‘Click it or Ticket’

Multi-jurisdictional law enforcement officers from across Alabama fill the background as two officers, Damon Summers and Denise Ingram, approach the camera and warn a TV audience, “In Alabama, if you don’t click it … you are going to get a ticket!“

The scene was set Tuesday morning as the Auburn University Office of Information Technology Media Production Group started capturing part of the next statewide “Click It or Ticket” TV spot expected to start airing in mid-May.

Aided by a bullhorn, producer/director Tom C. Lenard issued the order to “Stand by … action!“ again and again on Tuesday as the scene was repeated and filmed.

The images were captured by videographer Jessamyn Saxon, who was aided by grip Danny Clark. Also serving on the crew were Robert A. Dean and Dan Dean.

Along with Alabama State Troopers, officers represented a number of cities and counties: Eclectic, Selma, Opelika, Auburn, Lee County, Montgomery County, Shorter, Tallassee, Prattville and Wetumpka.

The on-camera talent were Alabama State Trooper Sgt. Damon Summers and Lee County Sheriff Deputy Denise Ingram.

The spots are sponsored by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Adminstration, Lenard explained as the crew set up equipment.

Working in the parking lot of the Alabama National Guard building on East University Drive, he had the officers working a mock-up “Click It or Ticket” seat belt check point as they normally would as a couple of officers spoke on the camera about the statistics of how many people are killed by not wearing seat belts.

“People are five times more likely to die if they are not restrained in an accident,“ he said. “So the campaign is to get folks aware again about wearing their seatbelts and realize it can save lives.“

The Auburn crew left Auburn headed to Gadsden to work into the night on another part of the production.

“The first part of the spot will focus on Jerry ‘Boogie’ McCain, who is an Alabama blues legend,“ Lenard explained. “Last July he was in a serious automobile accident up in Gadsden. He just so happened to have his seatbelt on which saved his life.“

The musical scene with McCain will be filmed there in a recording studio and at the local arts center in the evening. Post production, editing and duplication will take place at the Media Production Group Avid Edit Suite Thursday and Friday.