PR: What Not to Do: Release Wishful Thinking

This is, perhaps, one of the oddest press releases I’ve ever seen, since it basically says “we’re talking and we hope we get to do this”. Tomorrow, I’m putting out a press release that says I hope I can get Adam Hughes to draw a script I’m writing.

From Ape Entertainment:

Ape Entertainment hopes to set up shop on Sesame Street!

Ape Entertainment announced today that it is currently negotiating with Sesame Workshop for the right to produce a series of comic books featuring the cast of the beloved children’s show Sesame Street.

Ape Entertainment hopes to work with Sesame Workshop to create a series of comic books that will be both educational and entertaining for young readers. Subject to successful negotiations, the comics will be produced in full color and available in printed editions as well as in digital editions that will be available through the Sesame Street store on Apple’s iTunes in 2012.

This is what happens when it’s convention time and the deal hasn’t been finalized yet. However, there’s a huge potential downside if the deal doesn’t work out, especially if the potential partner doesn’t like the idea of you going public too early.

Thank goodness not everyone puts out a press release whenever they simply have a conversation about a potential project, or we’d all be swamped by the email.