Did you know? Newnan native wrote, directed 'Brave'
BY KRISTIAN HAMMOND
kristian@newnan.com
Disney and Pixar’s new movie, “Brave,” has become a hit in less than a week at the theaters, and the team that put it together could not be more proud.
Among those members of the team was the sister of Don Chapman of Newnan.
“The story is about a girl who is growing up and the relationship she has with her mother,” explained Don Chapman, Brenda’s brother. “When I was watching it, I saw a lot of my mother in the film. The relationship in the movie is based off the relationship that my sister had with her mother.”
Writing and directing “Brave” was not Brenda Chapman’s first success in animation.
Brenda was also the first woman hired at Disney in the storyboard department. She was also one of the story heads of “The Lion King” and directed Dream Works’ “Prince of Egypt.”
“She was the first Dream Works employee ever hired when they branched off,” Don Chapman said.
“I am incredibly proud of my sister and what she thought up. It’s amazing to know that she did all of that and that she is my sister.”
Brenda Chapman now resides in Mill Valley, Calif. Movie-goers who stay until the end of the credits in “Brave” will see a special credit to Brenda and Don’s mother, Ruby Chapman Brown.
“Brave” is in theaters now.
