DVDizzy Forum

It's been just over eighteen months since I caught my first glimpse of Pixar's seventh feature film, <i>Cars</i>. In the year and a half since, the John Lasseter-directed, Route 66-set, computer-animated flick has been bumped to a summer '06 theatrical release, Disney and Pixar have patched things up (ensuring this won't be their final co-production as once thought), and promotions have begun to kick into high gear with just over a month before this much-anticipated races into theaters.

If you've wandered into any part of the Internet these past 18 months (this site included), you have probably discovered that despite Pixar's critically and financially spotless track record, <i>Cars</i> has been met with some skepticism. Cynics have stated "Wow, it looks like Pixar may have finally made something less than perfect." Those with more faith in the Emeryville, California-based studio have said, "Let's wait until seeing the final film before labeling this a Pixar failure." Personally, I find myself somewhere in between, but closer to the latter. I remember not being overly jazzed by previews for <i>Finding Nemo</i> (despite the always-nice use of Men at Work's "Down Under"), and yet when I saw the film, like most people, I was quite pleased. On the other hand, trailers for <i>Toy Story 2</i>, <i>Monsters, Inc.</i> and <i>The Incredibles</i> had me quite excited and yet my near-impossible expectations were met. From what I've read and seen of <i>Cars</i>, the most attractive thing about the film so far is the "Pixar" name. I've got my faith in the film based on the studio's 1.000 batting average, even if I can't help but be somewhat guarded in my optimism as the premise and plot seem less worthy of a "Brilliant!" remark than any other Pixar film.

Something that does have me revved up is the promotional stuff. What? Like advertising? Yeah, sort of like that. I vividly recall getting a kick out of the "First in Line" <i>Incredibles</i> Internet ads (which were ripped off in that Coca-Cola-honored short film and disappointingly absent from the DVD), Sulley and Mike's "Charades" game ("Harry Flowerpot?"), and even Buzz and company wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving on ABC in 1999. Then there's cereal swag, from which I still have four of the five <i>Toy Story</i> figures, a Flik spoon from <i>A Bug's Life</i>, and a set of concentration cards promoting <i>Toy Story 2</i>'s long-awaited home video release. Imagine my excitement at learning there will be <i>Cars</i> cars found inside the boxes of some truly stellar Kellogg's cereals! Perhaps I'm a hypocrite, because I was among those who cried foul (or "fowl", if you will) at the marketing blitz Disney let loose for <i>Chicken Little</i>. But as seems to be the case for everything else, Pixar seems to cross-promote better than the rest.

This leads us to the ultimate focus of this ramble. As part of extensive efforts to promote <i>Cars</i>, Disney/Pixar have teamed up with State Farm auto insurance to bring us <b>"CARS Road Trip '06"</b>, in which two of the stars of <i>Cars</i> can be witnessed at full-size as they tour the nation. The real cars were created by Eddie Paul, a movie car creator/customizer who is responsible for John Travolta's hot rod in <i>Grease</i> as well as vehicles seen in <i>The Fast and The Furious</i>.

The road trip began on the day after Easter in Akron, Ohio, and has already included stops in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Toronto (hey, that's not in the US!), and Chicago. Today, it moves onto Denver. But over the weekend (well, for four hours on Saturday, at least), the tour came to Minneapolis, MN (well, actually, Burnsville, MN). Steady rain couldn't detour the trip, as the life-sized models of protagonist racecar Lightning McQueen (voice by Owen Wilson) and Radiator Springs' blue Porsche Sally Carrera (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) took protection under a tent, while the third member in the automotive party (a Mack Truck inspired by the John Ratzenberger-voiced Mack) kept watch outside.

Here are some pictures from this event:

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt1.jpg">
Lightning McQueen is all smiles.

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt2.jpg">
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt3.jpg">
UD's own <b>pinkrenata</b> poses with Sally the Porsche, while an adoring fan misses his target by a good seven or eight feet.

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt4.jpg">
More Sally, from a different view.

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt5.jpg">
A look at some of the tent decorations

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt6.jpg">
Renata poses with Mack, illustrating that a little rain never hurt anyone!

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt7.jpg">
One last look at Renata, this time in back of the UD Jam Van, with what is unfortunately not a bumper sticker.

<img src="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/images/a-c/carsrt8.jpg">
And here's the free poster!

Inside the tent, there was a sweepstakes to get tickets to a free <i>Cars</i> screening and a number of State Farm agents willing to talk about car insurance (I suppose). As you may notice, children and <i>Cars</i> posters were both in great supply, while a customized <i>Cars</i> entertainment center ran a loop of footage from the film's trailers and comments from John Lasseter.

Though it required quite a bit of effort for about 10 minutes of payoff, it was not at all a disappointment. The case for checking it out may be supported by the fact that one does not go away empty-handed. I walked away with a cool 18½" x 27" poster featuring just about the entire cast of <i>Cars</i>, a pack of nine trading cards of the principal characters, and a Limited Edition <i>Cars</i> North American Road Atlas (the cover of which is slickly adorned with Lightning McQueen), and a little bag with candy and assorted State Farm paraphernalia (jar opener, magnet, car emblem, etc.). The Atlas (your choice of a big one or slightly smaller one) required filling out a form to be contacted by a local State Farm agent. Everything else was entirely free.

All in all, I'm still a little more excited by the prospect of getting <i>Cars</i> cars inside my beloved cereal (and also, what I saw in the mall afterwards, the Lighting McQueen toy racecar, which drives around and whose grille moves as he talks!) than actually seeing <i>Cars</i> itself and I guess that's weird. But in spite of the rain, it was a fun day and worth the effort for any Pixar (or car) fan.

Here's the remaining "CARS Road Trip '06" schedule:
May 1 Denver, CO
May 2 Salt Lake City, UT
May 4 DuPont, WA
May 5 Seattle, WA
May 6 Portland, OR
May 7 San Francisco, CA
May 8 Bakersfield, CA
May 10-12 Los Angeles, CA
May 15 Houston, TX
May 17-18 Atlanta, GA
May 20-21 Orlando, FL
May 22-23 Jacksonville, FL
May 24-28 Charlotte, NC -- World Premiere/NASCAR Coca Cola 600
May 30 Charlottesville, VA
May 31 Parsippany, NJ
June 1-6 New York, NY
June 11-18 Los Angeles, CA
June 19 Phoenix, AZ
June 21 San Antonio, TX
June 22 Dallas, TX
June 23-24 Tulsa, OK
June 26 St. Louis, MO
June 27 Erlanger, KY
June 28 Cincinnati, OH
June 29 Lexington, KY
June 30 Columbus, OH
July 5 Battle Creek, MI
July 6 Oakbrook, IL
July 7 Bloomington, IL
July 8-11 Chicago, IL

For Further Information, contact:
Dave Wong, Vice President, National Publicity, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing (818) 560-7291
Mia Jazo-Harris, Media Relations, State Farm (309) 766-5242

More on <b><i>Cars</i></b>

And, in case you need to be reminded, <i>Cars</i> opens on June 9th. Click here for more of UD's coverage on the film.

<br><br><br><br>

I really love the idea and as always, I'm looking forward to see this movie!!!!

^And then buying it,

I'm sorry Luke, but as one of the nay-sayers, all this Cars marketing is sort of bothering me.

For me, while I wasn't impressed with the initial teasers it was no big deal. The teasers were sort of... well, just 'of', but it didn't matter because the actual trailers would be better. Then I saw, what I like to call "the pep talk" on the Toy Story reissue disc, and I was shocked.

It was this, more than anything else that shook my faith in the film. I would never in a thousand years imagined that Pixar would have to sink as low as to make such a promotional item. It was almost as if Lasseter was pleading with us to go see his film. It was nothing more than a version of the crappy EPK you find on many low-status DVDs. "See this film because..."

At the very least I would call it some sort of emotional blackmail, trading heavily on the Lasseter name and his personal emotional involvement to the story.

It was that that made me think that there was trouble in Pixarville. Then not so long ago we got the news that Cars would have a recordbreaking investment in previews and trailers, including a scattershot campaign across all of Disney's media empire... from ABC to Disneyland resort hotel rooms.

I'm sorry, but the more hype I see, especially artificial manufactured hype, the less likely I am to care one way or another over this film. I can't comment on the Chicken Little hype you mention, because we didn't get anything special over here in the UK, but the more I read about the Cars marketing, the more troubled I become. "Familiarity breeds contempt" as the saying goes.

Don't people here insist its the "story" which sells the film? Is all this marketing really required? Do Disney really think the public is going to turn away from a Pixar film?

Still, to end on a positive note after an(other) extended rant, I pleased you and Renata had a good time out and enjoyed yourselves. Keep eating the cereal, its fortified with vitamins and Iron!

i dont have high hopes for this film either...unless the story turns out to be really good but we dont hear much of it

Does it surprise anyone else besides me that this tour has not considered making a stop to Indianapolis in time for a certain Memorial Day event in car racing?

I don't think all this advertising is a sign of desperation. I believe they predicted people will watch the trailers, be turned off, and not watch the movie. So, by doing all this advertising, they are hoping it will change their minds and give Cars a chance.

Nice pictures Luke! Hopefully I can convince my mom to take me to see them.

Really cool report and pictures, Luke and Renata! I look forward to meeting Mac and Sally, especially now. Am I excited for the movie? Well, yes, but only because I'm hoping to be surprised. Thanks for sharing.

-Aaron

Lucylover1986 wrote:^And then buying it,

That's me!!!

First of all, thanks for the report. I will be seeing the Cars when they make their stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma! I can't wait.

Now, don't take this wrong, but, I really do not understand why there are people that are doubting this film. I've read all of the reasons people are giving for not being excited, but, none of them truly explain what it is that is turning some of you off? I think to judge something, you must experience it, then, after having that experience, you can make your decision. I don't find the advertising for this film to be desperate. In fact, it seems to be about what I expected. Truth be known, I am quite positive that Disney wants this film to bring in bigger numbers than The Incredibles. I feel that Disney expected The Incredibles to bring in just as much as, if not more, than Finding Nemo. When it didn't, that's when we started seeing the changes occur. They moved the date out, so that Cars can have the advantage of a summer run (as did Finding Nemo), and began to give the film a little push. In fact, I would say that Disney has great faith in the film, but, they want to make sure people will go to see it. I mean, Disney did just purchase Pixar, in a 7.4 billion dollar deal. I would think that if Disney saw the film, and thought it was crap, they would think twice about buying Pixar. Of course, I could be wrong, but, spending that much money on a company, that doesn't deliver, doesn't make much sense to me.

So, saying you are turned off of the film because of a trailer, advertising, or whatever reason, doesn't really hold water. I would think you would have to see the film, give it a chance, and then decide. I'm very excited to see Cars, because it looks interesting, I enjoy animated films, and it is Pixar, after all. They have not disappointed me. Even if Cars isn't as spectacular as Pixar's other films, I still think it will be heads above what even Disney, themselves, are doing!

Chicks posing with Cars. So this is what UD.com has come to!

2099net wrote:I'm sorry Luke, but as one of the nay-sayers, all this Cars marketing is sort of bothering me.

Yes, I'm still sitting in that camp too. Our Richard Wilkins was interviewing John Lasseter this morning in what was a very contrived "So you are wonderful - would you agree with that?" style interview.

Still, as a die-hard fan of all things Disney-related - especially when they are enlarged and could quite possibly end up in my beloved theme parks - then I get that good fan-boy tingle. Lovely report, groovacious photos.

I don't know how to quite put my feelings into words MMOne. It's sort of a gut feeling about the hype.

Like I said, for me, the alarm bells started sounding not after the (in my opinion) lackluster teasers. Teasers are only short, random bits of whimsy anyhow. The Cars teasers were no worse than the teaser for The Simpsons movie, for example, so that didn't even bother me really.

It was the DVD "pep-talk" that did it. An "artist" (which is something I'm sure most people here would class Lasseter as) should never have to lower themselves to such a level, especially when the art itself is still being created. I can understand an actor being grabbed by the media at the latest premiere and talking up his or her latest movie when asked for a few seconds. I can understand promotional tours just before a movie is released, with actors and producers talking about the film. But to have such a blatently staged and, ultimately, empty presentation (because, he couldn't give anything of concequence away could he?) released months before the intended opening of the film to me, did appear like desperation.

I'm aware that Pixar and/or Disney had knowledge of a less-than-positive buzz about Cars prior to this (I fall short of calling it a "negative buzz" because that would be unfair). I do think the promo with Lasseter on the Toy Story disc was a reaction to this, and in my opinion, ill-judged.

Then, we get the news, proudly stated, that Cars would have a bumper trailer exposure: I mean can tell me that's not overkill - there's nowhere Disney owned that isn't showing the trailer. Compare the Cars approch to the one for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe for example. And Cars should have wider appeal and awareness already than TLTW&TW ever did. Millions more people have seen a Pixar film than have read the C. S. Lewis book.

Finally, when we do see the proper trailer, unlike the other Pixar trailers to date, it seems to put as much emphasis on the voices than they do on the characters. Like the "pep-talk" Pixar seems to be "doing a Dreamworks".

[Actually, I've just rewatched the trailer and there's not as many names as I seemed to recall.... but they two mentioned sure to have a big typeface]

All this advertising and trailing costs money. Even on Disney properties it costs money because they're loosing out on paid-for advertising.

I'm pretty sure the "Pixar Buzz", a few promotional tie-ins, and a shorter campaign nearer the release date should be enough to sell this film.

Pixar are the only "name" in the business these days where people go and see a film because of the name (with the possible exception of Lucasfilm, but they're not due to release anything for the next few years). And I think all this excessive marketing will in some way help to ruin the name. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing".

I know I'm different to a lot of people here. A lot of people here actually enjoy the trailers and sneak-peeks. Some even rate the sneak peeks the best bonus on a lot of Disney DVDs. I too can enjoy them, but more and more unless they are clever or unusual I find myself seeing them for what they are: nothing more than advertising. Perhaps I'm just a cynical old fart, but when you end up, like in Cars case, with advertising promoting more advertising, I can't help but feel something is deeply wrong.

All this is sort of off the topic, and if Luke wishes to move it to another thead, then I will have no objections, it is after all a depressing rant on what should be a thread about celebration.

Dave Wong, Vice President, National Publicity, Buena Vista Pictures Marketing (818) 560-7291
Mia Jazo-Harris, Media Relations, State Farm (309) 766-5242

Which number did you guys call for the address to any of the cities?

I tried looking at events scheduled at malls and convention centers in Chicago, Oakbrook, and Bloomington, but so far there have been no results.

Do you think it would help if I emailed someone at statefarm.com?

Luke wrote:It's been just over eighteen months since I caught my first glimpse of Pixar's eighth feature film, <i>Cars</i>.

Luke, hello, anyone there? Cars is Pixar's seventh feature film, not Pixar's eigth feature film. Can't you count?
Let's count together

1. Toy Story
2. A Bug's Life
3. Toy Story 2
4. Monster's, Inc.
5. Finding Nemo
6. The Incredibles
&
7. Cars

Now the eigth Pixar feature film will be Ratatoule (Sp?)

I'm still curious about this...

I think I may have *possibly* figured out where the locations in Illinois are.

Oakbrook: I was going to say Oakbrook Mall since they're having their annual classic car exhibition, but it ends in June, so I have no clue!
Bloomington: Location of State Farm headquarters.
Chicago: McCormick Place, not only because it's a convention center, but because it's practically where Route 66 ends.

Now I just need to figure out the time.

The man behind the real CARS...

El Segundo, Calif.--Pixar may have created the cartoon version of CARS, but when they decided to create real cars depicting three of the star CARS, Jay Leno suggested they talk to Eddie Paul.

Owner of Customs by Eddie Paul, located just south of Los Angeles, Paul and his crew have been creating cars for Hollywood for decades (100+ feature films). From "Grease" to "The Fast and the Furious," Paul's custom automotive creations have tantalized audiences. He has created three CARS vehicles, Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Sally, for "CARS Road Trip 06." The Road Trip is currently underway with more than 40 stops across the country.

Paul and his crew's positive attitude, creativity, fabricating skills, and determination to stick to a deadline put many of the other more well-known motorcycle and automotive customizers and fabricators to shame. Because of his low profile, Paul has been called one of Hollywood's best kept secrets.

The attached photos show the progress of some of the real CARS characters. Paul is self-taught and opened his own automotive customizing business when he was 18. He shares some of his custom bodywork techniques in two new books, "Eddie Paul's Custom Bodywork Handbook" (Krause Publications, 2005) and "Eddie Paul's Extreme Chopper Building" (Krause Publications, 2006).

Paul is the founder and president of E.P. Industries, Inc. With 30-plus years of engineering experience, he has developed innovative designs in pumps, compressors, engines, optics, electronics, camera movements and housings, hydraulic systems, and animatronics. His diverse background in prototype development and design is unequaled and his knowledge of a wide range of engineering sciences has led to many discoveries. Consequently, Paul is the holder of several U.S. and international patents. He is also the principal investigator who guides and assists a highly qualified team of engineers.

More info at http://www.epindustries.com/epi.html

Thanks!

Bill Hahn
bill.hahn@fwpubs.com

Opinions on Cars seem really mixed on here, for those of you who really liked it, I found a feature on an Irish website (where it hasn't been released yet) about the film. Its all we have to go on over here! Maybe you've seen most of this before but maybe the interviews and stuff might give you some new info.

Here's the link:
http://www.frankthemonkey.com/features_full.php?id=14