Talent contest for York travel campaign (From York Press)

Talent contest for i-Travel York online video campaign

8:53am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News

AN “X Factor-style” talent contest is being staged in York in a search for the stars of an online video campaign aimed at promoting environmentally friendly travel in the city.

Budding actors are being invited by City of York Council to audition by sending in audition clips filmed on their phones or camcorders, or via webcams, explaining why they want to volunteer to leave their cars at home and encourage others to follow suit.

Clips should be no longer than three minutes and should be sent via itravelyork.info by November 2.

They will be shortlisted by a panel of judges, set up through the council’s i-Travel York programme, and those chosen will feature in a series of films promoting various sustainable travel options for getting to work, including walking, cycling, public transport and even skateboarding and rollerskating.

The videos will be launched in the new year and will feature on sites such as facebook and twitter.

Coun Dave Merrett, the council’s cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability, said: “This is an exciting project using cutting-edge technology and filming techniques to show people who live or work in York walking, cycling and using public transport for their daily commute.”

David Short, the city’s travel planning co-ordinator, said: “The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate there are realistic, sustainable alternatives to single occupancy car travel, and the videos will hopefully inspire others.”

As well as the i-Travel York website, more information is available on twitter at @iTravelYork or the programme’s facebook page.