Cooooeeeee! Joe and Petunia are back!
…. but this time in a dynamic present-day setting.
The first Joe
and Petunia public information film was released in 1968 to tell members of the
public that they could reach the Coastguard by calling 999, so this year we are
celebrating 50 years of being part of the 999 network. If you’re too young to
remember J&P back in their heyday, check them out:
This Thursday (24 May) we’ll be launching our present-day Joe and Petunia film. It
showcases a modern version of the original 60s storyline, complete with dinghy
(or dinjy!) sailor and contemporary Petunia.
Of course we
couldn’t release a J&P film without the cartoon characters themselves so
they both have cameo roles; the 2018 version stars Joe in his cartoon version
and Petunia (present-day actor and sixties voice). The dinghy sailor also has a
starring role, although only in his 2018 version. All of the modern-day actors
are Coastguard or RNLI volunteers or staff and the new film squeezes a
Coastguard operations room, a cliff scene with Coastguard and Petunia and an
at-sea scene with the Coastguard helicopter, RNLI lifeboat and dinghy sailor
into its 40 seconds.
The footage for
our new film was shot off the White Cliffs of Dover back in February during the
couple of days that it wasn’t pouring it down with rain, blowing a hooley or
feet deep in snow. Our coastguard rescue officers and staff did a fantastic job
of playing the various roles and our friends at the RNLI provided a lifeboat
and full crew to complete the at-sea scene. We’d like to say a special thank
you to the Dover Sea Sports Centre who provided us with a boat to use as a
filming platform and a loan dinghy.