Hand's On...

More from Børge Ring:

Pluto's Judgement Day, Alpine Climbers, Building a Building, Camping Out, The Dognapper, The Mail Pilot, Who killed Cock Robin?

These (mentioned at random) are some of the shorts that David Hand directed for Disney. One of them titled Mickey's Polo Team was a breakthrough being the first short to be completed in ruffs before further steps were taken.
In 1950 Dave was asked how he went about directing a short for Disney, and this is what he told:

"I would isolate myself with the storyboard for three weeks. I would not go to meetings, but I would answer the telephone.
I begin timing the film, not necessarily chronologically, but certain passages are already clear in my mind. (I do the pertaining layouts as thumbnails all the while.) Lots of what you decide is instinctive and intuitive, but afterwards you sit back and rationalise it. You analyse what you have being doing. Walt would keep asking WHY you did such and such (also in the story department). He insisted on your knowing WHY and he would get angry if the answer was "because I thought it would be nice."
Thus after three weeks you have the picture clear and timed in your mind and on barsheets and can answer any questions of WHY.
This is necessary because the first animator you call in may not have seen the material before and will respond with an abundance of suggestions of wonderful things to do. And you must be able to tell him precisely WHY you cannot do these wonderful things.

"But has it really never happened that the animator came up with an idea that was even better than the one already there?"
"Oh sure."
"What did you do then?"
"I said: "Thank you, John. Come back in 24 hours." and I would carefully work his idea into the total."

One piece of Dave's advice was: "If you have only one gag, have it at the iris out."
Another was: "Don't move the camera unless it means something. That is to say: Don't move the camera about just to make it look like film."