Suzanne Robertson
07-01-2011, 11:37 AM
I am going to fast forward for a moment and talk about Don's first experience in the promotion of Secret of Nimh.
When Nimh was finally finished, Aurora Productions hired a woman names Kim to be the publicist. It was her job to make sure that Don?s name, and the name? "The Secret of Nimh" was in all the papers and on the television. Getting ready for the release was a big deal. She knew exactly what to do to get the public excited about this upcoming event.
The first time I met Kim, she said to me,
?Don, I?m going to make your name a household word.?
She arranged for me to make several appearances and to speak in public in advance of the premier. One time, when we were going to speak to a group of students, we rode in a limo, something we really couldn't afford. As we approached the school I could see kids everywhere and I could hear them talking as we slowly drove in?
?That?s Don Bluth in that limo, that?s him.?
Of course, with the dark windows, they couldn?t see inside, but just the sight of the limousine sent a message that someone important was coming.
When we got inside Kim stuck me in the janitors closet and said,
?Don?t come out of there until I tell you.?
There I sat with all the brooms and smelly cleaning supplies just waiting. It was a good dose of humility.
Finally, when the students were settled in the auditorium and waiting, she summoned me,
?Now, now you can go out there.?
It was fun to talk about The Secret of Nimh. I was new at this and excited about its upcoming release. I could have talked a long time but Kim had given me a time limit. When I finished I answered questions and lots of people gathered for autographs. She whispered in my ear,
?Do exactly what I tell you.?
At the moment when the crowd was the biggest she turned to me and said,
?Don, we can?t stay any longer. I have to take you now? there?s another meeting??
Suddenly we were out the door, in the limo, and gone. She whisked me away with the kids still wanting more. This happened over and over until she created a mystique. I use to just laugh about it. Finally I came to understand the power of anticipation and wanting something that was just out of reach.
Making the best possible picture wasn?t enough; someone had to get people excited enough to leave their houses, drive to a theater and pay money to watch the movie.
The promotion of a movie is very important.
There's something about a limousine. My children loved it and so did my mom and dad. There were times when Don would fly into Salt Lake City for Thanksgiving, or Christmas or a family reunion and he would arrive from the airport in a limo. I can still remember watching it slowly move down my parent's long driveway. My children were speechless. They reveled in the fact that they were related to someone "famous." They adored Uncle Don... and thirty years later... they still do.
Suzanne
When Nimh was finally finished, Aurora Productions hired a woman names Kim to be the publicist. It was her job to make sure that Don?s name, and the name? "The Secret of Nimh" was in all the papers and on the television. Getting ready for the release was a big deal. She knew exactly what to do to get the public excited about this upcoming event.
The first time I met Kim, she said to me,
?Don, I?m going to make your name a household word.?
She arranged for me to make several appearances and to speak in public in advance of the premier. One time, when we were going to speak to a group of students, we rode in a limo, something we really couldn't afford. As we approached the school I could see kids everywhere and I could hear them talking as we slowly drove in?
?That?s Don Bluth in that limo, that?s him.?
Of course, with the dark windows, they couldn?t see inside, but just the sight of the limousine sent a message that someone important was coming.
When we got inside Kim stuck me in the janitors closet and said,
?Don?t come out of there until I tell you.?
There I sat with all the brooms and smelly cleaning supplies just waiting. It was a good dose of humility.
Finally, when the students were settled in the auditorium and waiting, she summoned me,
?Now, now you can go out there.?
It was fun to talk about The Secret of Nimh. I was new at this and excited about its upcoming release. I could have talked a long time but Kim had given me a time limit. When I finished I answered questions and lots of people gathered for autographs. She whispered in my ear,
?Do exactly what I tell you.?
At the moment when the crowd was the biggest she turned to me and said,
?Don, we can?t stay any longer. I have to take you now? there?s another meeting??
Suddenly we were out the door, in the limo, and gone. She whisked me away with the kids still wanting more. This happened over and over until she created a mystique. I use to just laugh about it. Finally I came to understand the power of anticipation and wanting something that was just out of reach.
Making the best possible picture wasn?t enough; someone had to get people excited enough to leave their houses, drive to a theater and pay money to watch the movie.
The promotion of a movie is very important.
There's something about a limousine. My children loved it and so did my mom and dad. There were times when Don would fly into Salt Lake City for Thanksgiving, or Christmas or a family reunion and he would arrive from the airport in a limo. I can still remember watching it slowly move down my parent's long driveway. My children were speechless. They reveled in the fact that they were related to someone "famous." They adored Uncle Don... and thirty years later... they still do.
Suzanne