5 résultats trouvés pour WomenBehindtheMagic

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Citation :: Women Behind the Magic: Kristina Dewberry on Finding Her Passion in Construction and Building Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an immersive experience that transports guests to the Outer Rim planet of Batuu. Building Batuu meant doing so from the ground up and was no easy task. But with more than 20 years of onsite construction management experience and an almost ten year Walt Disney Imagineering career, Kristina Dewberry, Construction Manager for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort, was a natural fit for the job! We’re thrilled to share her story and role as part of the construction team responsible for bringing the land to life in this week’s installment of #WomenBehindtheMagic!

In her role at Disneyland Resort, Kristina manages construction site logistics and ensures the operational safety and efficiency of sites. From working on guest favorite attractions like Matterhorn Bobsleds to building Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, and also her most recent project Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, she helps build destinations that invoke magical experiences and memories.

Kristina’s journey began in a galaxy not so far away, as she grew up loving all things Star Wars from a young age. As a child, she recalls that girls were told that math and handiwork were for boys, but Kristina didn’t let that stop her when it came to her affinity for the historically male-dominated field of construction. Instead, she drew inspiration from iconic Princess Leia that she shouldn’t let anyone stop her from doing what she loved.

Growing up, Kristina spent a lot of time helping her dad with home projects and even had her own tool belt! In fact, it was an early family construction project of building a shed in their backyard that led her to fall in love with construction.

“My brother and I each got a tool belt, a pouch full of nails and a measuring tape. Dad taught us how to measure twice, cut once, Mom taught us the fine art of painting and my little sister brought us lemonade,” she shared. “Looking back, it was the tiniest little shed, but it lasted for years and it gave us a sense of pride that we all made it together.”

In her teenage years, she had the opportunity to take her skills outside of her own home and helped re-roof neighbors’ houses because she always loved building things that would enhance people’s lives.

From there, Kristina knew that she wanted to spend her time on job sites, and obtained several degrees in construction management including an associate’s degree from Cincinnati State Technical and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Kentucky University.

Now, she spends her days working on various Disney sites and enjoys that her role encourages her to be a problem solver and provides the opportunity to bring people together from different parts of a project, and even around the world. On any given day, Kristina leads tasks that can range from managing safety training protocol to handling construction material deliveries, and even coordinating the site removal of construction debris. But when it comes to what skills she finds helpful, Kristina says that keeping a drive and ambition are necessary to growing her own skillset and helps teams continue to challenge themselves.

“If you hear someone – or yourself – say ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it,’ you should take a step back,” she explains. “You shouldn’t be doing things the exact same way you did a year ago, but be taking in new technology and adding to your skillset.”

And of course, Kristina aims to always keep up a positive attitude and sense of humor. Construction sites can be stressful, but with the help of her “Boss Mode” music playlist, full of empowering and upbeat tunes, she strives to always find the fun in her work and encourages her team to follow suit.

“Keeping joy in your heart and moving forward with each new challenge is much easier when you have a twinkle in your eye,” she notes.

For a lifelong Star Wars fan like Kristina, keeping that joy wasn’t hard when going to work meant going to create the historic land that is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

“To be asked to join the team creating this land really struck me as an epic adventure,” she says. “Walking through the land and watching the project grow from the first day to now being a finished land, ready for guests, is an incredible feeling.”

Being able to say “wow, look at what we’ve been able to create,” is awe-inspiring to her. As a woman in construction, Kristina wants other women to know that this career path is absolutely within their grasp.

“There is an important place for women in the construction industry that extends beyond simply swinging a hammer,” she says.

“A lot of women don’t even consider construction because they think it’s not within their reach,” she says, but notes that with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, she’s worked with more women than ever before. “It’s really enlightening to see that.”

Kristina’s favorite piece of wisdom she would impart on anyone who may be considering a career in construction is a motto she keeps on the wall in her own kitchen.

“It’ll cost nothing to dream, and everything not to,” she shares. “If you see anything in the construction field that you find interesting, you owe it to yourself to find out more. Find an ally, someone to help you get started on your search. Construction may not be for you – but it just might be the most rewarding work you’ll ever do.”

Guests can see Kristina’s work at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now open at Disneyland Resort. And there is even more to look forward to with the upcoming opening on August 29 at Walt Disney World Resort! Stay tuned as we look forward to sharing more stories of the amazing #WomenBehindtheMagic with you over the coming months!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/07/women-behind-the-magic-kristina-dewberry-on-finding-her-passion-in-construction-and-building-star-wars-galaxys-edge/?CMP=SOC-DPFY19Q4wo0718190008A

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Citation :: Women Behind the Magic: Kappy Thorsen Shares Her Journey From Family Business to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

When guests visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now open at Disneyland Resort, they can experience everything from out-of-this-world galactic treats to thrilling flights on the iconic Millennium Falcon, and even mingle with local Batuuan residents! These residents bring the land to life and selecting our cast members to fill those roles was a crucial element, one that was led by General Manager of Disneyland Park – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Kappy Thorsen. We’re eager to share Kappy’s Disney journey and her work that helped bring the land to life in this installment of #WomenBehindtheMagic!

Kappy leads cast members and teams across the Disneyland Resort to create exciting experiences for guests each and every day. One of her most recent experiences even took her to a galaxy far, far away as Kappy spent the last two years preparing for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

But before she started helping create the planet Batuu, Kappy grew up working for her family at Roaring Camp Railroads, a historic tourist railroad in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Whether she was scooping ice cream, selling tickets, or helping to clean restrooms, she “did it all” and took great pride in being a part of the family business. In fact, it was working with her family’s business that first sparked her interest in theme park operations. Each year, Kappy and her family would make the more than six-hour drive to visit the Disneyland Resort – a place Kappy knew she always wanted to work ever since she was a child.

“Working for Disney has always been a dream of mine,” she shared. “My father was inspired by Disneyland – he was creative, artistic, and had an entrepreneurial spirit. I tried to emulate him from a very young age.”

Heavily influenced by her parents and love of art, design and business, Kappy earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from San Jose State University. Upon graduation, she planned on applying for Disneyland in one of these fields. However, her father unexpectedly passed away, and her mother took over the family business which instantly changed Kappy’s path.

“I put my Disney dream on hold to assist my family. I watched my mom become an influential female business leader in the community,” she reflected.

More than a decade later, Kappy returned to pursuing her Disney dream. She applied for and accepted her first role at Disneyland park as the assistant manager responsible for the iconic steam trains. As she began this role Kappy was inspired by her mother’s leadership, something she continues to be motivated by today.

“I often refer to my mom as my ‘hero’ because of her great courage, outstanding business achievements and character,” she says. “I would not be where I am today without her as my role model.”

In her 20 year Disney career, Kappy has had various opportunities to advance her career across the resort, including attractions, guest relations, main entrance, transportation and parking, line of business, food and beverage, custodial and retail.

“Each role taught me something new and challenged me in different ways, which prepared me for today. Every day is an adventure,” she shared.

One of her biggest adventures to date was her role in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. A lot of coordination, preparation and partnerships were required to open a land of this scale. Preparing leaders and cast members for their new roles as citizens of Batuu was a monumental undertaking for the operations team and countless partners, of which she is very proud. Her days preparing for the opening of the land were often varied with different responsibilities. Regardless of the projects, one element always remained the same, interacting with cast members – the most rewarding part of her day.

“Our cast’s dedication, passion and love of the Disney brand and Star Wars franchise is contagious,” she says. “They put everything into creating magic for our guests, which is amazing to watch! When visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests can interact with cast members in a whole new way – learn their stories, explore and play throughout the land like never before.”

For Kappy seeing our cast members fully immersed in the story, interacting with the guests, was quite a memorable moment.

“It was an emotional experience on many levels,” she explained. “My team and I helped bring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life for our guests. A dream job come true.”

Kappy is one of the many women making magic for Disney guests and fans around the world. Guests can meet the citizens of Batuu when they visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge now open at Disneyland Resort. Stay tuned for next week’s installment in our #WomenBehindtheMagic series as we share more stories of the amazing women who helped make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge a reality!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/07/women-behind-the-magic-kappy-thorsen-shares-her-journey-from-family-business-to-star-wars-galaxys-edge/

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Citation :: Women Behind the Magic: Margaret Kerrison on Inspiration and Developing the Story of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Around the world, women are making magic for Disney guests and fans each and every day, in a variety of amazing ways. Today, to kick off our new #WomenBehindtheMagic blog series, we’re excited to introduce you to Margaret Kerrison, Managing Story Editor at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Story Lead for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now open at Disneyland Resort and opening on August 29 at Walt Disney World Resort.

To tell the new story of Black Spire Outpost and create a place where guests can live their own adventures, Margaret immersed herself in the Star Wars universe, watching films and animated series, researching books and more to understand what makes Star Wars, Star Wars. From props and characters throughout the land to unexpected details, Margaret has spent years creating the world that guests can explore at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

“What’s most important to me, as a storyteller, is how people feel when they walk into the land,” she says. “We want our guests to feel encouraged to explore and discover every corner of Black Spire Outpost.”

For Margaret, being a storyteller and a creator of immersive experiences was a dream from a very young age, when she first visited a Disney Park with her family. When she was just seven years old, Margaret’s family took a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort and she remembers the visit opening her mind to a world of imagination that inspired her to pursue storytelling.

Growing up, Margaret found all sorts of ways to tell stories and entertain, whether through the use of handmade finger puppets or casting family members in recorded skits at home. She was passionate about different places, people and cultures. Then, when she discovered themed entertainment in film school, she knew she wanted to make a career that involved immersive stories. “I remembered going to Haunted Mansion and being blown away by the storytelling and attention to detail,” she says of that early trip to Tokyo Disneyland. “I was scared, excited, curious and enthralled all at the same time.”

After working for years with museums, corporate branding and other types of themed entertainment, Margaret applied to a writing position at Walt Disney Imagineering without hesitation. “When it comes to immersive worlds, no other company does it better. I knew Imagineering was where I wanted to be.”

With a multicultural background – she was born in Indonesia, raised in Singapore, is Chinese in ethnicity and studied in American schools – Margaret says she doesn’t see the world through one type of lens, but instead considers how different kinds of people interpret stories as she works. She put her passion for learning about different people and places to work as she collaborated with the Lucasfilm Story Group to bring the planet Batuu to life, where galactic travelers may encounter Resistance fighters, First Order officers or local residents with their own perspectives and tales to tell.

“I heard a good quote recently, ‘We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.’ Imagine a world where all of us have the opportunity for meaningful relationships with people from different backgrounds. We can see everything through other people’s eyes and not only our own,” she says.

Having joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 2014, Margaret has developed stories and details for multiple projects, including the 2015 and 2017 D23 Expos, Hyperspace Mountain and Star Wars: Launch Bay at Disneyland Resort, Grand Avenue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, and of course, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Looking to the future, Margaret says that the best advice for aspiring storytellers and Imagineers is “to do one job well, but be open to jumping in and taking the reins for other tasks that come along. You never know where different roads will lead you,” she says.

“Don’t be afraid to speak up, take the lead and give your suggestions, but also don’t be afraid to say ‘no.’ It truly is a constant balancing act, but the day you can finally walk into a land, attraction, resort or experience that you’ve worked on and see the faces of our guests, it’s all worth it. That feeling is priceless.”

Check back next week for another installment in our #WomenBehindtheMagic series, as we tell the stories of remarkable women who played a role in the creation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/06/women-behind-the-magic-margaret-kerrison-on-inspiration-and-developing-the-story-of-star-wars-galaxys-edge/

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Citation :: Women Behind the Magic: Kathryn Yancey on Bringing Fan-Favorite Characters to Life for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a story-driven land, full of beloved characters that transcend boundaries and immerse you in an unforgettable experience. These characters might even be one of your favorite aspects of the new land! And all made possible thanks to amazing talents like Kathryn Yancey, Show Mechanical Engineer at Walt Disney Imagineering. Kathryn is one of the many women making magic for Disney guests and fans around the world, and we’re excited to share her Disney journey with you as we explore the crucial role she played for the land in this installment of our #WomenBehindtheMagic blog series!

Kathryn’s been a part of designing fan-favorite characters at our parks all over the world by leading 3D modeling, engineering calculations and analysis. With a career that has taken her on a high seas adventure with Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disney Resort, to the kingdom of Arendelle with Frozen Ever After at Walt Disney World Resort and most recently to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, some might wonder how it all began.

Well like many, Kathryn recalls fond family visits to Disneyland Resort. Only for her, she was always enthralled by the small detailing of the park. From riding attractions and taking in the way bottles bobbed in the water, to admiring delicately designed rockwork, Kathryn set her dreams on becoming an Imagineer.

“It was those details that led me to Imagineering,” she says. “I loved the idea that someone put so much love and attention into the tiniest detail just to give the guests a fully immersive experience.”

At Seattle Pacific University, Kathryn aimed to combine her favorite things in a way that challenged her to grow. After a search engine query of “math + art + Disney,” she discovered Walt Disney Imagineering and pursued a major in mechanical engineering. As she explored machine design, system dynamics, and even anatomy, prosthetics and artistic motion, she gained hands-on experience with projects that helped her learn and expand her skill set. All this lead up to her first day at Imagineering, where Kathryn pinched herself to make sure it was real.

“It was my dream,” she shared. “When I was being shown around our animation shop, it felt like home.”

As part of the team who brought the pirate turned “legitimate” businessman Hondo Ohnaka to life at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Kathryn says that it’s an amazing feeling to be able to bring iconic and beloved characters to life for Disney guests. Now, Kathryn contributes to the figure design of Walt Disney Imagineering’s A1000 series of Audio-Animatronics figures, a project she feels particularly proud of knowing how important these characters are to Disney fans. In fact, it was seeing her work in a park for the first time that made her realize she didn’t just enjoy her work – she loved it. Kathryn recalls the first time she stood outside of an attraction that featured her work. As guests marveled at the figure, all Kathryn could focus on was the huge smiles on their faces.

“That’s why I do what I do,” she says. “To bring happiness into the world by bringing people’s favorite characters to life.”

But bringing these beloved characters to life isn’t a simple task. It takes a team of Imagineers to make these special creations for guests, and Kathryn considers hers family. Often relying on her each other’s talents and passions, she learns from her fellow Imagineers locally in Glendale, Calif., and get the opportunity to learn from Imagineers all over the world as well.

“Working with diverse teams is so important because it teaches us to think outside our own boxes,” she says, noting that the work for a character might combine effort from Imagineers across the globe.

Throughout her experience, Kathryn has learned that having a great team around you is part of the key to success. Her advice for students looking to reach their goals is to never lose sight of your dreams and those around you.

“Keep going and your hard work will pay off, and remember that it’s okay to ask for help,” she says. “There are people in this world who want to help you along your journey and if you fall, they will be there to help you up.”

Looking ahead, Kathryn is excited for the future of Disney Parks and Walt Disney Imagineering. Whether it’s working on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or beyond, she says she’ll continue to learn something new every day from herself, her team, or the exciting project of the moment.

“It shows how we’re pushing the boundaries,” she says. “The combination of the incredible creative and technical minds at Imagineering continues to amaze me – and really, the sky is the limit!”

Guests can see Kathryn’s work, including Hondo Ohnaka at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now open at Disneyland Resort, and opening on August 29 at Walt Disney World Resort! Check back next week for another installment in our #WomenBehindtheMagic series. Whether writing stories for guests to uncover or designing the spaces they’ll explore, we can’t wait to continue to share more stories of these remarkable women who made the creation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge possible!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/07/women-behind-the-magic-kathryn-yancey-on-bringing-fan-favorite-characters-to-life-for-star-wars-galaxys-edge/?CMP=SOC-DPFY19Q3wo0627190703190036C&fbclid=IwAR33dFWPcVWWR-Q0eFxfZjP9Hv5wsf6T5LQt9UvXWWoieO9BAlyU-moCKpY

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Citation :: Women Behind the Magic: Kirstin Makela Shares Her Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Story

As guests take in the breathtaking vista of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, they may discover a multitude of hidden gems and details like petrified trees and ancient dwellings, and they have Kirstin Makela, Art Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, to thank for that! In our next installment of our #WomenBehindtheMagic blog series, we’re excited to introduce you to Kirstin and her almost eight year Imagineering and decade-long design career that led up to her being an important force behind the magic of the new land.

For Kirstin, no two days on the job are the same. To help bring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life, a typical day could mean meeting with interior designers, leading paint crews, or even consulting with the horticulture team to determine how to best incorporate natural elements into the land. With a land as innovative and detailed as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now open at Disneyland Resort and opening August 29 at Walt Disney World Resort, she says it’s the diverse range of elements and challenges that keep the job exciting. A job that as a child, first piqued her interest because of the attention to detail that make Imagineering projects special.

“I was seven years old when my parents first took me to Walt Disney World and I was immediately enamored with the immersive storytelling that was around me,” explained Kirstin. “The love and care in every little detail had me hooked!”

In college, Kirstin went on to study visual communication with an emphasis on graphic design and illustration. She later participated in museum internships where she was able to grow her skillset on exhibit design teams.

“My internships were transformative,” Kirstin shared. “The ability to flex my muscles as a working designer gave me the confidence that I needed to apply to Disney Professional Internships before my graduation.”

She began her Disney journey as an intern with Disney Consumer Products before starting as an Imagineer and considers herself lucky to continue to work on inspiring projects that delight Disney Parks guests every day, just like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

“A lot of my professional satisfaction as an Imagineer comes when I’m being pushed to new limits,” said Kirstin. “I have gained an invaluable amount of new knowledge from the exposure that I had to everyone from carvers and painters to engineers and electricians. I truly feel like I became a better Imagineer on Batuu!”

Kirstin and her team worked to perfect the stories of the Batuuans that had traveled through the historical space centuries ago. These very stories now mean guests can visit the Creature Stall or find a new trinket at Toydarian Toymaker.

“We thought about where citizens may have grazed against the walls and left hand oils, or where merchant carts may have bumped into walls and left scratches and dents,” Kirstin shared. “We even included soot stains out of the kilns and ovens, so that they appear to have been used for decades.”

For Kirstin, there’s no greater satisfaction as a designer than being able to see her ideas constructed and turned into a reality, like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

“Sometimes, I’d take a moment to pause in the middle of our land, give my arm a little pinch and think to myself, ‘I can’t believe I get to be part of such a big moment in Disney Parks history,” Kirstin explained.

Kirstin finds excitement in pushing herself to keep climbing higher. With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge now open at Disneyland Resort and soon to open at Walt Disney World Resort on August 29, she’ll be applying the experience and learnings she gained from working on the land as she tackles new projects and explore new stories.

Kirstin’s advice for aspiring Imagineers is to always stay curious, absorb every experience –no matter big or small, and to remember that as Imagineers you rely heavily on your personal stories for project inspiration, so remind yourself that you never know what past experience might spark inspiration.

Kirstin is one of the many women making magic for Disney guests and fans around the world, whose stories we can’t wait to tell in our #WomenBehindtheMagic series. Stay tuned for the next story in this series, as we share the stories of some of the amazing women who played a role in the creation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/06/women-behind-the-magic-kirstin-makela-shares-her-star-wars-galaxys-edge-story/?CMP=SOC-DPFY19Q3wo0627190703190014C&fbclid=IwAR1WfOWXUZ2VZXmz-S7FUOj3F6QRgQm9Czzv0FYFylJLXsvaoFLD6O1VyM4