Leslie Iwerks | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
3/18/20261 hr 3 min
Billy Corgan sits down with Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, granddaughter of Disney animation pioneer Ub Iwerks, for a fascinating conversation about family legacy, creative ambition, and the stories history almost forgot.
Leslie traces her journey from USC film school to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected documentarians, with credits including The Pixar Story, Industrial Light & Magic, and her latest film, Disneyland Handcrafted.
Along the way, Billy and Leslie dig into Ub Iwerks’ indispensable role in creating Mickey Mouse, explore Walt Disney’s visionary drive, Roy Disney’s underrated role as the financial backbone of the company, a...
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First 90 secondsLeslie Iwerks· Guest0:00
I love to travel, I love to meet people, I love to interview people.
Billy Corgan· Host0:02
Mm.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:02
I love to... You know, what other career really allows you to travel the world and meet all, all sorts of people you would never get to meet?
Billy Corgan· Host0:10
Your, your grandfather was Ub Iwerks- Correct ... who started basically Disney Animation.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:14
Ub always said, "You know, anyone can draw a mouse. It's what you do with it that counts."
Billy Corgan· Host0:20
First thing that comes to mind in is it, it seems so honorable that you wanted to tell his story. I think it's such a beautiful thing.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:26
Without Ub, there would have never been a Mickey. So th- he literally saved Disney Animation, Ub did.
Billy Corgan· Host0:33
That's insane.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:34
Yeah.
Billy Corgan· Host0:35
Like, it's truly insane.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:36
It is.
Billy Corgan· Host0:36
Leslie Iwerks, thank you so much for being on my show. I so appreciate you being here. Um, a quick resume because I think it sort of sets up the, the thing. So, uh, you're a very accomplished documentary filmmaker. Is that a fair thing to say? Or just filmmaker?
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:52
I- I'll always take accomplished.
Billy Corgan· Host0:54
[laughs] I like that.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest0:56
Who, who wouldn't?
Billy Corgan· Host0:56
Okay. Uh, just a quick resume on you, and this isn't complete. This is, I'm just cherry-picking. Uh, Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story, um, which is, also involves your family. Recycled Life: The Pixar Story, Dirty Oil, Ella Brennan, Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible, Pipe Dream: Citizen Hearst, The Imagineering Story, Superpower: The DC Story, 100 Years of Warner Brothers, and of course, the latest, Disney Handcrafted. That's quite a resume you got going.
Leslie Iwerks· Guest1:23
Oh, thanks.
Billy Corgan· Host1:24
Um- It's kept me out of trouble. [laughs] [laughs] Did you, did you, did you in- I know you