by MICHAEL DASHIELL
Sequim Gazette

When Dave Drummond was searching for a good spot to film the Washington State Lottery’s next commercial, he bet on good weather.

He bet on Sequim.

“Initially it was the ‘Blue Hole.’ I was plying the odds for a little bit for better weather than most places in western Washington,” Drummond said.

This Thursday, Drummond and the Oh Hello Productions crew begin shooting a state lotto commercial on East Washington Street between Sequim Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue.

For most of the day (filming starts at 7 a.m. and wraps up before 6 p.m.) eastbound traffic on East Washington Street will be diverted into the center turn lane.

There will be some short intermittent traffic stoppage, according to city officials, and drivers should expect some delays.

“I spent a good amount of time trying not to do it on Washington … on the busy streets,” Drummond said, “but it wasn’t going to happen (somewhere else).”

Drummond and crew picked Pondicherri, a local shop at 119 E. Washington St., to center the commercial.

His production crew is working closely with the Sequim Police and city planning departments to ensure a smooth and successful day of filming, according to a city press release.

There will be limited pedestrian sidewalk access on the south side of East Washington from 7 a.m.-
4 p.m. There will be no parking on the south side of East Washington between Sequim Avenue and the mid-point crosswalk. There will be reduced parking on the north side of East Washington Avenue between Sequim Avenue and the mid-point crosswalk.

A ‘quaint, cute’ location
“We needed quaint and cute in general and an attractive street,” Drummond said. “Pondicherri was just the spot that was attractive … and not a national chain. I just walked in chatted it up and they were all for it.”

Ta ma’ra J. Elliott, Pondicherri manager, said store workers were more than willing to take part in the filming.

“We’re so excited,” Elliott said. “I think it’s great for the community. We’re getting a lot (as a city) for a little inconvenience. This is all good.”

She said that word already has spread about the commercial shoot and that she’s seen a bump in sales.
“I already have the curiosity factor (that’s brought in business),” Elliott said. “I’ve never had so many e-mails.”

She added that though Pondicherri doesn’t sell lotto tickets, she’d sell them if they asked her to.

Like other Washington State Lottery commercials, this one’s a tongue-in-cheek, fun spot about how folks pick their “lucky” numbers.

“Their ad campaigns are light and a little goofy,” Drummond said.

Adds Elliott, “All I need now is Oprah to stand in front with a kimono.”

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.