Camera Crew Covering the Joys of League Play

TV SPOTS WILL GO NATIONAL

By Ron Cioffi

Smile pretty for the camera … you could be going national.

Videographer Willie Valazquez focuses in on a USTA League player.

A video crew shot interviews and yards of action footage at the USTA League Southern Sectional Championships presented by Chrysler on Thursday. Sometime in about six months the 30-second spots will air around the country.

USTA Community Tennis Director of Marketing Darran Miner headed up a three-person crew working the action throughout the morning and mid-afternoon. They interviewed Scott Novak, Mobile Tennis Center head professional. Novak explained how the world’s largest public tennis facility hosted the competition and contributed to the player’s positive playing experiences. City Council President Reggie Copeland, Sr. and Councilwoman Gina Gregory also spoke of the large impact the 2,000 players visited Mobile had on the local economy.

Miner, producer Denise Farley and videographer Willie Valazquez combed the site for shots of players showing their love of the game and USTA League Tennis. Their goal was to get up to 70 different players on camera.

Miner said, “The spot will showcase the fun and excitement of play in the USTA League program, not just on the national level but a little closer to home on the grass-roots level.”

The crew is also filming competitions in the Southwest and Middle States sections to get a diverse mix in geography and player background.

The 30-second public service spot will be available to USTA sections around the start of 2009. Most sections will add announcements on the last five seconds of the spot and show them on local cable outlets.