Disneynature’s TIGER is the 9th in the nature series and celebrates the 15th anniversary of Disneynature. Roy Conli produced his first Disneynature documentary right after working on Disney Animation’s BIG HERO 6, and he’s now worked on each since.
Roy Conli. Credit: Oscars.org
INTERVIEW with Roy Conli for Disneynature TIGER
Producer Roy Conli has worked on Disneynature documentaries since 2015. Some might wonder if that gets old, but Conli will tell you it doesn’t.
On what made him want to work on TIGER?
Conli: I’m such an advocate for conservation and for the environment, that this is really a joy. And I work with the most amazing human beings on the planet. These are the explorers of the 21st century, guys who go out into the field and get this amazing film…are able to tell stories, they’re so tied into kind of the legacy of Disney in a certain sense because Walt kind of started the whole natural history filmmaking with True Life Adventures back in the ’40s. So for me, it’s a no-brainer; I love this genre, and I love sharing stories about wildlife.
Disneynature’s TIGER – Photo courtesy of Disney. ©2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Was there anything surprising that you learned about the filming process or tigers in general during the 1,500 days of filming?
Conli: I think the filming processes, what we were able to achieve, is pretty amazing, because 15 years ago when Disneynature basically started, we couldn’t have told this story, we didn’t have the equipment to tell the story.
Fortunately, when we got out in the field, this time, we had equipment like the Movie Carbon, it’s called, it’s a remotely controlled camera that we were able to set, and you can control it from a mile away. So tigers being the most elusive of all animals to film, they don’t want humans anywhere near their den, they don’t want humans anywhere near where they hang out. So being able to kind of go in and do that, and then the other technology that was used is the GSS Cam that comes off of a jeep and has a long, long lens. So we were able to film from quite a ways away and get that kind of intimate view of the tiger. So people will never have seen the shots that we’ve captured in this film before.
What animals do you hope that Disneynature works with next?
Conli: Something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time is deal with canines, with wolves and whatnot, so hopefully something down the pipe will be in that general direction. But what always amazes me about animals is watching their thought process and understanding that these are beings that live in the present and are making decisions. They’re sentient. They’re intelligent, and it’s sometimes comedic. They’re incredible, and I’m just proud to share the planet with them.
Disneynature’s TIGER – Tiger mum with cub. Photo by Yashpal Rathore. ©2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Producing an animated film versus live-action—nature film about as live-action as it gets—do you have a preference, and if so, why?
Conli: I would say that the interesting thing about working on this is it’s been able to stretch my storytelling chops. You know, with animation, you start with a blank page, and you start creating a story that goes on paper, and then eventually ends up in the computer and then eventually on screen. With this, you go in with an idea of what you’re going to be able to tell because you understand the nature of these creatures. But it isn’t until you get out in the field and actually get the film, that that story starts coming together, and in a weird way, they meet somewhere in the middle.
For me as a storyteller, I love both processes. They both challenge you. And at the same time, you can tell stories that really touch people’s hearts. And I think that’s, particularly with the animal. The Natural History stuff that we do. I love to touch hearts because it’s I think through the heart that you get to the head.
Disneynature’s TIGER – Photo by Paul Goldstein. ©2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What was your favorite moment and filming Tiger?
Conli: My favorite moment and filming Tiger was probably being able to go in and get more time to be in the field. The situation was COVID hit while we were in the midst of this. And we actually had to pull our team out of the field for a while. And fortunately, I got so much support from Disney and from the team that I worked with here, that we were able to go in and get these 1,500 shoot days that we ended up with. And so I think because of that, we’re able to tell the, you know, the most intimate up close story that I think anyone will have ever seen about tigers.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Disneynature’s TIGER – Photo courtesy of Disney. ©2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Disneynature TIGER
Narrated by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Disneynature’s “Tiger” lifts the veil on our planet’s most revered and charismatic animal, inviting viewers to journey alongside Ambar, a young tigress raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India. Curious, rambunctious and at times a bit clumsy, the cubs have a lot to learn from their savvy mother who will do all she can to keep them safe from pythons, bears and marauding male tigers. Directed by Mark Linfield, co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan, and produced by Linfield, Berlowitz and Roy Conli, “Tiger” is the groundbreaking culmination of 1,500 days of filming. Combining fast-paced action with remarkably intimate moments, Disneynature’s all-new original feature film streams on Disney+ beginning on Earth Day, April 22, 2024.
Narrated by: Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Directed by: Mark Linfield
Co-directed by: Vanessa Berlowitz, Rob Sullivan
Produced by: Mark Linfield, Vanessa Berlowitz, Roy Conli
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