Cities across the U.S. are competing to be chosen the real-life "Springfield" in a USA TODAY promotion for this summer's theatrical release of THE SIMPSONS MOVIE.
USA TODAY is inviting its readers to vote for communities across the U.S. named Springfield, competing to win a special "Hometown Premiere" of the film on July 26, 2007.
Each participating Springfield has approximately 30 days to submit a short film, 3-5 minutes long, showcasing the community's "Simpson Spirit." USA TODAY readers may vote for their favorite "Hometown Movie" online at USATODAY.com.
Twentieth Century Fox, which releases THE SIMPSONS MOVIE on July 27, will provide each participating community with key SIMPSON' filmmaking tools, including a digital video camera, THE SIMPSONS MOVIE couch theater display, THE SIMPSONS MOVIE posters, digital files of the film's logo and character art plus SIMPSONS yellow paint.
Matt Groening, the series' co-creator, said he chose "Springfield" as the SIMPSONS' home because it is one of the more common city names in the U.S.
Entrants should send their films to: The Simpson's Movie Springfield Challenge, Attn: Gwyne Ortiz, Twentieth Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., 88/3023, Los Angeles, California 90035. Twentieth Century Fox must receive all entries by June 28. Shortly thereafter, the films will be posted and visitors to the site USATODAY.com. may vote for their favorite Hometown Move. The "polls" close July 9 and the winning city will be announced on or about July 10.
Fox will roll out the "yellow carpet" for the winning Springfield at the premiere screening event of THE SIMPSONS MOVIE, where attendees will get the V.I.P. treatment.
The 14 participating Springfields are located in: Massachusetts, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky, Nebraska, Colorado, Louisiana, and Vermont (Township).
In the eagerly-awaited animated feature film based on the hit TV series, Homer must save the world from a catastrophe he (naturally) created.
Starring voices in the animated film are Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille and Albert Brooks.
Producing the feature are THE SIMPSONS series exec producer James L. Brooks, Groening, current showrunner Al Jean, Mike Scully and Richard Sakai. The script is by Groening, Brooks, Jean, Scully, Ian Maxtone-Graham, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Matt Selman, John Swartzwelder and Jon Vitti.
David Silverman (MONSTERS, INC.), the series' supervising animation director, is directing the feature, with Film Roman as the lead studio on the animation.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
