Pure Michigan video shoot Wednesday in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti will be in the Pure Michigan spotlight Wednesday as the tourism campaign shoots a promotional video at two area landmarks — Michigan Stadium and the Ypsilanti water tower.
The iconic Ypsilanti Water Tower will be among landmarks featured in the Pure Michigan video.
File photo
The video featuring 50 cities around the state of Michigan will have a modified version of the song "Good Time" by Owl City and "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen showcasing the various destinations.
Status Creative, the same firm behind a Grand Rapids video, known as the Grand Rapids LipDub that went viral last year with 4.9 million views, will highlight each city, landmark and other "eye catching" things from around the state.
Ann Arbor's filming will take place at Michigan Stadium Wednesday and will feature the University of Michigan Marching Band and cheerleaders. The filming is not open to the public.
The film crew will arrive around 4:20 p.m. to begin setting up for the hour-long shoot. The marching band will be playing a line from the popular song.
In a flash-mob-type setting, the Ypsilanti portion of the video will be filmed at the water tower on Wednesday. Participants should arrive at 2:30 p.m. and filming will take place at 3:20 p.m. and wrap up around 4 p.m.
Participants will be singing the following line during filming, "We don’t even have to try, it’s always a good time... good time, good time, it’s always a good time."
Christine Laughren, manager of marketing and communications for the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Cross Street near the Water Tower will be closed as needed during the filming.
“The road will be open, we’re just closing it intermittently,” Laughren said.
All ages are welcome to participate in the Ypsilanti shooting.
The Pure Michigan seven-day road trip started in Caseville Aug. 18 and wraps up in Harbor Springs on Saturday.
Comments
Frustrated in A2
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.
um is the only reason people would want to visit A2??? I'm curious as to why they couldn't show more of each town.
LXIX
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
"The agency, which creates the "Pure Michigan" campaign for the state's travel and business marketing, was awarded a three-year contract with two one-year extensions. The budget for the campaign for the current fiscal year, which ends in September, is $28.2 million." NYTimes "In December 2011, the non-partisan organization Public Campaign criticized Interpublic Group for spending $1.3 million on lobbying and not paying any taxes during 2008-2010, instead getting $15 million in tax rebates, despite making a profit of $571 million and increasing executive pay by 32%". Wikipedia
Kai Petainen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
a bit more about Pure Michigan... and how they were in Europe... promoting a business that had insider selling, government money, and a stock that lost $$$$ for shareholders. http://tinyurl.com/8flnt45 and if you think it isn't about business primarily... read how they spent $1 million promoting ann arbor businesses from this ann arbor new article. http://tinyurl.com/8tsevo3 "The new Pure Michigan campaign showcasing Washtenaw County isn't just targeting tourists. The latest four-minute promotional video — which is featured on Ann Arbor SPARK's website — has a different goal in mind: promoting the city's thriving business climate" "The video is part of the $1 million Pure Michigan campaign showcasing Washtenaw County's opportunities for business and tourism. "
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
hmmmm........4:20? coincidence? "...The film crew will arrive around 4:20 p.m. to begin..." expect to see a full moon hovering around there today.
Brad
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
So the Ann Arbor video will consist almost entirely of people not from Ann Arbor? That's pure *something* alright.
LXIX
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
A postive portrayal of Michigan for tourists is a good thing. New infrastructure like a bridge to Canada or over State st. is a good thing. Smart vehicles to automate commercial transit and make it more cost-effective is a good thing. The negativity expressed here are bubble pricks questioning the true worth of these good things. Optimally, even better 'good things' will come to light and withstand this critical examination. IS $25 million in taxpayer money being spent on advertisement better than say feeding and education Michigan children or making the state more energy independent or cleaning up the tourist attractions like poluted beaches? How about a high speed train bridge between US/Canada passing through A2 for more cost effective "commmerce" - paid for by shale oil money? How about building a "smart" standardized network like a US "Amazon store" of entrepreneurs complete with supporting business infrastructurelike high-speed resource rail and free fiber optic networks? There are a lot of choices for good things. Negating those being made by current government allows for tremendous amount of good thing growth..
zumbamami
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
Uhhhh...all that I have read so far are negative comments. These 2 cities are only 2 of 50 that are being featured in the video, so they can't spend the whole video on A2 and Ypsi. The article said that the Ypsilanti filming will be a "flash-mob-type" setting, not a flash mob. If some of the people that only have negative to say about these articles are so digusted with their cities, why do you live here??
Brad
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
If you pre-announce a flash mob - it isn't a flash mob.
Carrie
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
Such negativity.
suburbia
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
I know! Geez, lighten up people. This is good promo for Ann Arbor/Ypsi and filmed on a beautiful summer day.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 6:20 a.m.
I'm not sure I get it: does the Ypsi Water Tower draw 114,000 spectators six times every year? And haven't I seen "a few" entire movies on DVD featuring Michigan Stadium? Well, maybe this time, the Michigan Marching Band can arrange for some really energetic singers to sing The Victors for the Pure Michigan cameras. All the existing "official versions" sound like the college guys down the block trying out their pipes with an uncharacteristic subdued ennui.
Jack Campbell
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:06 a.m.
"Call Me Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen... please just pour acid in my ears. How could anyone possibly think that was worth recording.
LXIX
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
With a $25 million budget Michigan could make a full length movie - and some money. Roger & Me cost $140k take $7.7million American Grafitti cost $775k take $140million The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara cost $everybody take $4.1million Bedtime for Bonzo cost $bananas take $classified top monkey secret or take some footage of a nice water tower.
Kai Petainen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:35 a.m.
I can't help but wonder how/if Canadian news will think of this... 'Canadian Singer Promotes American State' If the video goes viral, expect some (polite) angry people in Canada. It could make international news.
jns131
Sat, Aug 25, 2012 : 1:07 p.m.
O so that is where the winter wonderland comes into play. Thanks for heads up.
Kai Petainen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
lol..... ha... you're probably right.
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 5:44 p.m.
Canada is actually part of the US. It's our largest national park. We just don't tell them.
Vivienne Armentrout
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
I love the Ypsi response. The Ann Arbor segment is ironic, being as most people visiting Ann Arbor as tourists will never see the marching band and cheerleaders. In the past, segments about Ann Arbor have featured the Diag, the Nichols Arcade and maybe Main Street. Now and then the Old West Side gets a shot. But these are all artifacts of the past. I spent an evening visiting the relics of Ann Arbor. Walked around the State Street commercial area (sad, so many closed storefronts and chain restaurants), went to the State Theater (the entertainment option from the two historic theaters is still one of our best attractions), walked past the Law Quad (outstanding, from a century ago) and ate at Dominick's (still a funky student hangout for now). Oh, and I visited one of our best examples of public art (the Cube). But so much of that "Ann Arbor experience" is from the past. Will people really want to visit an Ann Arbor of tall luxury student housing and office fronts replacing retail downtown? (The new City Hall is just outright ugly, especially in contrast to the many graceful UM buildings.) And will charming historic neighborhoods like Germantown and even the North Main area continue to be converted into faceless commercial ventures? To attract visitors, we need a liveable city with a blend of human-scale new and historic buildings, and local, individually interesting businesses. And yes, actually green space that tempt a weary visitor to sit on a bench. That is not where our planning policy is leading us to.
Vivienne Armentrout
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 2:22 a.m.
Some shots of our wonderful local festivals would be good, like FestiFools, the Homegrown Festival (still to come this year), Classic cars etc. where we are out as a community showing creativity and engagement.
Kai Petainen
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
i keep wondering... what should they have done in ann arbor? i'm not all that sure if what they did today would have been ann arbor's 'best foot forward'. i think ypsi did a fantastic job. here's what i think they should have done for ann arbor.... start with 1 band member.... and our local buskers (like the howling wolf)... and have them walk down nichols arcade. as they walk down, the shopkeepers would come out of their stores, and their customers... film it from a moving dolly (perhaps a scooter?). it would have been a quick snapshot into ann arbor.
Vivienne Armentrout
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 12:21 a.m.
Yes, I get that UM football ticket holders will see them. But UM football ticket holders do not need Pure Michigan marketing videos to bring them to Ann Arbor. These are supposed to market Ann Arbor to the broader tourist market.
Ryan
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
I would argue that quite a lot of Ann Arbor tourists would see the marching band and cheerleaders because a lot of tourists (specifically from the Big Ten region and SE Michigan in general) come for UM Football games. Is there more to Ann Arbor? Yes. Is there something more iconic? I would say no.
say it plain
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
Ah, "Call Me Maybe" and the Yspi Water Tower Phallus... Perfect! They're going for kitsch with this campaign, it seems? I'm not feeling it, but, hey, I hope it's doing its job drummin' up bizness for MI! Always...always...a good time...that tower don't even need to try lol...(giggle? maybe?!)
Kai Petainen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
In the Ann Arbor shoot, will they put 'SPARK' somehow in the background? Perhaps on the big board? Pure Michigan is... after all... first and foremost a promotion for businesses and not tourism. Actually, I do like that the folks from the Grand Rapids viral lip dub are doing this... I'll give them grief about the UP stuff... but it's nice that they're doing this. Talented folks. Excellent choice of song for a promotional lip dub as well. Being a border state, it's nice to see that Canada is being represented in this (Carly Jepsen is Canadian)
Kai Petainen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
Kyle... that's a cool link. note, my criticism isn't aimed at the artists. Bliss is incredibly talented and his lip-dub was awesome. he's the right person to do this job. i just hope that he and his crew, Jepsen and her crew, get a nice chunk of the $25 million that they're spending on this stuff. and i just hope... that if this truly is pure michigan (all of michigan thing).... then the UP should be highlighted for tourism as well. but since it seems more of a business thing, then the UP gets snubbed. i'm not against ann arbor -- it's great that they're filming here, but i am in favor of promoting the entire state of the michigan. there are folks out there that help michigan... and i don't think they get a cut of the $25 million michigan pie. the international bridge just made a 27 minute video that promoted the 50th anniversary of the international bridge. how much did it cost pure michigan? nothing. zero. http://youtu.be/UaCHtLih3AE Or take a look at this talented artist.... http://tinyurl.com/656a8k ... this michigan page has 1.4 million hits. i doubt he got a lot of $$ from pure michigan, or the recognition? his webpage will probably show more of michigan's natural highlights than the lip-dub.
Kyle Mattson
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
Hi Kai- I thought you may find this interesting; it is a video from last year's TedxDetroit where Rob Bliss, the creator of the Grand Rapids lip dub spoke about creating the video (and a number of other popular events): http://bit.ly/aadc-tedxdet
xmo
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
I wonder if Camp Take Notice will be featured? Its a great place to come if you are homeless and want to be used as a pawn in a political game! What a Great Vacation Spot! CTN is PURE MICHIGAN!
zanzerbar
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Give it a rest.