The Vance Advantage

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The Perfect Mentor

Never let stress influence the story process: a valuable lesson learned from Vance Gerry.

Things I Learned from an Exceptional Story Man

I've been an incredibly lucky guy throughout my animation career. I've been able to sit, talk with, and even work with many a Disney legend during my days at Walt's magic factory. Never one to waste an opportunity, I was eager to learn what made them tick and gain whatever insights they had to offer. Some of my mentors were well up in years, and others were younger. All of them had knowledge that they were willing to share, and this geeky kid was ready to drink it all in.

My life changed in 1966, all because story legend Bill Peet got into an argument with ...

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