BIG MOUTH TALENT’S Kelly McLaughlin is still beaming with pride over her exclusive, Brad Norman, who won a nationwide search by Kellogg’s for a character to perform a public event on a busy L.A. street, to promote its Crunchy Nut cereal promotion.
Directed by Upright Citizens Brigade’s Matt Walsh, Norman appeared on a 37-ft. high scaffold over a shopping mall, as the character who pops out of a cuckoo clock door as each hour of the day chimes.
Every hour for 24 hours in late January, Norman emerged from the “clock” clad in the native folk costume of each of the 24 different countries he was representing and described them.
“I knew Brad was going to get the part because he’s really creative,” says McLaughlin. “He’s is also the face of Scott Trade commercials, portraying the popular on-camera character, ‘Chad Ridgeway.’”
See http://www.facebook.com/#!/kelloggscrunchynut?v=app_2392950137.
Owner McLaughlin acquired Big Mouth from former owner Brooke Tonneman in 2007. “I try to keep the agency small,” she says of her 120 men and woman adult exclusives.
McDONALD’S is traveling down memory lane in search of material for what appears to be a new, nostalgic campaign. O’Connor Casting has been looking for great stories from among people who dined at the first McDonald’s stores. FYI, Ray Kroc opened the first franchised store in Des Plaines in 1955.
The presentation was made last Friday, the same day David O’Connor and crew started moving into the 8,000-sq. ft. building he purchased at 1219 W. Madison St., assuring their title as the city’s biggest and busiest casting company.
AGENT JAMIESE LEWIS of Talent Group reports a number of bookings for local advertisers: Heidi Drennan voiced radio spots for City Place/Mix Kitchen.
National corporate spokesmodel Omar Barragan taped another quarterly show for the CTA’s website, where he travels around the city showing things you wouldn’t know about the CTA; through Big Shoulders. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0OrmfM5MhM
Nora Monreal just recorded the Spanish radio track and Deb Thogersen the English one for The Room Place/ Nathan Advertising, an on-going campaign that began in Octobers and records every 10 days.
THE JOB MARKET. Fox TV’s “Chicago Code” has given a big boost to local talent employment by booking 200 actors for the new series, and “a significant number,” we’re told, have recurring roles in future episodes.
Expect Fox/32 news anchor Robin Robinson to reappear and while you’re watching, keep an eye out for the Sun-Times uber columnist Bill Zwecker, staying completely in character as a reporter in future episodes.
AFTRA/SAG MEMBERS Feb. 28 will get the lowdown on how to ace an audition when the Conservatory presents Susan Farlik, voiceover agent with Grossman & Jack Talent. She will reveal all the tricks of the trade in her presentation, Voiceover Audition Technique: Creating a Successful Audition.
The seminar is open all AFTRA, SAG and AEC members in good standing, at the Kaufherr Center, 1 E. Erie, 6-8 p.m. Call the office, 312/573/8081 to register.
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