AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A small film with a big smile is inspiring people everywhere.
A local artist created the “happy robot” that is plastered across Augusta and now the “happy campaign” is getting its own feature film.
After months of filming the long-awaited trailer was released and the first shot of the tease was Downtown Augusta.
“Happiness is where you find it.” Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman told WJBF NewsChannel 6. “Even when you’re not expecting it and sometimes there it is.”
Last election year “Porkchop” says he saw all-kinds of advertisements for presidential candidates and from a simple thought he started a movement far bigger than he ever imagined. “It’s not driven by money. It’s not driven by fame,” said Sandie Crowley, in the trailer video.
“If I could advertise one thing and what would it be,” said Zimmerman, “and how would I condense it into its simplest form? It was like, I just want to make people smile. So, I put out a smiling face that said happy.”
He says he went through many life-changing events and in the black-and-yellow robot he found a symbol that stood for overcoming life’s challenges.
“A friend of mine who had stage 4 breast cancer. She put it on her chemo bags to help her power through it,” Zimmerman said.
If you’ve spent any time in Augusta it’s hard to miss the “happy robot.”
Zimmerman says he gets pictures of the iconic little yellow smile from all over the world.
Now that the movie, based on his life, is premiering soon the humble artist says it almost seems surreal. “Something that simple has affected a lot of people positively in their lives,” he told WJBF NewsChannel 6.
The whole film was shot in Georgia, but the visual journey begins in Zimmerman’s hometown. Where his desire to share sunshine was supported by his community from the start.
“I’m from Augusta. I’m very proud of where I come from,” he said.
The Happy Documentary’s world premier will be at the Imperial Theatre on Saturday, July 16th at 7 p.m.
You can buy tickets online and watch the full trailer at HappyDocMovie.com
