Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 19, 2009 at 09:49:41:
New Olympics commercial to feature local celebs
August 19, 2009
BY LEWIS LAZARE | Sun-Times Media & Marketing Columnist
The Chicago 2016 Committee hopes to rev up some last-minute excitement for the city's 2016 Olympic bid when a new music video-style TV commercial debuts next month featuring an array of local celebrities.
Furniture titan Tim Smithe of the Walter E. Smithe furniture company is producing the video, which will be shot Aug. 26 in Millennium Park around the famous Bean sculpture. Celebs expected to participate include baseball managers Ozzie Guillen of the White Sox and Lou Piniella of the Cubs, and Bears football coach Lovie Smith. Others being courted include Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and radio personalities Steve Dahl, Garry Meier and Jonathan Brandmeier.
Poi Dog Pondering composed the dance music that will underscore a montage of celebrities using sign language to spell out the numbers "2016" and declaring that they back the bid..
The video/TV commercial also is intended to pump up the Chicago 2016 contingent that will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the final pitch to the International Olympic Committee, which will vote on the 2016 Summer Games host city on Oct. 2. Chicago is competing with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo.