From the London Free Press:
Val Petrov of Red Cat Film of London sets up for an interview with Alan Smith, head of economic development for Elgin County, as part of a day-long county-wide video blitz for the Fox News program Today in America hosted by Terry Bradshaw. The five-minute segment is set to air in Canada and the U.S. in six to eight weeks.
Elgin County is ready for its closeup
Is shining a spotlight on the community, but viewers won’t see much of St. Thomas in the five-minute segment
QMI Agency ST. THOMAS — A video segment showcasing Elgin County for Fox News in the United States is now in the can.
But don’t expect to see Jumbo or much from St. Thomas — it’s a county-only project.
That’s after a London-based film company joined county staffers for an all-day, countywide blitz Tuesday to produce a five-minute segment for the Fox program Today in America, hosted by former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
In six to eight weeks, the segment is to air on Fox News, on Home and Garden Television (HGTV) in Canada and on 16 regional stations in the U.S. and Canada.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity to showcase Elgin County south of the border, and not just in the U.S. but within Canada as well,” said Kate Burns, the county’s economic development and tourism assistant.
“It’s incredible that they found us. One of the producers found our website, Progressive By Nature, they searched energy and the environment, and renewable energy and technology. And we turned up.”
Earlier this year, Elgin County Council approved $25,000 to pay for broadcast licensing and rights for the segment.
Fox didn’t send a team from the U.S., but hired Red Cat Film of London for the video shoot.
“They’ve been great to work with,” Burns noted.
The crew started at 7 a.m. in Bayham at Etbo Tool and Die, then it was off to the Integrated Grain Producers Co-operative ethanol plant in Aylmer before heading to Port Stanley and the county-administration building near St. Thomas.
They wrapped up with shoots at Ontario Plant Propagation near Shedden and the Arts and Cookery Bank in West Lorne.
Along the way, the crew grabbed “beauty shots” of Port Burwell, Port Stanley, Aylmer, Port Glasgow and some footage of West Elgin secondary school.
“We’ve been everywhere today,” noted Val Petrov, who shot the segment with his father, Larry Petrov. He said they do all the shooting and interviews, but had some direction from Fox.
“They always tell us what the episode is about, so we get a feel for what the segment should be,” Val Petrov said. He said he knows Elgin fairly well, “but we’re learning more today.”
Exactly when the segment will air hasn’t been determined, Burns said.
