From Cooper Road to National TV

"I must have checked the box," speculated Geraldine Keogh, "because one night an ad exec from Chase called me and asked if I would like to be in a commercial." On Monday, June 14, Keogh taped a commercial for Chase at her home on Cooper Road in Scotch Plains.

Keogh's  reference was to a customer satisfaction survey she filled-out about six months ago regarding Chase's Blueprint credit card.

Before Keogh could star in the Blueprint commercial though, she had to audition. When the film crew arrived at her house to record her tryout, they met her son Scott, a senior at Pingry. According to Keogh, the advertising people felt that the commercial would be "a much better story" with the inclusion of her son.

Soon, word came back that Keogh and Scott had been selected for a commercial to be shot at their home.  Three visits from the film crew to take test shots and prepare "the set," preceded the actual shoot. In addition, Keogh and Scott had a trip to New York City for wardrobe selection.

The crew arrived at 6 a.m. on the day of filming and immediately began to set up. Furniture and floors were covered in cardboard to protect them from damage and "the actors" were sent to make-up.  Soon, it became a neighborhood project. 

Neighbor James De Marco answered a "simple knock on the door" and found Keogh and the production team outside, asking to use his yard as an equipment staging area.  "I was glad to do it," De Marco said. He was also invited over to watch the shoot.

Filming lasted until 7 p.m., with the crew shooting Keogh and Scott in all parts of the house. Keogh stated that, while tiring, "it was a great day, and just a wonderful experience." She went on to compliment the crew, calling them "extremely nice, hard-working people."

Keogh cannot talk about the specifics of the commercial, but did say it would be a customer testimonial. When asked if she would do another commercial, Keogh replied "absolutely."