U.S. Chamber Commercial Filmed Downtown

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filmed a commercial in downtown Fredericksburg this morning that's about legal reform and lawsuit abuse. The film crew Boni Productions used about 20 cyclists from the Fredericksburg Cyclists Club for the commercial, said producer Dennis Boni.

"They are trying to get states to put a lid on lawsuit abuse," Boni said as he was packing up camera equipment on Caroline Street.

Boni said they also filmed portions of the 30-second commercial at a Stafford County corn field near Route 601 and on Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg. Several Fredericksburg Sheriff's cruisers blocked one lane of Caroline Street and coned off a portion of the road while the commercial segment was filmed.

Merry Dunning, the assistant director, said that she called this week about the need for a group of cyclists and that's how she found out about the local club.

Fredericksburg Cyclists Club President Terry Dorn said his members were more than happy to support the business community and he hopes more commercials are filmed in Fredericksburg.

"We thought we could either cast them or I thought, 'what the heck, let's go ahead and try to find a cyclist club,'" Dunning said. "Terry called me almost immediately. He's a fantastic guy and what a fantastic crew he brought along."

Mark Goodin, who was part of the production crew, said that there was a lot of talent on the set, including a production director who worked on the set of Miami Vice and others who worked on the set of West Wing and Gods and Generals.

The commercial is expected to air at the end of September on national television. The scene is a bicycle race that has a funny twist to it, Goodin said.

"It's what I call directed irony. It's funny because it's so typical. It takes a serious subject and it focuses attention on the absurdity of the system."

During the filming at the Washington Avenue location, a cyclist accidentally lost control of his bike and fell. He was not seriously injured.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the county's civil justice system is the world's most expensive, costing in 2009 about $248.1 billion, or 1.74 percent of the U.S. GDP.

The U.S. Chamber also notes that:

• The tort cost per person was $808 in 2009, a sevenfold increase from 1950 when adjusted for inflation.
• While small businesses are responsible for 64% of all new American jobs, lawsuits cost them $105.4 billion in 2008—money that could be invested in more jobs, higher wages, or better benefits.
• Two out of three senior executives and litigators at America’s largest employers believe that the litigation environment in a state is likely to impact important business decisions at their companies, including whether to grow jobs or do business in a state.