THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160225
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
PAUL PEARSON and Vince Deur spend their days with ``The Pigman,'' ``Chef Boy R.V.,'' ``Mr. Sandsman'' and dozens of other wacky characters in the field of local television advertising.
Both men create, write, produce, tape and sometimes act in the local commercials that pop up on CNN, MTV, ESPN and a half-dozen other cable channels.
Pearson is a graduate of Boston Conservatory with a degree in music. He played saxophone in a jazz band after graduation. But the travel grew old.
So Pearson took a crash course in television production. He found work as a independent writer-producer. For the next several years, he produced or wrote training films, commercials and children's programming.
From Boston it was to Phoenix, Ariz., to work as a documentary film maker.
One of the programs Pearson produced was ``Desert House,'' a 30-minute documentary aimed at keeping children safe in the world. After three years in Phoenix, the situation in Nags Head presented itself.
``I had visited here for years, and it seemed like a great opportunity and a chance for a stable lifestyle,'' he said.
Deur has a degree in mass communications from Northern Michigan University. He minored in film. Deur worked in promotions at a TV station in Marquette for a year. He left Michigan to work at a Vacation Channel in Colorado. Deur joined Falcon Cable last year.
While their wacky television ads receive the most attention, Deur and Pearson also produce the longer real estate, recreation and restaurant features seen on TV 12, the Vacation Channel.
The longer features take two to four weeks to complete. Each element of the production - filming, sound, splicing, editing - is done by Pearson and Deur.
The drop-in ads are different. Each client's needs are discussed. Then the creative work starts. Some clients, such as The Pigman, Mr. Sandsman and R.V. like ``high-impact'' advertising. These ads are intended to make the viewer remember something outrageous.
Warren ``Mr. Sandsman'' Judge, Bill ``The Pigman'' Schaffer and R.V. Owens appear onscreen in some unusual settings. All three men, according to Pearson, ``don't take themselves too seriously.''
``They realize that the commercials work for them,'' says Pearson.
Even the shorter commercials take two weeks to complete. Pearson and Deur work with each client for a concept. Once the concept is agreed on, the production begins. Most of the taping is done on location. The rough cut is edited in the control room in the Falcon Cable building in Nags Head.
``We really work on visual image,'' says Deur, who does most of the actual camera work. ``We use Beta now, so the final product is crisper, cleaner and has better color.''
Once the editing is complete, the voice and music tracks are added. Most of the voice-over work is done by freelancers, although Deur and Pearson both provide some narration.
Greg Tahtinen, a local musician who's played with The Gregs and The Elevators, works for two days, on average, to create or rearrange the background music. That's Greg's voice and playing in the Pigman's latest ``family tradition'' commercial. Greg also appears on camera in the Awful Arthur's ad. Greg is the one running through the wild on his way to Awful Arthur's.
``It was a kick to do the on-camera thing,'' says Tahtinen. ``People are always asking about my shoe.'' His character in the commercial is seen running without a shoe.
Now, for the technical question: How is it possible to get Mr. Sandsman, The Pigman and R.V. next to Larry King on CNN?
Pearson and Deur explain to me that the commercials are on master reels at ``head-end'' locations in Manteo, Corolla and Waves. When Larry King breaks, a tone is fed by satellite to each unit on the Outer Banks. That tone activates a tape machine which plays the commercials in the time allowed.
What's next for the creative team at Falcon Cable?
``We're working on a number of projects,'' says Pearson. ``We'd like to do more programming for the community. Another idea is highlighting the local environment.''
``We're striving to create quality programming, whether it's a commercial or a full-length show,'' adds Deur. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Vince Deur works on an ad that he is creating for another client
that will air on Falcon Cable and the Vacation Channel.
by CNB