Archive News Story
LCCA Video Earns International Award
An LCCA creative team has won both an Award of Distinction and an Honorable Mention in The Communicator Award international competition for their work in producing a 30-second public service announcement for the club. The project was part of the promotional campaign to raise public awareness of the train show during the LCCA convention held in St. Louis, Missouri, in late July, 2005. The Award of Distinction will be presented in the form of an engraved jade glass trophy, and the Honorable Mention will be a framed certificate.
Mike Mottler (RM 12304) of Conway, Arkansas, was the producer/writer for the project, and Shane Wilson of the Video Production Department of Conway Corporation was the videographer/editor.
LCCA President Lou Caponi (RM 8735) said, “This project was a significant first for the club because it was our first promotional venture in video production for cablecast.”
Mottler added, “The 30-second PSA was produced in early July, 2005 by the newly established Video Department of Conway Corporation. This LCCA job was their client number 001, so it’s especially rewarding that our first collaborative effort won an award.”
The video shows Lionel trains in action on the fully scenicked, O-gauge layout within the Arkansas Museum of Discovery in Little Rock. The video captures the action of trains running on the rails and the realistic diesel sounds emitted from onboard sound systems – diesel engine roar, whistle, horn, and squealing brakes. The voiced narrative ended with an invitation to visit the train show held at the convention site – the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel.
Mottler said, “Hundreds of parents and grandparents brought youngsters to the train show for free rides on a miniature diesel train running on rails set up on the hotel parking lot and for hands-on operation of trains on the Midwest’s largest portable, modular train layout. Many of today’s kids have never seen Lionel model trains of 1:48 scale in action, so it was a ‘Wow!’ experience for them.”
The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communications field. Entries are judged by industry professionals who look for talent exceeding a high standard of excellence and representing a benchmark to the industry. There were 3,059 entries in the 2005 video competition. About 17% earned an Award of Distinction, and about 8% received Honorable Mention.
The LCCA is an international not-for-profit organization with more than 8,000 club members. The 2005 LCCA convention attracted about 1,200 members and their families to St. Louis for a week-long schedule of train-related activities, seminars, tours, and fun.