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Car ad puts two brothers in NCAA spotlight

Two local youngsters get their national acting debut in a TV commercial to air on CBS during the basketball tournament.

By FAITH WILLIAMS
Published March 13, 2005

College basketball teams atop the Associated Press and coaches polls aren't the only ones anticipating the NCAA's "big dance."

A local couple are excited about watching their sons perform in front of a national audience, except - at least for now - these boys don't have hoop dreams.

Seven-year-old Tristan Craven and his brother, Bailey, 9, will be featured in General Motor's new Pontiac G6 commercial scheduled to air during March Madness.

During the tournament, as teams take a break from the action, the young actors will be featured with ESPN's Dick Vitale, CBS's Greg Gumbel and actor Trudie Peterson, who played their mom, in a Pontiac commercial.

CBS will air the commercial before an estimated 140-million viewers as 65 NCAA Division I teams compete for a shot at college basketball's coveted crown.

While the Bay Vista Fundamental Elementary School siblings don't have lines in the commercial, they can be seen running around and jumping into the back of the vehicle, as Vitale peers inside to admire the car's features. Gumbel, meanwhile, welcomes viewers to March Madness.

Tristan and Bailey, who studied acting at John Robert Powers for about a year, are making their debut. This is their first acting gig.

They are the sons of Brent and Jennifer Craven of St. Petersburg.

Whenever the brothers aren't being transported to and from auditions by their mom, they're studying their favorite subjects or partaking in activities at Bay Vista Elementary.

Tristan prefers physical education to anything else at school, but he adds, "Whenever I'm running the trail, I get tired because it's kind of boring." Bailey is enthusiastic about English and writing. "When I'm not acting, I like to be riding my bike, or running, something that's active," he adds.

The boys' exuberance and activity might be what caught the attention of an agent at Central Florida Talent, who had them audition and subsequently be cast in GMC's commercial featuring the new model G6 Pontiac.

Recently the brothers shared what it was like working with Vitale and Gumbel.

"Well, they both were goofy, but whenever they messed up their lines, they usually said something funnier than what they were supposed to say," Bailey said.

The young actors said they had to shoot the running scene at least 15 times before the producer was pleased.

The boys also talked about their favorite foods and what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Tristan, sporting a military styled haircut, and missing front teeth, talked about his love for macaroni and cheese, a desire to become a rabbit, and later - once he's old enough - to be a police officer.

Bailey talked of his love for birds, particularly his cockatoo, Martini. He said he enjoys acting but would like to become a scientist someday.

Tristan and Bailey aren't the only actors in the family. Their sister, Jordan, 5, made her acting debut in a "Friendly" commercial, which was shot in Orlando in February and is scheduled to air in April.

Their father, Brent, is an executive with an international software company.

[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:22:15]