Reel Dogs at the Genesis Awards

The Humane Society of the United States contacted me last year to ask if I would create a video tribute to dogs in movies to be shown at the 24th annual Genesis Awards in Beverly Hills. The video featured a variety of clips from old and rare, to very well known and modern films. From Rescued by Rover and A Dog's Life with Charlie Chaplin, to Hotel for Dogs and A Dog Named Christmas (both of which won Genesis Awards this year). To learn more about this year's awards, and see who won, go here.

I attended the awards on March 20 at The Beverly Hilton and shot some behind the scenes video and photos. The book, Wonder Dogs, was featured in the Genesis celebrity gift bags, and all 850-odd guests took home a Wonder Dogs bookmark in their bags. Lindy Gravelle's song, I Love My Dog, was featured in the video, which received oohs and eager applause from the star-studded audience.

Among the celebrity guests and speakers in attendance were Teri Hatcher, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Antonio Banderas, Ginnifer Goodwin, Tricia Helfer, Jon Lovitz, Moby, Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith, and Nubs, the dog rescued from Iraq by Major Brian Dennis. I got to meet Nubs, canine hero of the book Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle, and handler, Major Dennis, who told me Nubs' story has been optioned for a feature film and a script has been written by Justin Zackham. The project is currently titled Nubs and has yet to begin production.

The Genesis Awards will be shown on Animal Planet on April 24th and 25th and the HSUS also offers it for sale on their website once production on the DVD is complete.

Below is the Reel Dogs behind the scenes Genesis video.

Some Genesis winners this year:

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 8

This Alaskan Husky waits for a race to get underway in

Toby McTeague (1986).

A pair of Doberman Pinschers play for the bad guys in

The Brothers Grimm (2005).

An Australian Cattle Dog keeps his eye on the flock in

1915 (1982), a TV mini-series.

Wonder Dogs

Great news for Wonder Dogs this month!

It was reviewed on the Seattle Kennel Club website. ~ “Wonder Dogs” packs a bite and a can-do spirit while serving as an impassioned homage to one breed’s incredible run of powerful – and entertaining – performances. ~ You can see the full review Here.

Dogwise has also picked up the book and it's now available on their website. They will have Wonder Dogs for sale at their booth for the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show on March 13th and 14th. With a book signing on Sunday the 14th!

Upcoming Dog Stars

There are three huge-budget feature films about dogs coming to theaters this year—all involve talking dogs and two are sequels to previously big dog films.

The first is Marmaduke, coming out in June, based on the classic newspaper comic by Brad Anderson, and following the misadventures of a Great Dane and his family. Though it was originally under consideration to have the dog be fully CGI, such as the Scooby-Doo films, Marmaduke is played by a very real fawn Great Dane in the film. His voice is provided, with CGI aid, by Owen Wilson.

Next is Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, coming out in July. This sequel to 2001's Cats & Dogs again features an Anatolian Shepherd, Chinese Crested, Bloodhound, and other returning breeds, but the main canine hero, formerly a Beagle, has been replaced by a German Shepherd Dog.

The release date has yet to be set for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, which is still filming. Some of the original canine cast returns, including Angel and Samson, as Disney puts together yet another enormously ambitious animal film.