Filmmakers Hope Kids Give a Hoot about Owls
April 3, 2006By ELIZABETH BAIER
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE - Deco Drive was there. So were a dozen local television stations and the National Wildlife Federation.
It looked like the opening of a blockbuster, but instead it was the worldwide premiere of Hoot, a mystery adventure based on a children's book, Sunday afternoon at the Sunrise Las Olas Cinema.
Singer Jimmy Buffett, Seabiscuit producer Frank Marshall and Walden Media produced the movie, based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery Honor-winning book.
Buffett, who lives in Palm Beach, and Hiaasen, the Florida Keys resident and Miami Herald columnist, shared the red carpet in Fort Lauderdale with the movie's younger actors, Logan Lerman, Cody Linley and Brie Larson.
Hoot is the story of Roy Eberhardt, a Montana boy who moves to Florida and unearths a threat to a local population of endangered owls.
Eberhardt, played by Lerman, is determined to protect his new home and its environment. With the help of friends he takes on greedy land developers, corrupt politicians and clueless cops in a fight to prevent the adults from making a big mistake.
Buffett regaled a long line of reporters with quotes on the importance of protecting the environment.
Hiaasen, who wrote the book in 2004, said he hopes the movie motivates kids to take care of their environment.
"I really don't think you can preach to kids," Hiaasen said. "If you show them about the endangered animals, they'll get the message."
Hoot opens in theaters nationwide on May 5.
