A news release came out today of Jim Jenner of Paccom Films essentially hawking his Route 66 documentaries.
But Jenner certainly has one thing right — Pixar's "Cars" film "could be the biggest thing to hit the highway in many years."
"It may be a cartoon, but Pixar has done a terrific job in helping people understand that this wonderful two-lane road represents a different era, and a different pace, than today's boring interstate highways," said Jenner. "It's bound to increase visitors for the businesses that fight to stay open out there. For us it means that millions of people will realize what a compelling story the preservation of historic Route 66 really is. They are sure to seek out books and documentary films that tell the whole story."
Jenner has produced "Route 66: An American Odyssey" and "Route 66: Return to the Road," both of which I recommend and can be purchased on Paccom's Web site.
Dear Ron:
Glad you saw this release, it’s the first time we’ve used PRWeb. Yes, were hawking, and I don’t mind being ribbed, it’s how we little guys stay alive 🙂 However,I’m glad you too think this will be a big thing for the road! I talked to Michael Wallis before I wrote the thing and he said he’s given something like 600 interviews about Route 66 as part of his publicity work with Pixar.
Howdy, Jim. Before I embarrass myself, is “An American Odyssey” the one with the segment of Wallis saying, “They couldn’t stop Lillian Redmon from turning on her blue swallow”? I’ve seen so many Route 66 documentaries that I can’t keep ’em straight. 😉
Hi Ron: Yes, it’s in the chapter called “Beacons in the Darkest Hour”. This was probably the most complex segment we ever created in the early days of computer editing. John Paget added layer upon layer of the highway’s neon signs to create a montage and I think the computer chewed on it for about two days. Michael talked about who they ‘couldn’t stop’ in a fairly quick paragraph, but John stretched it out and echoed it in the background to give it a deeply emotional feel… especially with a closeup of Lillian’s tiny finger reaching for the light switch. I think it’s my favorite chapter in that show.
Well, it’s my wife’s all-time favorite segment. It makes her cry nearly every time.
The neon sequence in John Paget’s documentary has remained a favorite segment of mine since I first saw it. Anyone who has not yet seen Paccom’s documentaries “Route 66: An American Odyssey” and “Route 66: Return to the Road” is not only missing the remarkable work of John Paget, but scenes like the montage of Route 66 neon signs that were without a doubt the inspiration for neon scenes in “Cars.”
Suzanne Wallis
I don’t cry nearly every time, Ron. I cry every single time. Sometimes I cry just thinking about it.
Before the Bakkes moved, we had a tradition at the Swallow: If I got there before dusk, Hilda would call me when she was ready to turn on the sign, and I’d come scrambling outside to stand under it and listen to the transformer buzz to life and think to myself: “They COULDN’T stop Lillian Redman from switching on her Blue Swallows!”
And I would cry.
Every. Single. Time.