JOE CAMP LAUNCHES NATIONAL "STAR" SEARCH FOR BENJI #4 IN CHICAGO ANIMAL SHELTERS

"Auditions" For the New Benji Begins at PAWS Chicago, Annual "Angels With Tails Event," Sunday, August 12

Biloxi, MS, August 12, 2001 - The original Benji was rescued from the Burbank Animal Shelter and the American Humane Association says that fact is directly responsible for the adoption of more than 1,000,000 dogs. For that reason, Joe Camp, Benj i’s creator, would like to find the next Benji in a shelter and has initiated a national search, beginning in Chicago.

"Benji # 3 is retired and we’d love nothing better than to be able to say that Benji # 4, like his predecessor, was rescued from a shelter. To be at least partially responsible for so many animals being saved is one terrific feeling," Camp says.

Camp and others from his Mulberry Square Productions and BenjiMovies.com were at the PAWS Chicago’s "Angels with Tails" event on Sunday, August 12, 2001, "looking deeply into the eyes of every dog from a shelter that resembles Benji." Over 20 animal shelters in the Chicago area attended the event, but the search began unsuccessfully. Camp hopes his search for Benji will raise awareness of how wonderful, responsible pet adoption can be and how adoption is a life-long commitment. "There was never a better dog than the original Benji who came from the Burbank Shelter," says Camp.

On Monday, the Benji team visited the City Pound, but was again unsuccessful. "There were a lot of terrific dogs there that would make great pets," Camp said, "but no Benji."

Camp’s search is part of a campaign to introduce Benji to an entirely new generation of kids and parents. "And this time," Camp says, "Benji is returning on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of kids and animals." Benji’s Return begins August 28, 2001, when the new Benji video library premiers in retail stores across the nation. The initial release includes the original Benji, Benji at Work and Benji at Marineland, and will build to twenty-one titles by spring of next year. All titles are digitally remastered, many in stereo, all on DVD as well as VHS.

On Wednesday, the Benji team visits the Anti Cruelty Society and, if still unsuccessful, travels to Minneapolis to continue the search. After Minneapolis, the schedule takes Camp back to L.A., then to Dallas, Atlanta, Anniston.

Benji has a brand new website, BenjiMovies.com; a new book series, the Benji Promise Books, which will premier in December, for kids 3 to 8, each based on a positive character trait like truth… hope…. courage (to say no)… love (how to show it)… and trust; and a brand new movie coming titled, Benji Returns – The Promise of Christmas scheduled for release during the Christmas season of 2002 (in which the new Benji # 4 will star).

More than 71,000,000 people have watched Benji movies in theaters, over 30,000,000 of them adults. All Benji movies have grossed within the top 10% of box office grosses for their year of release, and more than one billion People have watched Benji movies and programs on television. Two of Benji's primetime specials have been nominated for Emmys.

"Love, hope, and the value of persistence toward a goal are the heart and soul of every Benji story," Camp says. "Benji is not about special effects, crude humor, flash-cuts, screeching sound, and warlike monsters. It’s emotionally involving family entertainment that’s happy, sad, and full of suspense, and has become classic around the world with kids and parents alike for the small and simple reason that it just plain makes you feel good."

To be the next Benji, a dog must have the following characteristics: