Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: "Simpsons" Premiere In Springfield

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Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 03-09-2007, 04:54 PM:

Which Springfield will host the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie"?

AP Article

quote:

Springfields vie for 'Simpsons' premiere

Today at 1:57 pm

Springfield, the Oregon one, is on a list of like-named towns competing for the big-screen debut of Homer, Bart and the rest of the TV Simpson family this summer.

City officials accepted an invitation from 20th Century Fox to compete for the honor of hosting the premiere screening of "The Simpsons Movie" in July.

Fox publicist Gwyne Ortiz said Fox has asked 16 Springfields from Oregon to Massachusetts to participate.

Fox will pick the winner after reviewing short film entries showcasing the community's positive aspects and links to the Simpsons, who live in their own fictional Springfield.

The prime-time animated series created by Oregon-born Matt Groening is now in its 18th season.

"There's plenty of serious issues to talk about, but this is something that we might as well try to have a little fun with," Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken told the Register-Guard newspaper.

Newsweek once called the Simpsons' Springfield "America's Crud Bucket," hardly an honor worth fighting over.

The cartoon Springfield has a nuclear power plant and several prisons, amenities Oregon's Springfield lacks.

Groening has said he chose "Springfield" because it's one of the more common city names in the United States

Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-09-2007, 05:17 PM:

There's a town in Montana called Ismay which changed its name to "Joe, Montana" in honor of the famous quarterback. I'm sure they'd be willing to change their name to Springfield for this honor. Only problem: They don't have a movie theatre. Maybe Fox would be willing to kick in a million or so from the promotion budget to build one.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-09-2007, 05:23 PM:

I'd bank on either Springfield, IL or Springfield, OH; home to Kerasotes and Chakeres Theatres, respectively.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-09-2007, 05:33 PM:

quote:
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Shame on you Michael. Shame on you.

Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 03-09-2007, 05:47 PM:

The exception to that rule is whenever a copyright holder goofs on their copyright date. Last I checked it was 2007. [Wink]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-09-2007, 06:30 PM:

Oh. I just thought that you were really slow at posting the stolen news. [Cool]

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 03-10-2007, 01:45 PM:

Is the movie gonna have a "FOX" bug in the corner all the way through? [Razz]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 03-10-2007, 02:23 PM:

Ummm yeah, when's the last time you've seen a movie that's had a "bug" in the corner? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-10-2007, 06:58 PM:

Of course every Simpsons fan knows the TV show has never addressed the issue of where exactly "Springfield" is. A lot of people here think it's Springfield, Oregon, because of Matt Groening's ties to the state. That would make neighboring Eugene "Shelbyville". It fits.

The Eugene ["Shelbyville"?] Register-Guard Page 1 headline on Thursday was Springfield To Host 'Simpsons' Film Debut. Heh, good one. Just like the show, it doesn't say which Springfield. If it does turn out Springfield is here though, the premiere would be held here.

Springfield To Host 'Simpsons' Film Debut
By Jack Moran
The Register-Guard
Published: Thursday, March 8, 2007

SPRINGFIELD - Don't have a cow, man.

But if you're familiar with that phrase, you'll be excited to hear that Springfield - Springfield, Ore., that is - could be the place where Bart, Homer and the rest of the cartoon Simpsons family make their big screen debut this summer.

City officials have accepted an invitation from 20th Century Fox to compete against other Springfields across the country in a contest where the winner will host the premiere screening of "The Simpsons Movie," due out in July. The film is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.

"If we're selected, that's nationwide and even worldwide exposure for us," said Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken - not to be confused with Mayor Joe Quimby, of the Simpsons' fictional hometown of Springfield.

"There's plenty of serious issues to talk about, but this is something that we might as well try to have a little fun with," Leiken said.

Gwyne Ortiz, a Fox publicist, said Fox has asked 16 Springfields from Oregon to Massachusetts to participate in the contest.

Studio execs will pick the winner after reviewing short films submitted by local officials. Each entry should showcase a community's positive aspects, and somehow link it to "The Simpsons" TV show. The megapopular prime-time animated series created by Portland-born Matt Groening is now in its 18th season.

"We want each Springfield to express the highlights of what they do, and have it tie into the whole Simpsons element," Ortiz said.

Besides landing the movie premiere, the winning city and its mayor will be included in the film's closing credits.

The Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon will help assemble the city's contest entry.

"On a personal level, this is very exciting," said Josh Alder, a longtime Simpsons fan who works as CVALCO's tourism public relations manager. "On a professional level, I think anything like this that could bring tourism to the area is fantastic."

Certainly, some people believe that Oregon's Springfield must be considered the contest's early favorite.

Because Groening is a Portland native, many speculate that he based the Simpsons' hometown on Lane County's second-largest city. It's hardly a flattering idea, considering that on the show, Newsweek ran a story calling Springfield "America's Crud Bucket." The cartoon town is a bizarre yet unremarkable place with a nuclear plant and several prisons.

Scores of Web sites have tried to answer the question: Where is the Simpsons' Springfield? No one can say for sure.

Groening has said that he chose Springfield because it's one of the most common city names in the United States.

In an interview last month with Web magazine Crave Online, Groening said "The Simpsons Movie" will address the question of which state the cartoon family's hometown is in.

"We actually have a really good joke about that (in the movie)," Groening is quoted as saying. "Remember, I said joke."

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 03-10-2007, 09:24 PM:

Hmm, that's weird... I remember in the "Behind the Music" episode a few years back they said Springfield was in Kentucky?

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-10-2007, 11:16 PM:

That's an interesting note, Mike. There is a Springfield, KY.. AND a Shelbyville!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-11-2007, 01:19 AM:

Hell, they ought to premeire it in ALL the Springfields if they really want national attention. [beer]

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 03-11-2007, 03:15 AM:

In the trailer Flanders says The state that Springfield is in is bordered by Nevada, Ohio, Maine & Kentucky