Walt Disney Parks and Resorts worked with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to create "Portraits of America" a video that will be shown at entry points in to the United States. The film, which premieres at Washington Dulles International Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, will expand to all international airports and images from the film will be used for posters and other collateral. The film's score is from IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth which seems to be the go to song for Disney montages ever since ABC used it as part of their ABC 2000 broadcast. But instead of being focused on the entire globe, this film focuses on America. One thing does seem to be missing from this Disney film, and that would be Disney. No Disney theme park is depicted. Hollywood and Vegas are in there. Even a tacky fair is shown. However no sight of a Magic Kingdom can be found.
This video is part of the "Secure Borders, Open Doors Advisory Committee" which was established to encourage visitation to the United States while protecting the nation's borders. Disney has seen a dip in international visitation since 9/11. While domestic attendance has rebounded to new heights, the new restrictions and challenges have slowed international growth of Disney's business so Jay Rasulo and his team have been trying to make visiting the United States easier.
I don't know if this video will help. But it is nice to know that the first impression international visitors will get of the United States is a Disney video while they wait in a long line. Consider it a warm up to visiting a Disney park.
Quick Takes:
Studio Entertainment: Disney quietly released a movie last week. I am not talking about Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas, it is Ben Afleck's Gone Baby Gone which is being released under the Miramax banner. "The story begins in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, where the gritty, working-class streets are lined with the wreckage of broken families and dreams. t is here that four-year-old Amanda McCready has gone missing without a trace. The police have failed to turn up even the narrowest of leads, so Amanda's desperate Aunt and Uncle plead with local private investigators Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Genarro (Michelle Monaghan) to take the case."
Media Networks: Rick Reilly is leaving Sports Illustrated to join ESPN. This comes on the heels of Dan Patrick leaving ESPN for Sports Illustrated. I hear ESPN also got a draft pick in next year's sportscaster draft.
Consumer Products: Two new Hannah Montana video games are available for the Nintendo DS and Wii. Did you know that the first Hannah Montana DS game was the most popular girls game for the DS selling 690,000 units in the United States?
Video of the Day: Today's video "Welcome: Portraits of America" Keep an eye out for a Disney theme park. You won't find one. But you will find something that can be seen at a Disney theme park. Can you figure out what it is?