March 30, 2005

Scotts Valley, CA - Is your bank sticking it to you?” That’s the first line of voice over in the new Meriwest Credit Union television commercial currently airing on Bay Area television stations. The creative for “Stick It” was developed by Jim Barnes, principal in Los Gatos-based Barnestorming.

The TV spot, directed by Tam Fraser and produced by Susan O’Connor Fraser, was shot in a vacant bank building in downtown San Jose. “The location was great”, notes O’Connor Fraser. “We had the flexibility of it being unoccupied but because it was an old bank, we had a counter and marble columns in place. That meant we only had to bring in finishing touches to make it look like a working bank.” Tam staffers Regan Eymann, Jennifer Haskins and Jess Ortega helped gather the necessary props including computers, desks, and bank collateral.

Fraser and Barnes worked together during auditions to secure the cast, which included Steve McMoy as a bank customer, John Andrews as the Bank Manager, and Kari Wishingrad and Franco Finn as bank employees. In addition to the primary talent, twenty extras were brought in to serve as other bank employees and customers. In the spot, McMoy enters the bank and is greeted by the enthusiastic bank manager who secretly plants a “post it note” on his back. Written on the note is the description of a hidden fee. The startled customer is then greeted by Wishingard then Finn—each with their own post-it and fee. By the time McMoy leaves the bank, his back is covered with post its.

Associate Producer/Assistant Director for the commercial was Jennifer Haskins. The spot was shot on film with Jan Sluchak, Lighting Director/Assistant Cameraman; Andy Olsen, Gaffer; John Barrett, Grip/Video Assist; Jess Ortega, Sound Recordist; Lisette Townzen, Makeup; and Dan Eymann, Production Assistant. Film transfer was done at Monaco Film and Video in San Francisco, and post-production was then completed in Tam’s digital editing suite with Tam Fraser editing.

Tam Communications is a leading digital media company, servicing corporate and entertainment clients by combining technical, creative, and communications expertise in the realms of video, interactive multimedia, and web. The company's expanding spectrum of original entertainment programming—developed for broadcast, cable, syndication, and other venues—airs worldwide. Tam Communications is a privately held company located in Scotts Valley, CA. Please visit our web site at www.tamcom.com.