The 91勛圖 is ready for its close-up.
A University-produced commercial will debut Saturday during ESPN3s broadcast of the Herbert Heymann Football Classic, the first game of the Ragin Cajuns football season. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Cajun Field, but theres no definite time when the 30-second spot will air.
The commercial stars students, student-athletes, faculty and graduates. It rocks to a tune written and performed by the Universitys zydeco ensemble and capitalizes on the campus beauty.
ESPN provides time during the networks game broadcast for the University to promote itself.
The Office of Communications and Marketing began planning the 30-second spot in January. Aim矇e Bullinger Abshire, the Universitys director of web communications, managed the project.
We tried to convey an overall theme of the University we preserve the past, we improve the present, and were innovating the future, she said.
A student-written tune sets the commercials pace. The Zydeco Ragin Steppers, an ensemble affiliated with the Universitys Traditional Music program, recorded the song. The groups student members and coach, musician Nathan Williams Jr., make a cameo as well.
About 40 students and student-athletes participated in the spots creation as cast members and extras.
International student Sofiyat Ibrahim, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, said she couldnt pass up a chance to share her affection for the University with a national audience.
I love UL, and its an awesome opportunity to showcase that, said Ibrahim, a pre-law and public relations double major.
Aaron Martin, UL Lafayettes chief communications officer, called the commercial a homegrown product.
We knew that no one could tell our story to a national audience better than we could, he said. The talent, the setting, the music, the technical expertise everything we needed to make this commercial was right here.
Want a sneak peak? the commercial on the University's Youtube page.
Caption: A production crew from Lafayette-based Holbrook Multi Media film student actors in UL Lafayette's Quadrangle. The scene opens a University-produced national television commercial set to debut Saturday on ESPN. (Credit: Doug Dugas / 91勛圖)