Today, through the magic of the internet, we go behind the scenes of the making of a television commercial. Pretty literally, in fact. From here, I can see the back of the guitar player and the man on the stand-up base, picking and grinning from the beds of two pickup trucks.
Pineapple Advertising, a neighbor of McHuston Booksellers with offices above the Main Street Tavern, is behind the production, which has blocked off the street from Commercial to the next intersection.
We’ve got folks out in the street with power washers, shining up the vehicles for the ad, extras are milling around waiting for their cue to queue – so to speak. I overheard someone talking to the supervising police officer.
“I’m running the show here,” said the fellow running the show.
“I’m running you in,” replied the officer. “You need a permit for this stuff.” (Just kidding, that last part.)
Compared to some of the events (like several recent parades) that result in the barricading of Main, this one has had some advance notice. I’ve gotten a couple of email reminders and a pop-in visit from the folks at Economic Development (that’s probably not the correct name for their office, but it seems like that’s what they do). I still forgot until I saw the Road Closed sign go up in front of the Tavern.
It isn’t necessarily good for business here, as parking becomes a premium when the spaces are blocked down the street, but I like the fact that an ad-man wants to use the Rose District as a back drop for a car ad. Even if none of the businesses are visible, it’s nice that Broken Arrow offers the sort of cooperation that will allow the closing of a major street for a film production.
A couple of cars had to divert around the block, but it seems a minor inconvenience to allow the crew to work.
The weather cooperated, sunshine-wise. It’s a little breezy, but no one seems to be complaining.
Yes, I went out and rubbernecked. Sat on the bench in front of the store sipping a sarsaparilla and giving the entire operation the once-over. I call it supervising. Others see it as goofing-off.
Life is good in the fast lane of the book business.