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Jeff Kinney talks about the latest film installment based on his children's book series
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Pull -- out for this summer and in a world of diary of a wimpy kid that can only mean one thing.
-- for -- rally and friends to start getting in and out of trouble on the big screen.
They hit franchise brings its third installment to theaters this Friday with diary of a wimpy kid dog days.
And here to tell us what's in store is a man who created it all.
Series up there and film executive producer Jeff Kinney.
-- guns are you doing good how are you look at things treadmill of course things are being here especially with your busy weekend yes -- -- about the fun and even having promoting this sounds so over the weekend worry guys with the Trenton thunder.
We went to a minor league baseball game in Trenton.
And we were going to do the world's biggest read along but unfortunately had whether.
-- those plans throws a lot of finally got me thousands of kids and -- lots of books and posters.
Yeah quite a few things like that when you have a movie like this yeah great -- let's talk about the film itself let's start from the beginning.
Where this all came from I mean it was a series of online cartoons and now obviously near times children's best seller list.
And I love that there's currently 75 million copies in 37 languages.
Are you -- -- how big this little creation of -- has them.
Yes that's been -- -- the strangest thing in the book came out about five years ago and sit ever since there's been this wild ride not gonna do so many things I never thought I'd get to -- I've got to meet three presidents and travel the world and then I go back to my normal life and -- and -- Massachusetts and and everything sort of settles down.
And when you initially wrote it it was more for adult.
-- like reminiscing about the days of middle school.
That's right I was trying to write one big book that was like installed a piece about childhood that would remind -- way it used to be like when they were kids and then my publisher wisely turn this into a children's series so.
All that time for eight years was working on and I never thought for a second those writing for kids.
Let's not about those -- fans though how did not -- you know I've been any comments may be.
That these stories help them they're medical middle school which -- be -- tougher.
I think it scares them about minutes.
Gentlemen my raiders are elementary school readers and they look at -- gonna say is it really going to be that they had.
But maybe it's a coping mechanism for them they could see themselves and the characters and they can see their own family in the families in the books.
As you continue to write as you -- write these stories having argued try to let some messages an -- to help them cope with everything from the Big Brother to bullies TU.
Dating days.
All work at all of that I don't actually has.
I really like to keep my books sort of message -- free.
I wanna write books that entertain kids and so I'm really going for the humor.
And sometimes I see a moral lesson playing out my books I I tend to run the other way and sort of flip the script because I just want to.
I just want kids to to have a good laugh.
And maybe you'll -- -- -- that reading can be found -- that they'll move on to bigger better reading.
That is a good lesson -- let's talk about Greg.
And how far is -- for part three so what happens in this particular -- of.
In the third film which is called dog days and Craig has the perfect summer vacation planned out.
Where is going to play video games with the shades -- you know in the dark.
And his father has other plans for and so Greg.
Fakes like he gets a summer job and has to keep up this -- until it's finally discovered.
And -- return is who is returning casting -- just about everyone that's been part of the magic of these films is that we've had the same.
Cast -- in the same crew they're out so we've really gotten to become a sort of family.
And in fact this is the first summer that I didn't spend in Vancouver in four years.
You know not working on these films.
It's great I Steve -- plays Greg's dad and I heard he has a bigger role this time around he does and I think that Steve -- we've been sort of holding him back and -- He's a genius in -- he he is so wonderful actor.
Not just comet -- -- dramatic and and so we really get to unleash him in this movie which is big it's a big tree.
We don't want more clip with -- -- let's take a look at that.
-- -- -- -- Yeah you know that's a great idea but.
And yeah.
It.
-- -- Now.
We just didn't come easily and bit.
-- -- -- -- I was gonna wanted to -- with known links into that is sweet.
It's twenty.
Pretty sure they'll -- dad.
Set up their new characters to me that there's -- that are here and everybody you know it depends who's calling -- by the name.
I I want to ask about the book series and I know that there is a book coming out in November attorney what's next.
Yeah -- a book coming out called the third will which explores pre adolescent romance so there's some big school dance and I'm having a lot of fun reading about that.
Great hands your side your other project this online virtual world for kids I think we might have if we could bring it up really quick.
Not pop tropic does that come.
That's right that's I let my day job and went when things aren't going.
On what the movies or or my books I'm I'm working in my day job weren't created this giant online virtual world for kids thought -- includes -- weekend it.
Because I guess we've we've brought the two worlds together.
Grain annually can check that out as well as the Thelma.
Diary of a wimpy kid dog days in theaters this Friday the -- thank you so much thank you nice seeing you don't.
