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AMETHYST
Pool Patio Video
Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/12/01
MTV PHOTO PAGE VIDEO CLIP
By ERIK LARSEN
STAFF WRITER
So went the campy storyline for a 30-second television spot being filmed
yesterday for the Music Television cable network at an Arnold Avenue motel.
"He's acting like a geek, she's a pool goddess," John Fernicola
narrated for visitors. He was referring to the two 20-something actors wearing
bathing suits and waiting for their cues at poolside.
Fernicola is the owner of Amethyst's Beach Motel, the setting for one of four
ads -- entitled "Always On" -- being produced as part of a new image
campaign for MTV.
"She won't pay him any attention, no matter how hard he tries,"
Fernicola explained. "So then he gives up and moves inside the motel, where
he's dancing around to MTV. Well she sees him and decides he's worth paying
attention to now. That's the story."
Beginning at 8 yesterday morning, dozens of film crew members and their
equipment descended upon Fernicola's motel for 12 hours of work. Nine rooms at
the motel were converted into wardrobe, make-up and sound-mixing studios.
Fernicola's daughter, Amber, watched the filming along with Nicole Perone,
whose mother, Theresa, is the motel manager.
"It takes a lot of equipment, a lot of people to make a
commercial," the 20-year-old observed. "We got to see how it all
works, how people really act, it's amazing."
"It's not as simple as it seems," added Nicole Perone, 16.
The center courtyard pool, surrounded by the U-shaped motel, gave the motel
the kind of generic feel needed for the spot, said John Maher, the MTV location
manager who had a role in approving the site.
Ad producer Alexa Robinson said the Shore's proximity to New York -- where
MTV is headquartered -- makes it a favorite haunt for the network's location
scouts during the warmer months.
The spot is scheduled to begin airing on MTV either over Memorial Day weekend
or during the MTV Movie Awards on June 2, she said.
Published on May 12, 2001