South River Colony Home Site of National TV Commercial Shoot

The Murray home in South River Colony was the site last Thursday of a television commercial for an undisclosed toy product that will be launched nationally.

The crew spent the entire day inside the home, from the morning until about 7 p.m. It was the second commercial shoot at the location. The previous commercial was for the product "Happy Nappers." That commercial shoot was in September of last year.

Hutton-Miller, an Annapolis agency, is the company responsible for both commercials.

Many Hutton-Miller television ads are seemingly everywhere. Anyone with children has surely seen Happy Nappers, but also Bendaroos, Floam, Strap Perfect, Snuggie Kids and more.

Kyle Crosby, the producer of the mystery toy commercial, said that Hutton-Miller is always looking for filming locations in the area. 

"They canvas an area to find a home for use," Crosby said. Crosby thought that perhaps the Murrays had responded to a flyer that went around to South River Colony homeowners.

The Murrays were away at work and school while the film crew took over every corner of the house. Equipment was stored in the garage. The toy was assembled at the dining room table. Lighting and equipment was kept in the upstairs master bedroom. Large battery packs were left charging in the hallway, and the actors relaxed in the den.

Once the shoot was finished on Thursday night, materials will be sent to Hutton-Miller's Boca Raton, FL production offices to be edited. No details were available on the release of the mystery toy, but the turnaround for Happy Nappers was pretty quick. The shoot at the Murray home took place in late September, and by Christmas, the products were on store shelves and the commercials were on TV.

As for the Murray household — life had returned to normal by the weekend.