Clarkston was privy to the exciting world of film making on July 12, when film company M.V.P Collaborative of Madison Height shot a docummercial for OnStar at 7925 Foster Road.
Producer Kimberly Carmichael of M.V.P said ‘We are shooting a reenactment of a Good Samaritan subscriber that witnessed an accident and then pressed the OnStar button and saved a mother, son and daughter in Brazil, Indiana,? she explained.
Clarkston resident and OnStar Advertising Manager Tim Conner said this is the third in a series of OnStar commercials that is dubbed documercials. He said a 30’second commercial is not enough time to translate all the OnStar features. The documercial ‘Helping Hands? is a 30’minute film that will air Saturdays starting in September, between 6 – 8 p.m. The Dateline-type format is hosted by John Tesh and will play in 48 major cities across the U.S.
The filming began with a 97? Volkswagen Jetta placed on its side in a gully against a tree on Foster Road. Fake smoke created by a fire extinguisher set the ambiance. The director said action and volunteer actor Kim Tanielian, of Clarkston, started yelling for help.
A Good Samaritan played by actor Tim Jacob, of Pontiac, rushed to help Tanielian from the car and then rushed back to save her children played by Stephanie Tanielian, 5, and Owen Tanielian, 18 months.
Independence Twp. Fire and Rescue personnel waited patiently for the director to give the cue for the ambulance, while the Oakland County Sheriff Department directed traffic between takes.
‘We were motivated to get a shoot out here because so many of the cast and crew are from Clarkston. It was great to work with everybody and it was great to work close to home. If the right situation came up we would to it again in a heart beat,? said Carmichael.
Tanielian, a mother of six, became involved because her children fit the profile and Carmichael is a friend. She said the experience was fun.
‘It is always nice to do something different and my kids were involved,? said Tanielian. She said running up the hill was a breeze compared to being a stay at home mom.
‘It was interesting how they put the whole thing together. It was kind of awkward at first because I hadn’t done it before, but it was a lot of fun,? said Tanielian.
She said Stephanie took time to warm up to acting, but once she did, she had a lot of fun. Every time Kim was pulled from the car Owen cried, playing his part well.
Other crew members from the Clarkston area included: Carmichael; On Director of Photography Rodney Johnson; and staging technician Mike Gifford. Soundman Todd Andress is from Davisburg and Director Jeff Kirk is from Gross Point. Actors from the Talent Shop are Tim Jacobs and Francenia Debreczeny from Sylvan Lake.