work. The fact that it still charms so many guests today just reinforces the creative success of Impressions de France.
Rick also worked directly with many legendary Imagineers during his time at Disney and beyond. His stories about Marty Sklar, Harper Goff, X Atencio, and more aren’t just about the attractions. On this podcast, Rick tells so many fun tales about working at Imagineering. He describes the development of World Showcase pavilions that never happened, doing voice work for Space Mountain, and a surprising moment in the Everglades shooting speed room footage. Rick had a remarkable career, and I loved having the chance to hear more stories about his work.
Show Notes: Rick Harper
Listen to Episode 61 of The Tomorrow Society Podcast: Rick Harper on Impressions de France.
Watch Impressions de France in this HD version from Martin’s Videos.
Read my tribute article to Impressions de France on this blog.
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