WHEN BOOK PROMOTIONS GO BAD

A while back Ridley and I went to the Magic Kingdom to make sales videos for one of our Starcatchers books. We shot the videos inside the park before it opened, when the park workers were getting everything ready. The idea of the videos was that we were supposed to come running out of the Peter Pan ride – Peter Pan’s Flight – and yell various scripted greetings to booksellers and book-buyers. Needless to say we kept messing up; also, the park workers kept making p.a. announcements, which ruined some takes. These problems frustrated the video crew but struck Ridley and me as increasingly hilarious, as you can see in these outtakes.

(Many thanks to Pierre Taylor for making it possible to post this.)

Comments

[snif]

The wheelchair take was a keeper!

[Angie]

Oh my. That has to be the funniest thing I've seen all day. :)

[Meanie the Blue]

That was*ATTENTION STAFF: PARK OPENS IN TEN MINUTES*able.

[Hammond Rye]

Hmmm...writing an article about promoting a book, which in itself promotes the book... I fear an investigation during the Dave Barry 2012™ campaign.

[Meanie the Blue]

Don't forget, Ham, there's still the "The Making Of Peter And The Sword Of Mercy", "America's Funniest Theme Park Videos", "Monster Swordmobile Challenge", and "Peter vs. Buddy - WWF Death Match" still on the way.

[NotSherly]

Hahahahahahaha.

[trustf8]

I heard Disney will soon be showing a 'darker side' of Mickey Mouse: 'Putting a little rat into Mickey'... Just wondered if this coincides with Dave's upcoming events at DisneyWorld....

*wonders what 'Once Upon a Toy' is all about*

[Brian]

Those were hilarious!

And you're trying to get us to believe it when you say that the two of you were 100% sober at the time???

Go on....
Pull the other one!

[nursecindy]

Brian, Dave and Ridley are professionals who I'm sure never,do not,seldom probably only drink alcoholic beverages when offered to them. This was very cute and made me smile also.

[MartiniShark]

That was good for them, but not for me.

Sounds like Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Pearson wrote the script for the director. IYKWIM

[The Other Steve]

Outtakes are always better than the originals!

[Mercutio of Verona]

Incredibly, alcohol may NOT have been involved.

[Bernard Scooper]

No squirrels. Sob.

[Siouxie]

*SNORK*

Those are priceless!!!!

[Loudmouth]

And to think they could have just trotted out a couple of Disney slave actors, like Tim Allen and Miley Cyrus, to play the two of you for the movie.

[Jan Crozier]

Thanks for sharing the fun!

[nursecindy]

Would Miley Cyrus have played Dave or Ridley in the movie?

[Annie Where-but-here]

Miley would play Rid. Dave would be played by Hannah Montana. Sophie would be proud. And a bit confused. But at least she wouldn't want to go to any more HM concerts.

[Schadeboy]

I'm beginning to understand how you were such troublemakers during college.

[SW]

When I grow up, I want to have a job that I enjoy doing as much as they seem to enjoy theirs. I'll bet they feel the same way.

[Laura Vona]

Wait, you mean when you said, "Borders Managers" you didn't really mean it? You were making the same promo for other retailers too?!? You can make it up to us by finding it in your heart to do pencil in a strump date at the Braintree, MA Borders location. (I run the cafe there, can't hurt to try, eh? : )