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In-flight video will show Cowlitz County's charms

Sunday, May 4, 2008 10:33 AM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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If you fly on a major airline sometime next year, you may spot a video promoting Cowlitz County on the screen in front of you.

The county’s tourism bureau is hiring a film company to create several promotional movies marketing the county as a tourism destination.

Mark Plotkin, the bureau’s director, said airlines have requested similar videos in the past, but he never had anything good to send them. When these new spots are completed in October, Plotkin will make sure they’re sent to the airlines.

"I think it’ll just really sell the destination," he said.

The county will pay Compel Media $30,000 to produce a seven- or eight-minute narrated video featuring the area’s outdoor activities as well as local attractions, including local festivals and destinations such as Mount St. Helens and the Ape Cave. Several shorter videos will hype specific activities, such as fishing or mountain biking opportunities, Plotkin said.

He said the movies will be posted to YouTube as well as the tourism bureau’s Web site. They’ll also be sent to organizations looking for a place to host events or sports tournaments, he said.

In addition, Plotkin said Compel Media will record "stock footage" of the area, which can be used by the Travel Channel or National Geographic for segments about the volcano or other attractions.

Filming will include two helicopters as well as a crane attached to a truck for moving aerial shots of the county’s downtown areas, Plotkin said.

Shooting is expected to begin this summer. The videos are expected to be finished in October.

Previous

its all nice on ice wrote on May 4, 2008 12:18 AM:

" i sure hope they show the 'scenic' drive from I-5, up tennant way into longview. there is nothing more beautiful than a landfill and the smoke stacks from paper mills. it's too bad there wasn't a way to add some smell to the video "

fishing wrote on May 4, 2008 10:36 AM:

" shouldnt really promote what is getting shut down. "

THANKS wrote on May 4, 2008 10:46 AM:

" This is the best laugh I've had all week!!!!
"

Longviewteen wrote on May 4, 2008 11:11 AM:

" This sounds like a great idea. Nice work tourism bureau. "

Tourists equal Bad Economy wrote on May 4, 2008 11:13 AM:

" I keep reading how Longview/Kelso are trying to promote tourism in the area. Now the whole of Cowlitz County is in on it. Anyone who has lived in a Tourist Trap knows that tourist dollars are pitiful for the local economy. Slinging hash and making beds do not the rent pay and the unemployment will skyrocket. Cowlitz County already has the only active volcano in the lower 48 and if that doesn't draw folks, nothing will. Bring in real industry, stop spending money on trying to bring in tourists. "

Not just me wrote on May 4, 2008 1:03 PM:

" How about they get the view of Highway 99 alongside the freeway where the fir have all been logged out at night and left standing are just trash trees, soon to be hacked by the PUD.

The road looks trashier every year.

Honestly you guys trying to run a "visitors" bureau. There is nothing to see and nothing to do in the Kelso/Longview area that is worth traveling out of town to come to. It's okay for the locals but we stay because it's cheaper to live here than Vancouver.

You want tourism? How about getting rid of all the heavy industry and bringing in a port with private moorings for luxury boats and upscale restaurants and hotels? Why not make Mt. St. Helens a national park and draw some business? Why do you all think smoke stacks and heavy industry is the ONLY thing to do? Why don't you make it more compatible for human habitation and aesthetic beauty? You can find that in the dictionary in case you don't know what beauty is. "

Tourism Real Jobs wrote on May 4, 2008 1:33 PM:

" Re: Tourism - You are right about direct Tourism jobs are generally low paying. However how we present and promote our region is very important to prospective industry that may consider coming here - if the tourists want to come here industry will follow if we have the people, port and infrastructure - and we do.

Longview: Put on the makeup and see who wants to dance. "

Kelso OMG wrote on May 4, 2008 9:31 PM:

" I am amazed constantly at how embarassing this county is... I mean I'm mortified whenever I see the Portland news on TV with another Meth/Vandalism/Robbery/You-name-it story... and now THIS? Come on... what in the heck is there to draw people here? What do our headlines of TDN even say about our area? My head is hanging low, yet again. I'd love to move... but the tweekers stole my car, and I can't find a decent job. Sigh... welcome to Cowlitz county. "

commercial buff wrote on May 4, 2008 10:50 PM:

" Maybe it will win the award for funniest commercial. "

Maybe wrote on May 5, 2008 6:56 AM:

" It will draw some clean, yuppie-like druggies and hookahs to the area. We could use that... "

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