Students and members of the staff and faculty with roles in the University’s newest commercial got a special preview of the spot Wednesday afternoon in the Creative Services Building.
The advertisement will air tonight on ESPN during the football team’s season opening game against South Carolina and will be shown at Carter-Finley Stadium during half time.
Creative Services Director Stephanie Hlavin said this year is part two of a three-year branding campaign, and that while last year’s spot was more conceptual, this year’s is more about tangible contributions the University has made to research.
“Last year we were assertive with the voice of the brand,” Hlavin said. “This year we give concrete examples of what’s being done at N.C. State.”
Hlavin said those who viewed the commercial were happy with the finished product, and that the advertisement’s success had much to do with the way different entities worked together.
“Based on where we came in with the budget and timing and cooperation, it was a really good experience.” Hlavin said.
Dave Pond of web communications said the advertisement will be played as soon as the marching band finishes its half time routine at the nine minute mark.
Pond, who plays an astronaut in the commercial, said the ad is very deliberate and successful at showing the University’s strengths.
“It gets the message across that N.C. State is a place of action,” Pond, who is in a spacesuit during his screen time said.
Pond said his friends compared his character to Chewbacca from Star Wars since the video doesn’t show his face. He said the replica suit, which had a backpack on it that weighed 35 pounds, made it very hot and uncomfortable.
“It seems like they could have cut a piece of styrofoam,” Pond said in reference to the load he had to carry.
Despite the hot conditions, Pond said he put on 10 pounds during production because the crew was trying to keep him so hydrated with fluids.
Tensie Taylor, an alumnae, said she enjoyed her experience filming the spot which she’ll watch on ESPN tonight since she won’t be at the game.
“I got a chance to learn a lot about the filming of the commercial,” Taylor, who carries a five-pound styrofoam asteroid in the ad, said. “Even though [the commercial is] only 30 seconds [long] it took us eight hours to film it.”
Taylor said she also learned much about her alma mater and the contributions its made to science.
“It helped me see N.C. State in a new perspective,” Taylor said.
