Pete's Blog

Pelican Pete meets Harry Potter

I have some fun news to tell you about.  There is a photograph of a painting on the front page of the July 10th St. Augustine Record and there I am, right next to Harry Potter. You may not know this, but Harry is a favorite of Hugh Keiser and Hugh has often said, "...Pelican Pete should meet Harry Potter!"  Now there is a picture of me in a tree with Harry - how neat is that?

A local artist by the name of Laurie Klein is painting a series of murals for the hallways at Crookshank Elementary School in St. Augustine.  She is painting 5 murals that will be ready when students return to school at the end of summer vacation. 

Even if you missed the newspaper, you can find the article and other pictures by going to the following link which will take you to the on-line version of the newspaper... St. Augustine Record On Line. There is also lots of information about the artist and how this project happened.

 The theme of the mural that includes me is A Salute To Children's Authors - and it "...includes Dr. Seuss, Jody and the fawn from "The Yearling," Tedd Arnold's Fly Guy, Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones, Winnie the Pooh and friends, Toad and Frog, Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid, Alyssa Satin Capucilli's Biscuit, Frances Keiser's Pelican Pete and Mercer Mayer's Little Critter in and around a huge tree. Harry Potter and his magic wand tie it all together. Off in the distance is the Castillo de San Marcos and one of the lions from the Bridge of Lions."  I feel like I am in very good company, don't you?

Do any of you have favorite characters from books that you have read?  Why don't you send me a note about them and I'll share those with other readers in a later post.  Write to Pelican Pete.

I'll be back soon.  Until then, keep on exploring...

Making Movie Magic

Remember my pal, Keaton Bicknell?  He’s 11 years old and going to be the youngest screenwriter in the world making a movie. That’s so cool!  The movie includes me and the job I have helping you to get to know about nature.
 
Here’s an update on what’s been happening.

January 11, 2009 was one exciting day! Before the sun came up people started arriving at my home in Crescent Beach, Florida–Pelican Perch. There were cameramen, a soundman, grips (they “grip,” move, and set up the equipment), electricians, a gaffer (head electrician), editors, set dressers, wardrobe and makeup people, photographers, caterers, craft service (snack and drink servers), producers, directors, crew, assistants, actors, extras, and parents of the kids. 

I never realized how many people and how much stuff it takes to make a movie!

 It was some big group—like me and my pelican buddies when we gather on sandbars. All the crew were Keaton's buddies who came to help him out. Don't you feel good when you help your friends?

Keaton was the director and most important person in the movie crew. He is one amazing boy! He knows all about making movies. He was able to talk to all the crew about their equipment and what it takes to do their jobs. When he was directing, I heard him yell ”action” and “cut.” Keaton has autism, but that doesn’t let it stop him.

The whole Bicknell family was part of the action. Keaton’s sister Samantha is a photographer, dad Stuart was the camerman, his mom Pam headed craft service, and his grandma, Claire Fredette, was the actress who played the movie Grandma.

My family took part in the action too. Hugh Keiser, my illustrator, was the actor playing the movie grandpa. Frances Keiser, who writes my Pelican Pete books, was helping out wherever she was needed, and team members Jennifer Sellars and Kathy Shea helped out too.

Cameron Sparks and Maggie Widener were the actors playing the boy and girl in the movie. They were awesome! I can’t wait until you see them—and my movie. I’ll send you more information on that as soon as I know more.

 

 

 

Until next time, as Keaton would say,

“That’s a wrap!”

Lights, Camera, Action

What a great story on the front page of the St. Augustine Record today! It's all about 11-year old Keaton Bicknell who wants to become the youngest screenwriter in the world. And he's starting off by writing a screenplay based on my book, "Pelican Pete: A Bird Is Born." 

Isn't that the coolest thing you ever heard? There's a whole long story all about it in the paper and you can see it for yourself at this page on-line or, if you're in the St. Augustine area, you can pick up a copy of the newspaper.

There are a couple of neat pictures in the newspaper as well including one of Hugh Keiser with Keaton. Keaton made a special trip to the Florida Heritage Book Festival a couple of months ago so that he could meet Hugh and Fran. Keaton loves the Pelican Pete books and wants to not only write a screenplay but he is getting help from some very special friends and family to actually turn his screenplay into a film.

Keaton's father, Stuart Bicknell has been working in the film business for years. He's a gaffer. That's a person who does electrical and lighting work for movies.

Another person working to make this happen was the lead animator for Walt Disney's feature film, "Lilo & Stitch" and his name is Dominic Carola. And there is even a production company from Orlando involved, "Best Friend Films."  The co-owner, Kevin Lang, has tons of experience making movies so this should be really good.

There is even going to be a casting call at the Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine on Dec. 20th. Just like Hollywood!!

Keaton is a boy with special needs. He was diagnosed with autism when he was only 2. (There's a lot more information in the newspaper article about autism.) But Keaton hasn't let that stop him. He has a dream and he's going for it!

Keaton and his sister Samantha spent some time this summer at a film camp where he learned more about making movies. It was sponsored by the HEAL Foundation (Healing Every Autistic Life). The director of the camp is John Travolta's brother, Joey Travolta. You can read more about it at the link above.

If you have any questions about the book or the film, drop me a note.  Tell me about your dreams too. My dream for this year is to explore new habitats and tell you about them. That, and being a movie star!  Send your notes to: Pete's Mail Bag

I'll be back real soon to show you a neat picture of a centipede.  Do you know what that is? 

Keep on discovering and exploring the outdoors!