EpandMedia’s Len Epand directed videos for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Inner Circle Benefit program March 15 at the New York Hilton. As in prior years, the mayor collaborated with a major Broadway cast; this year, he performed with the cast of the new hit musical “Xanadu” for a parody called “PlaNADU” (authored by Bloomberg speechwriter Doug Bernstein). The Inner Circle is comprised of the New York City TV and press corps, politicians, and political consultants.
The stage show opened with the first video, “Mt. Hallympus,” featuring Bloomberg’s several deputy mayors as well as City Council President Christine Quinn and NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson as toga-clad gods. The “gods” evaluate Bloomberg’s past successes as mayor and plot how to keep him inspired for his final term.
The show-closing second video, “Mike-O Music,” featured Bloomberg himself as a hip ’80s infomercial star plugging “the hits of the 80’s sung by the New York artists of today.” In wig, moustache and Hawaiian shirt a la Tom Selleck in “Magnum PI,” Bloomberg is aided by three girls reminiscent of ’80s stars Tina Turner, Olivia Newton-John and Madonna. But topping that are appearances by mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins who rave about loving their ’80s as they dance to the tunes.
This marked the third year in a row EpandMedia has produced and Len Epand has directed the Mayor’s Inner Circle videos, which follows his years of producing and co-directing ads for Bloomberg’s 2001 and 2005 campaigns for mayor.