F.A. Peabody revisits past for new commercial

Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/David Bates
ACTION — Mike Fawcett, right, videographer gets Samuel Ellis, John Thatcher and Joshua Sutton of Houlton Star Bright Children’s Theatre ready to shoot the newest F.A. Peabody Company “Things Happen” commercial.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Three weeks ago in Littleton, videographer Mike Fawcett transformed an area in Max Lynds’ garage into a mini-studio for a unique collaboration between Houlton Star Bright Children’s Theatre and F.A. Peabody Company.
    “Mike and I believed the commercial could be performed locally and after attending the ‘Allagash Haunting,’ by the Houlton Star Bright Children’s Theatre, it seemed that was an excellent resource,” Gregg Swallow of F.A. Peabody explained.
    With three young actors from Houlton Star Bright Children’s Theatre, Fawcett recreated a 1964 commercial.
    “Houlton Star bright Children’s Theatre was pleased to be approached by F.A. Peabody to participate in this commercial, as we are always looking for different types of acting experiences for our members,” said Barbara Hogan, president of Houlton Star bright Children’s Theatre. “We also love the chance to let the community see how talented our children are and a television commercial certainly reaches into the community and beyond.”
    The commercial features one of the top toys being marketed, the battery-operated Battlewagon, a mighty warship and pride of the fleet. The commercial pans to each of the five boys trying out the features such as the jets, torpedoes, rockets and guns.
    F.A. Peabody Company came up with using this commercial to feature their theme “Things Happen.”
    With the background set and the lights in position, Fawcett began the taping of the commercial, which shows three boys playing with a battleship when a missile goes off and crashes through a window. The scene is shot in black and white for a nostalgic effect.
    “The commercial has a type of unexpected ending,” said Swallow. “It starts as a vintage toy commercial and ends as an insurance-related commercial for FAPCO. I believe it draws attention well. It should be memorable.”
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/David Bates
READY — Videographer Mike Fawcett, left, points to Gregg Swallow, who is helping Sam Ellis get ready for the shooting of the FAPCO “Things Happen” commercial.
    Hogan added, “Although this particular project didn’t include a lot of children, it did allow a few to see how commercials are made and to explore first-hand the differences between a filmed presentation and a live stage performance.”
    The unique part of the commercial is it is locally videotaped with area actors and it will be shown just as it was in 1964, with the exception that today’s commercial is 30 seconds whereas the original was one minute. The actors are Samuel Ellis, John Thatcher and Joshua Sutton of the Children’s Star Bright Theater.
    “Our three boys were very excited to be asked to participate,” said Hogan. “We studied the original commercial and the script outline given to us by Mike and Gregg in preparation for the filming session.”
    The boys learned that it took almost three hours to shoot just their part of a 30-second spot.
    “I think everyone involved in the filming that day will agree that John, Josh and Sam, took the project very seriously and worked hard to get the results that Gregg and Mike were looking for,” Hogan said. “I am so proud of them and feel that they represented Houlton Star Bright Children’s Theatre well.”
    The commercial will be aired later this year on television stations throughout central and northern Maine.
    “It will be shown in black and white as was the original Battlewagon commercial,” added Swallow. “If it goes as planned, we may use the general theme again in the future.”
    The filming took less than a day, but the script, planning, editing and so forth takes longer to complete. Fawcett’s production company, “The Idea Factory” is based in Bancroft.
    “We would certainly consider using local people again,” Swallow said. “Sometimes finding the right person for certain spots is difficult.”