COLUMBUS, OHIO - He’s blue, he’s furry – and he looks like he just stepped out of the latest Muppet caper. He’s Benny, the new “spokes-bear” for Holzer Clinic, the dominant outpatient medical care provider in southeast Ohio and northwest West Virginia.
Horizons is putting the finishing touches on the first pair of 60-second TV spots featuring Benny, which are scheduled to begin airing in early May. In the “Introduction” spot, Benny relates in storybook fashion how he literally willed his way into the coveted spokesbear role. And in the “Pediatrics” spot, he shows off his charming side as he comforts an anxious 5-year old at the doctor’s office.
The TV spots – shot at Horizons’ studios on 35mm film – presented a series of unique challenges for the crew. Not the least of these challenges was the need to place the actors – and the camera – four feet off the floor, to accommodate the puppeteer and his assistant. The puppeteer, Rick Lyon, has created and performed hundreds of characters for television, film and theater. His lengthy list of professional credits includes: movies like Men In Black, Neverending Story and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; television shows like PBS’ Sesame Street and Elmo’s World, Disney’s Bear in the Big Blue House and Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers; commercials for Sony, Nestle, Footlocker and Nick at Nite; Broadway theatrical productions like Avenue Q; and video tapes produced in collaboration with Jim Henson and The Children’s Television Workshop.
The Holzer spots, part of a multimedia campaign designed for Holzer Clinic by Salter and Associates in Parkersburg, W. Va., were brought to life on film by Horizons director/editor Mark Rigsby and cinematographer Tim Courlas, with help from Horizons scriptwriter Chris Weber, compositing artist Dan Beech, props artist Tina Frissora and smoke artist Steve Bruns. The campaign also features Benny in print, radio and billboards, and online at www.holzerclinic.com. “At first, I must admit I was a little uncertain about the idea of promoting health care with a puppet”, said Rigsby. “But it all came together brilliantly, and I feel very confident that these spots will produce a lot of positive marketing energy for the clinic.” “I see Benny as having the potential to achieve instant, almost cult-like popularity” added Courlas. “He certainly had that effect here at Horizons during the shoot.”