Everyone who has come into Planet Yogurt in the seven months we’ve been open knows I play the Israeli President in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and which is, as of this writing, still the number one movie on the planet and has grossed over $250 Million… and climbing. (Yeah baby!)
So… though I pondered the question two months ago: How does Planet Yogurt figure into my career as a working actor? An event happened just last month that surprised even me.
I was invited to Rio Vista Elementary School for Career Day. An opportunity to chat with several hundred school kids about Planet Yogurt? Of course! And G.I. Joe: Retaliation? Absolutely! I made up several hundred flyers: Planet Yogurt info on one side and a set-shot from G.I. Joe on the other with a little blurb about my recent N.C.I.S.
I met a special agent from the FBI, a personal trainer, quite a few firefighters (in full regalia) and a slew of L.A. County sheriff’s deputies. There may have been other careers represented, but those were the only ones within my view most of the day. And of course me with my blue Planet Yogurt t-shirt on, and my flyers.
The first group of kids arrived. On a large dry erase board I wrote: Robert Catrini… Planet Yogurt. Next to it: G.I. Joe: Retaliation “Israeli President”, ”voiceover actor.” I passed out flyers and explained all about Planet Yogurt. But when the kids read the G.I. Joe side, and voiceover actor… hands flew up and questions poured in. It was fast-paced, fielding questions about the movie and what does a “voiceover” actor do, etc. Then we got into dialects, and requests to give examples of various dialects I do. They were fascinated. When the buzzer sounded, hands flew up again for autographs! What? Who? Me? Autographs? Huh? The teachers nodded ‘okay’ and suddenly several dozen kids queued up and I’m signing flyers as fast as I can. And sneakers. And T-shirts. And apparently word got around because every group coming in knew all about the dialects and G.I. Joe!
In between, I saw some of the other career presentations… and from what I saw, unless I miss my guess, there was only one ‘career’ that day that had dozens of kids lined up for autographs. (Hint: the guy in the blue Planet Yogurt shirt). And I have to admit, that was pretty cool.
Planet Yogurt is located in the Pavilions Shopping Plaza near Tilly’s. For more information, please call 661-254-2471.