—Original Message—

From: crimson_ocelot@zookeeper.disney.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 2:34 PM

To: mandril@zookeeper.disney.com; magpie@zookeeper.disney.com; hammerhead@zookeeper.disney.com; komodo@zookeeper.disney.com; craftylady9197@aol.com

Subject: Project Airbag

Don't know if anyone is checking their email at this hour, but I had a few thoughts after our meeting this afternoon and wanted to get them down before I forget.

I would like to begin by letting you all know that overall I thought it was a great meeting. It is really incredible to actually feel like another dream is becoming a reality at the Zoo. Good work everyone. Dad would be proud. Now, as you probably expected, I do have a few points I think are worth some immediate consideration.

First, the logistics/physics. We seemed to be pretty divided on the seatbelt vs. no seatbelt issue. While I recognize the impact—no pun intended ;)—of intentionally omitting seatbelts from Airbag, and I appreciated the smart thinking re: the PSA messaging with character tie-ins, I do think the experience will suffer twofold:

1) The physics will be very difficult to match accurately, which will be personally disappointing and, therefore, disappointing for the entire Zoo vis a vis media attention, etc. The forward acceleration will be very difficult to contain within the Imaginvironment constraints of Airbag. There will be an enormous x-factor, including weight differentials in relation to force of projectile, etc. This would be a violation of Directive 17: Unpredictability Remains Fun if Unpredictability is Pre-Meditated.

2) Our arrangement with GM for vehicle provision/corporate co-branding would likely run contrary to a "no seatbelt" agenda. As their identity will feature prominently in the overall branding of Airbag, it would be imprudent to proceed with this agenda. So, let's go ahead with seatbelts. I think we can find a lot of creativity within this model. If we control the point of impact, I see a lot of exciting possibilities within a fixed space.

Just so we're all on board with seatbelts, let me throw out a few other ideas on the subject that didn't come up in the meeting. (Many of these ideas came to me during this evening's rolfing session, actually. Don't squirm, M.—I know the procedure is painful and expensive, but you would be shocked at the instant sense of clarity I receive during these brief weekly appointments. This evening, Helmut rolfed my gumline, which was new, and, I must admit, indescribably painful. A real eye-opener. I am still having difficulty tensing my jaw as I write this...)

OK, here are a couple of ideas—again, assuming we are all comfortable with seatbelts (and we are!)—for POI (Point of Impact for those of you not taking notes—J.! JK, J. I realize Amy's battle with leukemia has been difficult for you and it makes it difficult to concentrate sometimes, or even question the entertainment and educational value of certain unnamed new projects in development at the Zoo. I know it sounds trite, but in times like this try to think about the bigger picture—Circle of Life, etc.).

Double-Rear Seat Impact Release Cartoon Holography—the Filipinos are doing excellent work in the area of holographic imaging and I'm thinking, at POI, both rear seats might lurch forward, pushing their occupants' heads against driver/passenger headrests. Now, at this point, how about time-releasing a holographic swirl of whistling birds or stars or some such thing (Brooms?!)? Think: Mr. Bluebird, only not on your shoulder but around your semi-conscious head. Think: Dancing Hippos. Think: Drew Carey. It would be a nice self-referential touch which, as our terabits of research have proven, the Animals love at the Zoo.

Internal Vehicular Optics and Imaginvironmental Image Projection Screens—I think you all know what I'm driving at here. OK, it's a trick similarly employed in our Splash Mountain funvironment. (It is also used, I believe, in that ride at our sister park, MGM. It's that "terrifying" something or other ride. You know what I'm talking about. They had that "incident" there about 6 months ago with the "unintentional evisceration", etc. etc.) Anyhow, you capture the Animals' reactions at their POI. Photos would make nice Point of Attention Captivity purchases, I imagine. Better than the real thing, etc. I see a high buy-through scenario here with almost zero real opportunity cost. Win-win.

Oh—before I forget, some exciting news. Received a car-fax on the way home this evening with the results of our Celebrity Voice Recognition and Approval user tests for the voice of the nutty drunk vehicle which will "Cool-lide!" with the passenger vehicle. This is, as we all know, the centerpiece of Airbag and could, in my opinion, steer the whole project. Well, the results are what we'd hoped (At least most of us! Again, JK, J. Amy's illness was surely the cause of your somewhat cynical vote for Foster Brooks as the celebrity voice talent. FYI, Mr. Brooks received only a 3% recognition score, which hardly matters since I think he's deceased. But, as I mentioned earlier, I understand. And J: Circle of Life, and such). Anyway, guess what? Robin Williams received a 99% recognition score and a 94% approval rating among those tested!! That's a full 14% higher than Dean Jones and almost 45% higher than Buddy Hackett or Harvey Korman. Looks like Mork's a go!

Finally, based on the team's suggestions, here's my short list of names to explore for the drunk vehicle (I've indicated personal faves with a "*"):

—Boozy Fumes

—T.J. Guzzleworth*

—Clunky McDrunky (fyi—would look great on a Happy Meal box!)***

—Tin Tizzy

—Chitty Chitty Shotglass (not sure about bankability of this franchise, though—did anyone see that movie, anyway? Sincerely, what the christ was dad thinking? JK, dad!!)

—Barfo

—Fender Benderson the Alcoholic Station Wagon

Again, let me say how excited I am about this new project. I believe this is as close as we've come yet to a FMRE—Fully Manipulated Reality Engine. This makes the Hall of Presidents look like the Hall of Dogshit (No offense, dad!) I can easily see this becoming the crown jewel in a complete Trauma Pavilion at the Zoo. Whole Circle of Life thing, etc. In fact, J., since you seem to have some legitimate trauma in your life which might lend inspiration, I'd like you to head up the whole Circle of Life Trauma Pavilion project. I know it's an additional workload during these somewhat difficult times but maybe it's just the thing to cure your case of the "Gloomy Guses." I think we could get Nestlé on board in a second. We'll talk later, etc.

It's getting late and I'm up early to have my cells laser-bombarded with proteins, before my conference call with the Shoah people. It's "jiggie," as our focus groups and field research indicate the kids are saying.

S.W.A.K.,

M.E.

P.S. Will someone please get Ann a company email address. Using the AOL address is prohibitive security-wise, at least until the details of the purchase have been finalized.