NBC’s "America’s Got Talent" wrapped up a week’s stay in San Antonio on Friday for the taping of the popular TV show, and the city's contributions to the show are being hailed as a success.
The show auditioned 100 competitors from all over the country, not just San Antonio.
Drew Mayer-Oakes with the San Antonio Film Commission said the show brought dozens of its own producers and staffers, but hired some local talent as well.
"As I was working with them on the river the other day, I just ran into two women who are kind of just getting started in the industry and they’re both in the wardrobe department. They were both there simply to make sure that Heidi Klum’s outfits were properly ironed and stitched and everything. They were probably pretty well-paid for doing that that day, and these are things that other people don’t think about. We have an online guide that lists people that are film-savvy and experienced in working in television film production," Mayer-Oakes said.
The show was here all week, and Mayer-Oakes said they did their best to make contacts and help producers remember the city. Celebrities spent their last day on the Riverwalk, with Heidi Klum asking to pilot a river barge.
"We helped them set up a river boat mini-parade with Howie Mandell directing traffic from the first barge, and the judges - Howard Stern, Heidi Klum and Mel B - on the barge that followed. They had a great reception when they got over to the Convention Center. You know, it’s things like this that we really love helping out because they show off our destination so well," said Mayer-Oakes.
The film commission is debriefing this week to assess the economic benefit, but he said the Facebook posting with Howie Mandell had 4,000 "Likes" in the first two hours.
With all the shots taken in and around San Antonio that will air during the show, the city gets valuable publicity that you just can’t put a price tag on.
