A 90-second video tour spotlighting downtown Oxford will be played in 2007 in hotels all over metro Detroit.
The Downtown Development Authority last week voted to spend up to $2,500 to have Cavalier Pictures shoot a spot for the program Visit Detroit-TV, which is broadcast 24/7 on its own television channel in all the guest rooms at 25 participating area hotels.
‘It’s gonna give us greater exposure,? said DDA Chairman Kevin Stephison. ?(Visit Detroit-TV is) playing in most of the major hotels in southeastern Michigan at the moment.?
The program is also available as a free video rental at six more hotels and a copy sits in each room next to the VCR at three bed-and-breakfasts.
Celebrating its eighth anniversary this year, Visit Detroit-TV takes ‘viewers on a fun tour of the region, spotlighting featured advertisers through high quality video tours of the best attractions, shopping, restaurants and nightlife venues metro Detroit has to offer,? wrote Producer Andrew Vance, of the Detroit-based Cavalier Pictures, in a Dec. 1 letter to the DDA.
‘Being an upbeat, entertaining and extremely informational travel program on metro Detroit, hotel guests and travelers to the region look to the program for suggestions on how and where to spend their leisure time dollars while in town,? Vance wrote.
Visit Detroit-TV is updated twice a year in January and July. Advertisers joining the program in either month are featured for 12 months.
Normally, a video tour for Visit Detroit-TV costs $3,700 for one minute or $2,700 for 30 seconds.
Prices include scripting, shooting, voice-over talent, music and editing.
But Cavalier Pictures offered Oxford a special discount ? $2,500 for 90 seconds or $2,100 for 90 seconds if Lake Orion participates too.
Stephison said the DDA has made ‘overtures? to Lake Orion to see if they’re interested.
If not, ‘none of us would have any qualms about going it alone,? he said.
Besides being broadcast in hotels, Oxford’s video tour will be uploaded onto the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau web site and provided (as part of the entire Visit Detroit-TV program) to all 13 Michigan Welcome Centers as giveaways for visitors.
The DDA will also receive a VHS or DVD copy of its video tour to be used for other marketing needs, plus a computer file of the tour suitable for uploading on community web sites.
Stephison said the DDA can use its copies of the tour for ‘business recruit ment? and ‘if need be down the road? as a television commercial for cable.
Oxford was introduced to Cavalier Pictures through Jerry Detloff, a private consultant the DDA hired this year.
A former downtown manager for Royal Oak, Detloff now runs his own consulting firm called Downtown Management Strategies. He worked with Cavalier Pictures in Royal Oak and Ferndale.
Cavalier Pictures ‘came up for a walk-through and (was) just absolutely blown-away by the village,? Stephison said. ‘I told them, ‘If you’re impressed, let’s impress the rest of Oakland County.??
The production company visited Oxford Dec. 9 and filmed a segment highlighting the downtown for the show Discover Detroit, which airs weekly on WTVS Detroit Public TV.
Although he hasn’t seen the show yet, Stephison said, ‘I’ve heard great reviews from both board members and merchants who have seen it. It sounds like it came off quite well.?