10 Years of Being Spellbound: How Starring in Those TCM Backlot Ads Changed My Life

After returning from my trip to Turner Classic Movies’ studios, life returned to normal until one month later. I wish I could remember which friend reached out to me. Maybe it was Annette from the tour? A friend sent me a message on social media saying I was on TCM! I hadn’t really thought about how TCM would use the photos and videos taken during my visit, nor did I imagine the lasting life they would have or their impact me.

I turned on my TV and tuned in to TCM. A movie was playing, so I left the set on. Finally during a break between movies I saw this TCM Backlot ad:

I was gobsmacked! I never expected a commercial to be created from the visit. I had guessed everything shot that day would end up on TCM Backlot’s site. The commercial was long, and it featured everyone I took the tour with, and somehow I had won a lot of screen time. Everything we had done and said was woven into a narrative that told of how happy we were to be there, what fans we were of TCM, and why we valued being Backlot members. We were having a real blast, and it showed.

I immediately got on my social channels and started sharing what had happened. My friends and family were excited for me, and so were fellow TCM fans. They were all complimentary, and I was making new friends in the fan community. That would keep happening.

Love the way you say BackLot…in a hushed #Noir way…It’s nice we get to see you on the telly! Bye for now…until we see each other again

— Ana Roland (@donnalamour) May 19, 2017

Just wanted to say I saw you in a commercial for TCM Backlot tonight. Very cool!????

— pointnopoint (@pointnopoint77) November 1, 2016

@missbethg saw your commercial on TCM this morning! #howcoolisthat #TCMBacklot pic.twitter.com/G8GUihQ8l9

— Dallas (@Dallas_44) November 19, 2017

I love how you’re the STAR of the latest Backlot commercials: such screen presence, such charisma; the camera loves you. If Griffith or Thalberg or Selznick were alive, you’d be rushed into makeup & wardrobe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Michael Totzke ???? (@TotzkeM) January 1, 2018

After I had some time to calm down, I would study the ad when it came on. I thought I had done a good job, yet I wanted to look at where I could improve in case my onscreen moment led to new opportunities. I was pleased with how I was able to be natural on camera, my voice, my dress, and how my hair popped under the warm lights of Ben Mankiewicz‘s set. I saw some things I wanted to improve about my hair and make-up, so I made changes.

Suddenly my tourmates and I were ubiquitous. TCM only airs its own commercials, and they didn’t have many. We were in heavy rotation on the channel. Our bit was alternating with a TCM Wine Club ad. I started seeing myself in TCM Backlot Facebook and Instagram advertisements. I went to TCM’s homepage, and there was my tour group smiling for any site visitors to see. I checked Backlot for new events and contests, and there was that same picture of us advertising the next TCM studio tour contest.

When I went to the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival, that’s when things got even more surreal. The Hollywood Roosevelt‘s lobby was one giant TCM Backlot commercial! I spotted a monitor playing a new ad in a constant loop, and I had made the cut for the new edit. That was a compliment! A backdrop promoting signing up for the service featured my picture. Of course, I had to be photographed near it! Then I quickly moved away. I didn’t want to be that person who’d stand next to her representation waiting to be recognized. I didn’t bring “the dress” with me to that year’s festival for much the same reason. I packed it for the 2018 edition because it is one of my favorites!

Whether I’m attending a TCMFF or going about my daily life now, I get recognized a lot. Somehow all the exposure hasn’t made fellow fans tired of me. They come up to me at the fests to say hello and to introduce themselves. I had a man approach me at last year’s festival to compliment me on my voice and to ask me to say something to him. Do not read anything creepy into that. He was quite nice, and he was simply a fan of my speaking voice. I get complimented for it a lot online and in person. I’ve had other TCM fans ask me if they can take pictures with me! They give me a glimpse of what it could be like to have greater involvement with the network.

Well, I do kind of read your tweets in your voice after seeing that Backlot promo! Lol

— ClassicSarah (@slandreotti) January 10, 2019

My personal and professional lives have been impacted. Every so often a family member, friend, colleague, or client will see one of the ads for the first time. They either reach out right away or mention it to me the next time we see each other. They are thrilled for me. I get recognized doing my errands around town. I made friends with a cashier at my local grocery store who recognized me. I’ve been interrupted in a restaurant to be asked if I was the woman from the commercial. Other locals call me the “TCM Lady”. Another customer at my vet’s said she was going to tell her friends she goes to the same vet as the woman on TCM. People realize who I am at film events unrelated to TCM, like at the Lone Pine Film Festival.

Sometimes I get asked when is TCM going to do something more with you? To be perfectly honest, I have fantasized about that happening. I enjoy communications and sharing my love of movies. So far, I have contributed a written piece to TCM Backlot‘s site. Like most fans, I’ve daydreamed about hosting, but not just on regular programming. I’ve fantasized about hosting Silent Sundays. I love silents, and it would be amazing to have a job that required me to expand my knowledge of them further. I’ve a hunch my non-threatening relatability could help put them over to new audiences.

After two years of heavy airplay, my ads are giving way to new fan club ads I’m not in. That makes sense. People tire of the same commercials being shown repeatedly (One man at TCMFF recited to me what I said onscreen by heart, and I can’t even do that!), and there are other fans to feature. I used to see friends who are active in the TCM fan community get spotlighted repeatedly until they weren’t. If my association with TCM remains as a one-time spokesperson and forever fan, it’s been a pretty sweet ride, and perhaps it’s one that’s created the chance to build opportunities elsewhere.