From: http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=3335

Tourism board to pay $36,000 for soap exposure

By Brandon Cone

BDN Staff Writer

[email protected]

The chief marketing entity of the Tri-Lakes Area made a commitment to help bring a filming of the CBS daytime drama to Branson Friday morning.

The Branson/Lakes Area Tourism Community Enhancement District Board of Directors approved paying$36,000 to pay for CBS executives and crews to be flown into Branson and transported while here and working on the production of the five to eight episodes of “As the World Turns” that will be filmed on location in the area this summer. An additional $11,000 could be approved at a later date as a contingency fund if needed.

“As The World Turns” is set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Ill., and premiered on CBS in 1956. It is produced by Proctor & Gamble Inc.

Officials report the series of episodes to be shot in Branson would feature the show’s character Gwen (played by Jennifer Landon) looking to further her musical career in Branson.

“This thing could mean a lot of dollars and a lot of PR to us,” Branson alderman and TCED board member Dick Gass said of the filming.

Dan Lennon, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Visitors Bureau Vice President of Marketing and Advertising, also felt it would be a worthy investment.

“Looking at there veiwership if they do five shows here, it would be about nine million gross impressions of Branson,” Lennon said citing that the show’s primary audience is the same one Branson has been trying to target.

John Wallen, owner of Concept Marketing, the company responsible for the daytime drama’s decision to come to the area, said his company also hoped that businesses in the area would offer to provide lodging and meals for the show’s actors and crews during the days they would be here.

“We’re hoping to get some help from the people in the community with some either heavily-discounted lodging or free lodging and same thing with the food,” Wallen said.

Ann Reinke, account executive with Concept Marketing said CBS officials have confirmed that any business opening its doors to the show’s crews and actors will also see some screen time.

“We’ve been told by the executive producer that whoever gives the rooms, whoever gives the food comped will actually be featured in the show,” Reinke said.

The show is set to do filming in Branson June 6-8.

Nice to see a location shoot.

AWFUL choice of storyline.

Ummm...a question why arent these reports on the Entertainment Section of SON?

Ummm...a question why arent these reports on the Entertainment Section of SON?

Two part answer...first off, I posted this article here because I thought it dealt more with the town then the soap...

and secondly, ATWT is Ryan's area of responsibility....so I'm not sure.

Two part answer...first off, I posted this article here because I thought it dealt more with the town then the soap...

and secondly, ATWT is Ryan's area of responsibility....so I'm not sure.

Okie dokie I hate this storyline...more Gwen..ugggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh

Okie dokie I hate this storyline...more Gwen..ugggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh

I just cover OLTL.

I don't watch ATWT, but being from the south myself, and growing up with counrty music....I think it sounds somewhat interesting...not that I'll watch ATWT, but still it could be interesting.

Mmm hmm....

I watch ATWT, but will rarely post anything about it...I don't like anything Gwen/Will these days....

I used to live about 30 minutes from Branson...and I'll actually be back in that area for all of June!

Anyway - Branson is HUGE with the midwestern people. It's like the old person's Las Vegas. So I don't know why Gwen would want to garner fame in the area....