by Cheval John

Carly Rae Jespen’s single “Call Me Maybe” has been a huge hit since it was released in November of 2011.

The catchy tune has been remade and posted on YouTube by professional organizations ranging from the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders to the U.S. Olympic Swim Team.

Now, Sam Houston State University can be added to that list as their remade ‘video’ was released on YouTube on Wednesday and has over 27,000 views.

I caught up with Brandon Cooper, Associate Director for Student Activities to get his take on the video and find out how it all came together.

Vallano Media: The video has took off like wildfire. How do you feel about that?

Brandon Cooper: We are very excited about the publicity and the views that the video has gotten. Really, it was made to promote “The Bearkat Fanatic Contest.”

The contest was the idea of Frank Parker, Vice President for Student Services.”

How it works is students will submit a Bearkat spirited photo with a caption to us and we decide who is the top fourteen out of that group.

Those fourteen that are chosen will get a ticket to the student suite at Reliant Stadium in Houston for the “Battle of The Piney Woods” game between SHSU and Stephen F. Austin State University on October 6.

VM: Who came up with the idea of the video?

BC: Debbie Nichols, assistant to Mr. Parker, was the person who came up with the idea.

She saw the “Call Me Maybe” video and believed that it was the song to be replicated from for the video.

She contacted me and I agreed with the idea.

From there, we got Patric Sleightholm, of Sleightholm Productions, to participate in the project.

We were the directors.  He shot and edit the scenes.

After it was finished, we put it out there and the rest is history.

VM: What was Mr. Sleightholm’s take on it?

BC: Mr. Sleightholm is an alumnus of SHSU.

We have hired him quite a bit in the past to do promo videos for us.

When we approached him with this idea, he was excited about the project.

He did a really great job.

VM: How did you get the Bearkat football team to participate?

BC: We contacted Bobby Williams, director of athletics to see if they would be interested to participate in the video.

He was able to get them on board.

They were eager to participate.

We shot their scene on Labor Day after they finished taking their team photos.

VM: Do you think the video will lead into the promotion for the “Battle of the Piney Woods?”

BC: Yes, I really believe that it will.

It has taken on a life of it’s own and it is great for SHSU as a whole.