Reality TV Coming to St. Augustine
June 30, 2009
Jay Humphreys, VCB Communications Director
The VCB’s Communications Department frequently provides assistance to television and film producers who find St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches has just the right locations and that “hard-to-define” quality known as “charm” that is so much in demand. We also help them with the less-than-glamorous task of getting film permits from a sometimes bewildering array of agencies – federal, state, county and city. Our purpose, of course, is to get film production companies to spend money here and to get the beauty of our destination seen by millions. Although we don’t currently have a blockbuster cinematic epic in the making here, we do have several “reality” TV shows coming to our area. Here are some previews:
MAKING OVER AMERICA (film date: mid-July)
Trinny and Susannah, the stars of the extremely popular BBC production What Not to Wear, will soon be arriving here to feature a local woman in the Americanized version of their show. Produced by ABC Media Group and broadcast on the TLC network, Making Over America follows the daily life of a hardworking woman with fashion “challenges” who needs help because of an upcoming event in her life. To better understand their subject’s needs, the British fashionistas immerse themselves in her life – they work at her job, explore her hometown and get involved in the local community. The VCB found eight women involved in tourism to audition for the televised makeover and the producers found just the woman they needed in St. Augustine. In addition to the enthusiasm of the women who auditioned for the show, the producer said they selected St. Augustine because it is the “quintessential American town”.
Here’s a commercial for the British version of the show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyVibiV-uUQ
and one of Trinny and Susannah’s famous Littlewood’s adverts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS5sRncPZhA&feature=related
DONNAADVENTURA (film date: August 30-31)
One of Italy’s most popular television programs, Donnaadventura takes a group of young women around the world in search of outdoor adventures. More than 50,000 women auditioned for the show –but only six were chosen. Each season, the women explore a different part of the world. This year, they are traveling from the Caribbean up the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada with a final stop in Nova Scotia. St. Augustine has been selected as a featured destination! The show highlights the attractions of each destination and even includes suggestions on restaurants and things to do. Each day, the women record their adventures and their impressions of the locale. Their comments are wildly popular both on the show and on their internet site. The VCB Communications Department is coordinating their visit and arranging the adventures – including nighttime kayaking, a race to the top of the Lighthouse and lots of other opportunities for showcasing the destination. This is a major international opportunity reaching millions of viewers. To see what Donnaadventura is all about, go to:
http://donnavventura.com/eng/video_evidenza.asp?id=1
MISS BETTY’S STORY OF AMERICA (film date October 2009 and March 2010)
This award-winning history series features Miss Betty, a colorful tour guide, who takes viewers for an unusual look at historical cities throughout the United States. Her show is a mixture of laughs and learning that gives viewers a greater understanding and appreciation of the nation’s history. The pilot for the series featured George Washington’s Home Town: Alexandria, Virginia. Work on the next 13 episodes in the series is now underway, including the story of St. Augustine. So far, the VCB Communications Department has answered questions, hosted the producers, found historians to help and suggested numerous feature stories for inclusion in what will undoubtedly become an extremely popular program. The producers have hired a local film crew to document major events over the next several months. In March, Miss Betty will be here for the final filming of the St. Augustine story. In addition to the TV program, the show will feature an interactive website, teacher guides and a wealth of information about our history. For more details, go to:
http://www.rectorrobertsproductions.com/Miss%20Betty/missbetty’sstory.html
