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Photos: James Gandolfini, 1961-2013 
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Tony To has been appointed executive vice president of production at Walt Disney Studios. He will report to president of production Sean Bailey and will oversee all aspects of physical production for the studio’s live action film slate.
“Tony is a gifted producer and director with an incredible wealth of experience working with the best filmmakers in the world,” Bailey said in a statement. “He’s one of the most dedicated and passionate producers I know. His unique point of view and deep working knowledge of the craft and the business are a perfect complement to our motion picture production team.”
To has been a producer of such projects as the HBO miniseries’ From the Earth to the Moon, Band of Brothers and The Pacific, as well as the feature film One False Move and HBO pic Grand Avenue. He has directed episodes of The Pacific, Band of Brothers and House MD. Last year, he created Ensemble Entertainment to generate TV projects.
Said To: “I’m honored and excited to join Sean and his team to support the incredible roster of talent that The Walt Disney Studios attracts. The Studio has an exceptionally strong upcoming slate full of impressive projects. I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
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Given the narrow range of product and the severely diminished number of films Disney actually develops and produces, this hire is utterly baffling. What’s the point? The guy really must have needed a job.
First off you don’t know what you’re talking about. First, To, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over lunch, brings a high degree of expertise in the marketplace that is severely budget challenged. It makes perfect sense to hire To since he made dozens of hours of quality HBO programming look on on par and above the grade of many of the latest releases on less money per hour than major releases. So, this makes a situation where a studio needs to keep whittling down the price and pie with partners — who also seek to cut the pie smaller and smaller — more tenable for filmmakers new and noteworthy to have a studio partner that can work WITH them instead of AROUND them with arbitrary cuts to save a buck here and there. Secondly, with the MARVEL acquisition, they are going to be looking for pro’s who can cut corners on newer properties to partner and capitalize on the quality studio name that Kevin Feige and his team have created and translate that on less known characters for a price without making it look like SKYLINE. I dunno, to me this makes total sense…get your head out of your ass.
So you and Jake Gittes see it differently. You have the better argument, but why the hostility?
“The guy really must have needed a job.”
Dude, that is way more offensive and hostile than my retort.
On top of Jake’s post lacking any logic, which is more offensive.
Thanks for all brain food, Tony.
Too bad you don’t know what you’re talking about, CA. Marvel and Kevin Feige operate exactly like Pixar. While Disney may distribute and market the films, it has absolutely no creative or financial say about any of their properties.
As for your point about delivering HBO content that looks like a film but at a lower price, it’s because HBO hour long dramas have less scenes per minute than films, so they spend significantly less on Costly set-ups and new locations.
You have no idea what you are talking about. The Pixar comment, ha! Talk about one-dimensional thinking. Rich stuff, particularly since certain folks from a certain comic book company before being acquired had several meetings with a certain in-house but independent animation studio about how they could work together. Okay, so now both you and Jake need to get your heads out of your asses. And the anger management comment, love it, keep em coming chuckleheads. To is a truly great talent and to pick on him displays a total lack of civility which I will counter in kind.
He’s another TV guy hired to run a film studio, and you need anger management.
He is not running the film studio. Get your facts straight. Keep em coming clowns. I laugh at your “superior intellect.”
Jake, be positive. Tony is a very nice man who knows a lot. If/when you make a film at Disney, he will do everything he can to help you. It’s in his nature.
Bruce Hendricks on the other hand only wanted to be self serving and direct. he had no sense for diplomacy and respected none.
Tony reflects being a “visionary”…Tom Hanks wrote that to him on the Earth To Moon poster.
He’s a good man – give him a chance.
~Lucky
Don’t misunderstand – My comments have nothing to do with Tony. It’s about Disney. The notion that that studio still “makes” movies is a near-sham. They distribute movies made by others. True they are scrambling to assemble a miniscule slate of home grown projects, but that’s the point… it’s a few token projects, just enough for them to claim to be anything more than a straight ahead distributor for D-Works, Pixar, Bruckheimer, etc. Their creative staff has been marginalized. They’ve been streamlined to the point of being nearly non-existent. Tony To may very well be the Cinematic Messiah – but there just isn’t that much to do over there. To claim otherwise is pure folly. Good luck to To… I hope he finds this new position rewarding and that there’s actually role for him.
Tony is one of the beat guys in the business. His hire is a great move for Disney as he knows his stuff from all sides of the production process.
Oh I love his work and I think he’ll bring a fresh perspective to Disney. Good move mouse house.
Does this guy replace that Bruce Hendricks character that they just let go? ..razoredge
Tony is one of the most honorable, capable, and passionate producers in the film/TV business. I’m excited to see impact he has on the culture and output of Disney. Best of luck Tony!
I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. To on a project recently and have rarely met anyone so committed to filmmaking. He understands the business, the changes, hell, the need to change. Smart move on Disney’s part to make him part of the team.
Have known Tony To for 20 years and can attest to his loyalty, incredible smarts and unwavering passion for quality entertainment.
Wow. Rich first made his move by hiring Sean, now he hires Tony. Unexpected pick for sure, but these two guys can both deliver and think outside the box.
I just want to know — who’s next to be replaced in the Mickey house?
Tony To is an incredibly gifted, profoundly talented and genuinely modest individual. Disney was smart to hire him steer their production slate. It’s a Win-Win!