Ok…. So…. I know that I am a little behind in my blogging and for that I can only apologise, but when you understand what has been going on since I left Australia – you will forgive me a little.
I have never been one to do things by halves. Since I was a little girl I have lived a life of extremes, by the mantra of all or nothing.
As a child I would eat all the lollies in the bag - or I wouldn't have a single one. I would watch every episode of Degrassi Jr High - or I wouldn't turn the television on. The girl across the road would be my best friend forever, or I wouldn't speak to her.
In my teens and early twenties I would practise three instruments every day for hours, or I wouldn't touch a thing, I would drink the entire cask (yes… cask) of wine – or I wouldn't drink a drop. I would fall hopelessly in love with the boy in the rock band – or I would hang with the gay boys for months.
It seems, dear friends, that nothing has changed.
Last year I sat across a table from a virtual stranger on a first date and he asked me "what do you want to do with your life in London… why are you here?"
I rather sheepishly replied "well… um… I'd like to work for Disney again here, I really loved that… Um… I'd like to make money from my photos… that makes me pretty happy… but most of all… um… I'd like to be the artistic director of my own theatre company."
He smiled at me and said… "That's pretty ambitious… but I'd like to see you do all that."
A year to the day, and one hell of a roller coaster later… he did.
To fully explain what's going on at the moment – I need to segregate my life a little and therefore we will do this in instalments…
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you…
Amy's life with international Mickey.
In a big building in Hammersmith, on the eighth floor there is a tiny office for three people. This is Walt Disney Special Events. The people responsible for the appearances of any Disney character in the UK, EU, Arab Emirates and South Africa. These people are my bosses and colleagues. My job is what's called a character/production manager. Yes. I am Mickey Mouse's boss. Any time any of the characters (that's anyone from Donald to Dumbo) are needed for an appearane in any of our areas, someone has to go with them. A chaperone if you will. That someone, is me. I make sure that Mickey is looked after, that his performance is Disney approved and that all magical secrets are kept exactly that. A secret. They call me… defender of the magic.
Here's how is works…. The phone rings, they ask if I am available for work on certain dates, I say yes, I grab some gigantic bags, get on a plane, go somewhere completely random, do the job, come home, put back the bags back and then do it all over again.
Sounds simple? Um…no. Since when is anything in my life ever simple? Disney, as a company is international – a gobal sized corporation. But take it from me… when you get down to it, to the nitty gritty – when you are on the ground in Munich with 400 homeless children running at a giant bear screaming GUTTEN TAG BALOO – it aint always so magical. Europe – on a whole – does not subscribe to the highly Americanised ideals of the magic kingdom. So, negotiating the appearance of a blue bear and a monkey, or a yellow bear and a tiger, or two mice, or a duck and a dog…. You'd be amazed at the arguments you go through…. Here are a snippets at the things I have found myself saying:
• "I'm sorry mate, but Captain Hook is not coming to meet Thandie Newton until he gets his four bottles of water and a lock on his dressing room – you agreed to this contract and you will uphold that agreement."
• "No – Baloo cannot have his picture taken with the mayor of Munich because all Disney characters are non partisan, non political figures. To show a partial preference to any party would be a complete breach of Disney Corporation guidelines, which you have already been made aware of and will agree to wether you like it or not."
• "No – the actual stars of High School Musical are not here"
• "Um… no… I am truly sorry – but Mickey Mouse is global superstar – he does not get changed in a toilet."
• "NEIN – DAS IS NICHT GUT"
• "No – the actual stars of High School Musical are not here"
• "How do I say hello and no in Swedish?… oh… its just hi and no… ok"
• "No…I am sorry, Whinne the Poo does not know Nemo – Disney characers only know acknowledge the existence of characters within the realms of their own magical kingdom – Nemo doesn't live in the hundred acre wood and Winnie the Poo can't swim."
• "Yes, I know Zac Effron… No he isn't here."
• "Um… can we remove all the High School Musical Merchandise with a certain cast member's face on it? His picture's approval has been revoked from the Disney Store and if its on site when he gets here – its not going to be pretty"
• "Excuse me, Andrew Lloyd Webber – Could you stand a little to the left for the press? They want the shot of you and Mickey."
• "Oh my God Minnie it's JASON DONOVAN"
• "I have no comment on the naked pictures of the stars of High School Musical"
• "I don't care if he is a famous TV star in Romania, unless he gets his butt to rehearsal in three minutes he will not be performing with goofy and I will not be feeling very bloody magical."
I know its ridiculous… defender of the magic, subscribing so faithfully to a multi national corporation - but you know what? I wake up in the morning and I am excited to go to work… and proud of what I do.
And that… makes a very big difference to my life.
