A television commercial production crew was in town Wednesday, shooting a public service announcement for a very important cause: suicide prevention.
The client is the state of Florida and its 988 Florida Lifeline campaign, which will promote a telephone number for people who may be struggling to call or text to get help.
The 988 Florida Lifeline is a free, 24/7 service that will connect residents who may have a substance use disorder, a mental health emergency or other emotional distress to a local crisis counselor, its website says.
Producer David Liz, a Miami Laker who grew up in Hialeah, worked with The Graham Companies to secure a location on Main Street in front of the Vie de France Bakery & Cafe.
The scene filmed on May 28 is of a veteran, played by actor Ben Toppi, having coffee with a friend, played by actor Christopher Martinez, a former police officer.
Toppi, who also has a real estate video production firm, was enthusiastic about the acting job and called the subject “… something very close to me. … Doing this project is a no brainer.”
Other scenes to be shot out of sequence with Toppi were to happen at an American Legion hall in South Miami, and at Hobie Beach on Key Biscayne, where the veteran character will go into the water as he contemplates ending his life before calling 988 to get help.
The team will also shoot commercials upstate for Florida Lifeline, with stories about a teenager who is having suicidal thoughts, and of a farmer who is struggling emotionally, Liz said.
Liz, who is also a director and cinematographer on other projects, said the plan is for the three commercials to air separately and then together in one longer ad and be shown on television channels throughout the state.
Other crew members include Director Patrick Gines, Producer Peter LeVake and Production Assistant Rodrigo Diaz.
If you or a loved one need help or are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988. The number works nationwide and offers counselors who speak English and Spanish. Go to 988FloridaLifeline.com for more information or for Spanish, go to 988lifeline.org/es/home.