BENJI: OFF THE LEASH RACES INTO DALLAS FOR SPECIAL BENEFIT SNEAK PREVIEW

Joe Camp’s Brand-new Benji Movie returns to its Texas Roots as an Early Delight for Audiences to Benefit Dallas’ Operation Kindness

Phoenix, AZ – April 19, 2004 – Today Mulberry Square Productions announced a special sneak preview of the highly anticipated new movie, Benji Off The Leash! to be held in Dallas May 6th, as a special benefit for the animal rescue shelter, Operation Kindness.

Benji Off The Leash is from original Benji creator, writer, and director, Joe Camp. The new movie stars the brand-new Benji, recently discovered in a Mississippi animal shelter. According to exit polls from test market showings, 97% of audiences polled from all theaters, across all age brackets, loved the movie and declared it would be recommended to family and friends. “That’s an unbelievable number for this industry,” said Camp. “You spend years trying to put something really special together for audiences, but you never really know until they see it. It’s an incredible feeling to know that you’ve connected with something positive and memorable.” Exit polls showed kids loved the movie because it was funny – a first for Benji films – and adults loved the power of the story.

The benefit Sneak Preview for Dallas' Operation Kindness takes place almost four months prior to the film’s opening on August 27th. The sneak will be held on Thursday evening, May 6th, 7 pm at the Cinemark Tinseltown in Plano, Texas. Benji and Joe Camp will fly into Dallas to attend the event, as well as a Meet Benji event for kids on Saturday, May 8th at 9 am at Half-Price Books on Northwest Highway in Dallas.

Dallas Connection
You might call Benji’s return to Dallas a homecoming. The original Benji was created and filmed in and around Dallas. At the time, Mulberry Square Production offices were in the Northpark area off Central Expressway. The first two Benji movies were distributed worldwide from the same offices.

Joe Camp, director of Benji: Off The Leash says, “With so much Benji history in the city we’re thrilled to offer this Sneak Preview to Dallas. I’m especially proud of this movie and we’re excited about the prospect of raising lots of money for Operation Kindness.” One of Benji’s first priorities after finishing promotional duties for the film in September will be attention to the new Benji’s Buddies non-profit foundation dedicated to measurably raising the level of pet adoptions from shelters all across the country. The original Benji was also adopted from a shelter and according to the American Humane, more than one million pets were adopted around the nation because of that fact.

About Operat ion Kindness
Founded in 1976, Operation Kindness is the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The nonprofit organization cares for an average of 150-200 animals on a day-to-day basis, with another 60-80 animals in foster homes. More than 2,300 dogs and cats are adopted from Operation Kindness each year.

About Benji Movies
Benji movies have become classics around the world with kids and parents alike. More than 71,000,000 people have watched Benji movies in theaters, over half 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.

For information about the Sneak Preview, please contact Jonnie England at Operation Kindness: 972-418-7297, ext 226.

For more information about Benji and the movie, visit the Benji website at www.Benji.com.