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County unveils ‘Viewpoint’ documentary narrated by Dennis Quaid; communications director says $30,000 production value
Summary
Madera County unveiled a short documentary about the county’s economy and tourism, presented as part of a national public‑television distribution plan. County communications director said the county’s cash cost was close to $30,000 and staff expect broad exposure.
Madera County’s director of communications, Alexander Balakian, presented a five‑to‑six‑minute documentary called “Viewpoint” and a 30‑second commercial at the Oct. 14 Board of Supervisors meeting. The county will distribute the short documentary nationwide through public television outlets and social media, and the 30‑second commercial is scheduled to run on Fox Business and other networks this week.
Balakian said the documentary features four primary profiles: Madera County Superintendent of Schools Trisha Protsman; Jim Maxwell representing agriculture; Dan Riley representing industry; and Rhonda Salisbury from Visit Yosemite. The piece includes a voiceover by actor Dennis Quaid and highlights agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and proximity to Yosemite National Park.
Balakian told the board the county’s direct cost was “close to $30,000.” He said producing equivalent television‑quality material in‑house would have required equipment the county does not possess and that national airtime has a much higher commercial value; the presentation estimated a possible household reach for the documentary and commercial in the tens of millions. Balakian also said the full documentary would be released on county social media that day and shown in county department lobbies for a year.
Supervisors commended the video. Supervisor McCauley noted the county’s business‑license count versus platform visitor data and said the law (SB 346) about short‑term rentals would help with compliance; Supervisor Rogers emphasized agriculture, manufacturing and tourism as county economic drivers and praised the county’s presentation. Supervisor Wamoff and others thanked staff for their work.
No contract approval or funding appropriation was taken on the item at the meeting; Balakian answered questions about tracking airing logs and said he would attempt to provide airing data over the campaign period.
Staff provided the board the video for review in the chambers and invited public comment; none was offered at the meeting.
