To the rest of the nation, Florida can seem like a state filled with crazy crimes and the ubiquitous “Florida Man.” One commercial aims to change that.
UF created the Gator Good commercial spot, titled, “In Defense of Florida,” to show how much UF and Florida contribute to the nation, said Nicole Yucht, the assistant vice president of university communications.
Gator Good is a branding campaign that shows UF’s higher purpose, Yucht said.
“There’s a spirit here you don’t feel on other campuses,” she said.
On Tuesday, the production team 160over90 filmed scenes for the 30-second commercial using students as background extras. About 50 students showed up outside Newell Hall hoping to be included.
Yucht said the filming was promoted on social media so students could participate. The commercial, which cost about $150,000 to create, will air Sept. 2 during the halftime of the first football game.
“We wanted it to be as authentic as possible, and what’s more authentic than actual students?,” Yucht said.
Sean Bégin, a 20-year-old UF biology and chemistry junior, drove 45 minutes to campus to be in the commercial. Bégin said he’s not normally the type to try to get on TV, but he loves UF and wanted to show it.
“(In) high school and junior high I was always the super intellectual type, and I didn’t fit in as much, but now I’m here and everyone is the same way,” he said.
He remembers the moment during his Fall sophomore year when he fell in love with UF — he got a 65 percent on a physics exam and his friends helped him bring the grade up.
“There’s that sense of community and being able to fit in at UF, and I want to share that with everyone around the country,” he said.
For Emily Tran, a 24-year-old UF pharmacy junior, being in the commercial was a way to support a school she’s wanted to attend her whole life.
“Everyone here is super passionate about being a Gator and that’s what I always love about this place,” she said.
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