HOLLYWOOD, CA: A unique publicity campaign is supporting
Hollywood's search for a new star who may enjoy fame and fortune for
years to come.
"The important thing is the look in their eye," which must convey
personality, intelligence, and warmth, said Julia Hutton, who heads a PR
firm bearing her name, and is handling publicity for the star-search
project.
Hutton said other qualifications are an ideal age of one, a weight of 22
pounds, a height of 22 inches when sitting, and being a mixture of
terrier and "something." Up for grabs is the leading role in the
upcoming Benji movie, the latest episode in a series of films and
television shows that began nearly 30 years ago.
The talent search began in Chicago in August, then went to Atlanta and
other cities, where producer Joe Camp toured animal shelters searching
for the ideal Benji. Beyond promoting the upcoming movie, "the goal is
to get dogs in animal shelters placed," Hutton explained. The publicity
associated with these visits resulted in many people visiting animal
shelters and adopting dogs housed there, she added. TV hits have
included CBS 2 news in New York, Channels 5 and 12 in Phoenix, and two
items on KCBS Los Angeles.
The original Benji was rescued from the Burbank Animal Shelter. The
American Humane Association said that publicity associated with that
Benji led to the adoption of more than a million dogs.
Currently, the search has been narrowed to four dogs. Camp is currently
working with them to determine which has the moxie to make it in the
movies.
