PORT TOWNSEND — A commercial filmed in downtown Port Townsend in December to promote Powerball began airing last week across the state — sans miniature horses.
Those watching the filming on Water Street last month saw miniature horses owned by Glenda Swain Cable of Sequim trotting in front of the cameras, but they ended up on the cutting-room floor, said a state lottery spokeswoman.
That’s because the horses were intended for an additional story line that was deleted because of time and budget constraints, she said.
The 30-second spot, which can be viewed on YouTube at tinyurl.com/7b4382h, begins with grim-faced actor Rhyan Schwartz spotting a pair of bright red pants in a shop window with a $2 price tag.
It then cuts to the next scene where he walks out of the store wearing the pants.
He looks down at his new pants to see a wad of money magically appear out of the front pocket.
He smiles.
That smile widens as he walks down the street because money flies from both pants pockets, spewing along the sidewalk while he draws stares of passers-by.
Some even lands into the guitar case of a street performer.
The voice-over starts near the end of the ad as Schwartz’ grin becomes nearly delirious.
“The new Powerball is here with bigger jackpots and more millionaires,” the voice-over says.
“It’s kind of like a pair of magic pants.”
The wad of fake money was attached to a fishing line that was pulled out of the pocket, the spokespersons said.
More special effects were added later, she said.
The commercial began airing regularly on 21 local stations and 21 cable stations on Jan. 15.
A second ad filmed on the North Olympic Peninsula in December, in which Agnew Grocery & Feed between Sequm and Port Angeles became “Big Nate’s” and included a biker gang, is scheduled to being airing on Feb. 1.
Heather Dudley Nolette, Port Townsend Main Street board president, said that although Port Townsend is not mentioned in the ad, “it is recognizable to anyone who has been here.”
The 50 people in the crew spent time and money in local businesses and hotels, Nolette said.
“It has paid off for us that we have made the community attractive so people want to film here,” she said.
“Bringing film crews to town is a great source of temporary business that we should explore,” she added.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.