Project Blueprint

Will Heinzel and Stephen Lasky

We tell the stories of legendary projects and the leaders behind them.

Episodes

  1. Toy Story: Pixar and the First Computer Animated Film

    10/06/2025

    Toy Story: Pixar and the First Computer Animated Film

    How do you accomplish a project that’s part art, part technology?  When Toy Story first debuted in 1995, it changed filmmaking forever. For the first time, a movie had been made entirely with computer animation. The film became the highest-grossing release of the year in the U.S., inspired one of the most successful franchises in cinema, and launched Pixar’s unprecedented run of seven consecutive box office hits.  On the surface, Toy Story looked like an overnight success–but it was actually the culmination of 25 years of work from three visionaries: Ed Catmull, John Lasseter, and Steve Jobs. In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover the origins of Pixar and the making of Toy Story. It’s a story of  Silicon Valley innovation, Hollywood storytelling, and one man's decades-long journey to change how movies are made.  What You’ll Learn: The unique relationship between art and technology How ambitious creative projects actually get accomplished  How you can become a better leader by removing barriers to creativity Chapters: (00:00:00) - Introduction (00:01:21) - Ed Catmull (00:29:49) - John Lasseter (00:50:35) - Steve Jobs (01:07:27) - Pixar (01:18:58) - Disney Partnership (01:32:04) - Black Friday (01:47:35) - Toy Story (01:58:18) - Epilogue (02:04:46) - Analysis Links: Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode  Sources Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material Follow us on X Contact Us The Road to Point Reyes Black Friday Reel

    2h 13m
  2. The Empire State Building

    08/04/2025

    The Empire State Building

    How was the world’s tallest building constructed in just 1 year and 45 days?    When the Empire State Building opened on May 1st, 1931 it stood as the tallest building in the world. It would hold that record for an unprecedented 40 years. Built ahead of schedule and under budget, it remains today an icon of American ambition.    In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how an unlikely partnership between an automobile magnate and a New York politician created an architectural icon. This is a story of Art Deco design, ruthless competition, and a construction battle waged at breakneck speed. Join us as we trace how the world’s most famous skyscraper went from bold idea to enduring legend.   What You’ll Learn: How a failed presidential bid kickstarted the 20th century’s greatest construction project  The inspiration behind the building’s Art Deco design  Why logistics made the difference between success and failure How a record-breaking project can finish on time and under budget   0:00:00 — Introduction   0:03:48 — Boom of the 20s   0:11:50 — An Unlikely Partnership 0:29:51 — The Site   0:42:48 — The Architects   1:12:26 — The Competition   1:31:01 — The Builders   1:58:53 — Construction   2:29:48 — Legacy   2:43:17 — Analysis Links: Construction Footage Interviews with the Builders Sources Get email updates every time a new episode is released - plus bonus material that didn’t make it into the show Send us feedback or suggestions for the next episode Follow us on X

    2h 54m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

We tell the stories of legendary projects and the leaders behind them.