On The Set - ShopNBC Security Guard Vacation Spot

In July of 2006 I shot another spot for ShopNBC's cross-channel advertising campaign. This was the third time I played the hapless security guard who's been bored out of his mind since everyone abandoned the mall in favor of ShopNBC.

The concept this go-round was that Bob the rent-a-cop decided there was only one thing he could do: go on vacation! The challenge was to make a beach in Minneapolis look like the tropics.

We shot a lot of high angles because most of the water, trees, and grass in Bryant Lake Park does not resemble the Bahamas.

The final shot of the day involved burying me up to my neck in sand. The delicate job of piling a hundred pounds of dirt on my chest was entrusted to the summer intern.

No worries, no worries at all. What year are you in college again?

Andy the director tries to ensure that I get the proper amount of dust in my face. (Why bother with that expensive powder to keep the shine down?)

This is called 'set dressing' or 'prepping the victim for the introduction of fire ants.'

Shooting the spot. Unfortunately, that coconut contains no rum.