Be inspired. Be unique. Be outstanding. Be in a movie ad.

The Marketing and Communications Department of Saint Louis University recently needed students from Omaha, Neb., Cincinnati and Springfield, Ill., to be a part of 30-second spots that will air in movie theaters in those areas.

“These are market-specific ads,” Mary Ann Grillo-Ellmo, director of Marketing and Communications, said. “Students want to see other students from their area.”

Grillo-Elmo said that there are seven major markets in the Midwest region: St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo., Chicago, Central Illinois (which includes Peoria and Springfield), Milwaukee, Omaha and Cincinnati.

”That’s where 95 percent  of students come from,” she said.

The movie ads are part of the Be A Billiken campaign to encourage high school juniors and seniors to think about SLU as a prospective college option. They have aired in movie theaters in these markets for the last two years.

“[The high-schoolers] love it when they get to meet the student they saw [in the ads],” Grillo-Ellmo said.
One of these students they get to meet is sophomore Amit Sood. The St. Louis native works in the Marketing and Communications Department, and was interested when the spots were being shot one day.

“I like doing something new,” Sood said. “It’s a great way to show your pride in SLU and represent your hometown.”
Junior Mitchell Johnson echoed these sentiments.

“It’s fun to see the reactions,” Johnson said.

Although not in the movie ads, Johnson, another St. Louis native, can be seen on the billboards and in the view book, the pamphlet given to prospective students.

“I get recognized a lot on campus,” Johnson said. “It’s a great way to meet new people.”

Though the Marketing and Communications Department already has all the students it needs for movie ads this year, it will be looking for students next year to participate in the ads and photo shoots.

Grillo-Ellmo said that freshmen are preferred, and a variety of students are needed in order to give “a good representation of the face of SLU.”

“They are closer to the demographic the ads are targeted for,” she said. “They can relate to [the high school  juniors and seniors].”

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