The Midwest premiere of the new movie, “Walt Before Mickey” will be held at the Logan Luxury Theatres in Mitchell.
The producers of the film, Armando Gutierrez and Arthur L. Bernstein, will be at all three locations for the festivities. The film will show at all three theaters for one week, Aug. 28 to Sept. 3.
The premiere showing will be Aug. 28 at the Luxury 5 Cinemas in Mitchell. The Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship will host the producers at a question and answer open forum for students and interested community members at 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell at Java City in the McGovern Library. The session will be moderated by Ryan Van Zee, director of the Kelly Center.
The producers will arrive at the theater about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28 for the Red Carpet Premiere Showing, where Mayor Jerry Toomey will present the official welcome to the producers. There will be a short question and answer session following the 7 p.m. showing and preceding the 9:35 p.m. showing. The public is invited to all showings.
Gutierrez has also produced “Henry and Me” starring Richard Gere and “Ask Me Anything” starring Britt Robertson.
Bernstein is an actor and award-winning filmmaker who has produced movies, TV shows and commercials. He previously worked with Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison productions and with Burt Reynolds.
Logan Luxury Theatres Corporation President Jeff Logan first met the producing partners at the Cinemacon Convention two years ago. Logan worked with them over the past year to develop the plan for the Midwest premiere.
“Walt Before Mickey” stars Jon Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite” and “Blades of Glory”) as Roy Disney. Jodie Sweetin (from TV’s “Full House”) plays Walt’s young bride, Charlotte. Thomas Ian Nicholas (“Rookie of the Year” and “American Pie”) plays the young Walt Disney. David Henrie (“Mall Cop 2” and “Wizard of Waverly”) plays artist Rudy Ising.
Few people realize the struggles and failures Disney went through before finding financial success when he created Mickey Mouse. Disney assembled a team of animators who would lead animation for Disney and other studios for the next four decades. It is an inspirational story of a young man’s vision and fight to succeed despite obstacles and unfair treatment by larger companies. The producers, Gutierrez and Bernstein, also took roles in the film.
A special advance showing will be held Aug. 27 at the Dells theater in Dell Rapids and premiere festivities will also be held Aug. 29 at the Huron Luxury Cinemas in Huron.
