The town of Donald became a film set on Monday, as South Korean eyewear company Sodamon filmed musician Julian Smith performing two of his songs for a new commercial.
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The filming saw dozens of people from across Victoria flock to Mr Smiths studio The Tiny Room, on Wood Street, to be extras in the crowd.
The singer said Sodamon found him through social media.
After checking out my music on Instagram in early December, the Sodamon team invited me to be part of their advertising campaign for their new range of sunglasses, and asked to use my single Coming Back To You and Let Your Love be Free for the portion of the ad that I would be involved with, Mr Smith said.
Being a massive KPOP fan, how could I say no to that kind of exposure?
The film crew originally planned to shoot Mr Smith in Melbourne, but he said they were convinced to make the three-hour drive west to his studio for logistical reasons.
They realised that they wouldn't have access to all the studio gear, so I proposed that they come out to Donald, and sweetened the deal by offering to stage a live performance so that they could tie that into their ad, Mr Smith said.
I then put out the call to the public via social media, and we ended up having around 40 to 50 people show up. Some travelled from Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Swan Hill, Horsham and beyond many of whom I'd never met before, so that was a bonus.
The crew got footage both inside Mr Smiths studio, in the adjoining laneway and the local swimming pool, where Mr Smiths children got to make a cameo.
The ad will primarily be shown on social media but Mr Smith said it could be developed for other platforms.
There is no indication as to publishing times yet, but given five cameras filmed seven hours of footage, there is a lot of editing to be done when the Sodamon team get back to their base near Seoul, he said.
Mr Smith said the exposure he had received as a result of landing the commercial had been huge.
Having only released Coming Back To You in October, he said he was now generating airplay across Victoria. He is hoping to tour South Korea in 2020.
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
