Countywide : County’s Ad Programs to Feature Lots of Action

It’s got a boat explosion, a bomb-sniffing dog and a tricky mountainside rescue. The latest James Bond movie? No, just classified advertising for the County of Orange.

Starting in July, the county will drum up applicants through four 30-minute programs called “Orange County Jobs for You,” to be aired on cable television channels. Employees will be interviewed as well as filmed at work. There will be appearances by local celebrities, and each segment will end with a “video billboard” detailing the latest openings.

Personnel services coordinator Gail Mowry, who developed the project, noted that the first production will include the boat, dog and rescue scenes in advertising jobs for sheriff’s deputies. “There is some action. These videos aren’t going to be boring,” she said.

The programs will put special emphasis on attracting applicants from among the county’s women, minorities, handicapped and the elderly. “We’re trying to reach people other than those who just pick up the newspaper to look for a job,” said Mowry. “Many people are unaware of the diversity of opportunities.”

The project is funded by a $5,000 state grant, an estimated $5,000 in county employees’ time and about $13,000 from the production company, Videovision of Mission Viejo.