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Best foot forward
Film crews visited Larned and Pawnee County as part of branding efforts
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MotoVike videographer Blake Kresge filmed footage from the Larned High School homecoming pep rally at the Pawnee County Courthouse Friday afternoon. It was one of several film segments the company will produce for parent company Bajillion Agency, to be used in a community branding campaign that will launch later this fall. - photo by Veronica Coons

LARNED — At the Larned High School homecoming parade Friday, a Topeka-area film crew from MotoVike, the video division of Bajillion Agency, was busy capturing footage for a branding campaign the City of Larned, Pawnee County and Larned area Chamber of Commerce are partnering to produce. 


Attracting newcomers to the community is the main goal of the effort. Several jobs at the Larned State Hospital need to be filled to ensure the viability of the institution there. In addition, USD 495 Ft. Larned recently built a new elementary school, and many city and county projects have been underway to update infrastructure to ensure a thriving community for years to come. In May, the three entities agreed it was time to let the rest of the world know what they have to offer. 


Crew members from MotoVike arrived in Larned last Wednesday, and by the time Friday afternoon had arrived, they had completed filming footage of at least 16 interviews with area business owners and individuals. Footage from the parade will be featured along with video taken at the pep rally at the Pawnee County Courthouse, and at the homecoming game festivities that occurred Friday evening. 


“On a national and international level, it’s not unusual for a city to engage with a marketing firm for branding,” Kip Kraisinger, a MotoVike representative said. “But on a statewide level, its very unique.”


“I think that speaks volumes for the community,” Blake Kresge, MotoVike videographer said. “What we’ve found are really nice people, really enthusiastic folks.”


Larned Mayor William Nusser informed the Larned City Council earlier this month that the firm would be shooting videos, and secured the council’s approval for the city to hold a hotdog feed and provide bouncy houses at the stadium prior to the game in order to encourage the community to come out. 


“The City is very happy with the work from Bajillion Agency and Motovike Films,” Nusser stated in an email to the Tribune Monday. “The community has done a great job embracing the efforts by both the county and city to put our community in a stronger strategic position going forward.”

The marketing films are expected to be completed by mid-October, Nusser said. Making the community accessible to interested parties outside the area through the internet and other electronically based media is the main focus, the partnership will rely on Bajillion Agency’s recommendations for best success going forward, he added.