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Clark Atlanta Marching Band Films McDonald's Commercial

Photo credit: Hoffman/Lewis The Clark Atlanta marching band pauses during the shoot for the McDonald's commercial at Panther Stadium. Band director Cedric V. Young is in the front row in the blue jacket and baseball hat, along with members of the production company, Great Guns, and the ad agency, Hoffman/Lewis.

By Teneille Gibson
Black College Wire

The Clark Atlanta University Mighty Marching Panthers filmed a commercial for McDonald's restaurants in the university's Panther Stadium that was expected to be on the air in January.

"Since that movie 'Drumline' was released, this HBCU band phenomenon has really caught on across the nation, and the reaction has been tremendous and positive for HBCUs and black college music programs," Cedric V. Young, Clark Atlanta band director, said.

Seeing the movie "Drumline" -- which was filmed on the campus of Clark Atlanta -- was exactly how the creative director of the advertising firm Hoffman/Lewis came up with the idea to shoot a commercial using a marching band.

Sharon Krinsky, creative director for Hoffman/Lewis, said, "When this opportunity came up to do this commercial for McDonald's, I thought, 'I'm going to find a way to use the marching band.' So we did a lot of research. Clark Atlanta was obviously in the movie and it's one of the best marching bands in the country."

As a result, the production crew and director observed the band for two weeks to choose the main actors for the commercial.

Anthony Rucker, a drummer, was picked for the main character. Rucker, a sophomore, is featured practicing and performing, and after a long day of rehearsing he rewards himself with McDonald's food. Rucker had help from other band members on center stage.

"I had to get used to it at first, but they just told us basically to have fun. Just act like we normally do in the band room before we get ready for a halftime show," Cassell Gray, sophomore and drum major, said.

At the end of the day, the band's performance on and off the field impressed everyone. Krinsky said, "I'm just struck about how hard they work. It's like they just came right from class; they had final exams. Here they are giving 100 percent."

"We just were really happy everyone was so enthusiastic -- and finding Cedric -- that was really key. I don't think we could have done this with any other band," Mike Goode, commercial director, said, speaking of the band director.

The hard work paid off. All actors were paid according to the guidelines of the Screen Actors Guild and the band received $10,000, and publicity.

Larry Calhoun, a spokesman for the university, said, "It is so important when we can showcase these groups in front of potential students. It creates awareness of Clark Atlanta University on the national level."

The Mighty Marching Panthers plan to continue their streak of success at the Honda Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 29. The band is tied with Florida A&M and Tuskegee universities as the only schools to have been invited for three consecutive years.

Teneille Gibson is a student at Clark Atlanta University who writes for The Panther.

Posted Jan. 10, 2005