Contact: Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs
612-296-9595, 612-296-0872 fax
May 19, 1999 - Gov. Ventura Stars in MnSCU TV PSA
Gov. Jesse Ventura urges Minnesota young people to "get into college"
in a playful new public service announcement for Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities.
Directed by Tyrel Ventura, the governor's 19-year-old son, and produced
by Bill Hillsman of North Woods Advertising, the MnSCU "Get Into
College" television PSA was unveiled today at a press conference
in St. Paul.
"In his role as director, Tyrel is probably the only person in Minnesota
who could get away with telling the governor what to do for a whole day,"
said Hillsman. "He did a terrific job in his directing debut. And
his dad wasn't bad as an actor, either."
The PSA features Governor Ventura playing himself at a press conference
speech and pokes fun at the frenzied national media attention that continues
to surround him. In a flashback sequence, he muses, "How'd I ever
get here?" and advises his audience of young people to "get
into college." He tells young people that they, too, could someday
become governor -- or a member of the press corps.
Gov. Ventura agreed to appear in the public service announcement to help
counter the current trend of fewer young people attending college immediately
after high school. Recent studies have found that the proportion of high
school graduates enrolling in college the following fall has been dropping.
"Governor Ventura recognizes that it is in the public interest to
encourage young people to pursue higher education as early as possible,"
said Linda Kohl, a MnSCU spokesperson. "A skilled and educated workforce
is a competitive advantage for our state, and college education is linked
to higher incomes and a better quality of life."
Governor Ventura is a persuasive spokesperson who is popular with the
young people the state colleges and universities are trying to reach,
said Kohl. "He will be effective at promoting Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities as an affordable way to get a college education,"
she said.
The ad also features a toll-free phone number - 1-877-88-STATE - that
young people can call to get a colorful and free 40-page guide to the
36 state colleges and universities. The guide, "Go Places,"
provides useful information about choosing a college and describes each
of the state colleges and universities and the programs offered at each
school.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system serves about 230,000
students per year and is the largest provider of higher education in the
state. The guide is available now by calling from anywhere in the state:
1-877-88-STATE.
Production credits for the public service announcement include: North
Woods Advertising, marketing agency; Tyrel Ventura/Frogband Productions,
director; Amy Brewster, producer; David Doyle, director of photography;
Jeanette Carrell, art director; Bill Hillsman, copywriter; Chan Poling/Trail
Mix, music and design; and dozens of actors and crew members from Minnesota's
film production community, many of whom donated their time and efforts.
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