Smoke Signals 3
MAY 1,2006
Out Of The Rain And Into The Hollywood Spotlight
Tribal member Candace Modrell turns reality TV career into "commercial" success.
By Toby McClary
You may have already seen Tribal
member Candace Modrell and
not even have known it. Modrell
was recently cast in a nation-wide
commercial for the nation's largest
closeout retailer, Big Lots.
Modrell explained that she was
just shopping at Big Lots one day
and was approached by a casting
member asking her whether or
not she wanted to try out for an
upcoming ad campaign promoting
Big Lots.
"I thought why not," said Modrell.
"This could be kind of cool."
They asked Modrell to bring a
close friend or relative who had
never been to Big Lots. After think
ing it over, Modrell decided to ask
her good friend Kacey who Candace
described as "high maintenance
and someone that would never shop
at Big Lots."
Candace and Kacey then went
to their first appointment with
the casting crew and were asked
many questions, some personal and
some about their shopping habits.
Within several days of their first
interview, they were asked to come
back and film the commercial.
"I was so scared because I thought
we were going to look stupid," said
Modrell. "But we just shopped
around like normal people and they
said it was exactly what they were
looking for."
The idea behind the Big Lots
promotion was to find "real" people
with "real" lives and film them ex
ploring the store together as a true
documentary. The commercial can
be viewed on the Big Lots website
at: www.biglots.com. Just click on
the TV Commercials icon to view.
Beginning life as a small-town
girl, growing up in Springfield, Or
egon, Modrell quickly discovered a
desire for a taste of the big-city life.
She graduated from Thurston High
School in Springfield and attended
college at Lane Community College
in Eugene before packing up and
moving to Los Angeles, California
where her sister was already living.
"I wanted to experience some
thing exciting," said Modrell. "And
I wanted to get away from the
rain."
Now being cast in a nation-wide
commercial might seem pretty
exciting but Modrell's everyday
life could possibly be just as in
teresting. After working her way
through the ranks, Modrell is now
the Lead Production Accountant for
Mark Burnett Productions. Mark
Burnett is a well-known producer
creating several award-winning
reality shows such as Survivor, The
Apprentice and Rock Star: INXS.
"Mark Burnett is a very nice
man to work for," said Modrell.
"Whether I'm working on a specific
show or not, I always get invited to
the premiere parties."
Though Modrell leads a very
exciting and interesting lifestyle,
she seems to remain fairly modest
hoping to one day fulfill her dream
of opening a doggy daycare because
of her love for dogs.
"I'm a dog rescuer as well," said
Modrell. "I currently own four dogs.
They take up a lot of my time but
they are definitely worth it."
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Tribal member
Candace Modrell
When asked about her future in
the world of Hollywood, Modrell
had this to say:
"If more of these kind of things
came up, I would certainly do
them," she said. "But I don't think I
will pursue a career in acting." B
2006 GEramxdl Romxrile TuriilbaD
Community ftHeeftiiirocps GVIoftiice
This year the Tribal Member Community Meetings for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have been
scheduled to discuss the prioritization of Tribal programs and services and membership enrollment issues.
An informal open house, focused on available Tribal programs, will precede each of the meetings that take
place away from Grand Ronde. Your participation in these meetings is needed to help lay out the future of
the Tribe. A full buffet meal will be served at each meeting.
Monday, May 1, 2006
5 p.m. Open house Valley River Inn (Willamette Ballroom)
6 p.m. Dinner 1000 Valley River Way
Eugene, Oregon 97401
Directions: From 1-5 take exit 194b (1 105 west); then take the second exit (marked 1
Delta Highway Santa Clara, Junction City) and merge to the left lane; then take
the 1st exit to Valley River Center; go over the overpass; turn left onto
Valley River Way and the hotel is on the left at the end of the road.
Sunday, May 7, 2006
11 a.m. Start Grand Ronde Gym (the meal will be held in the Community Center)
19 n m T.nnrh Grand Ronde. Oreeon
This meeting will include the Regular General Council Meeting but the presentation and discussion will be the same as the other community
meetings. It will then be followed by new business.
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Sunday, May 21, 2006
11 a.m. Open house LaQuinta Inn
12 p.m. Lunch 32124 25th Avenue South
Federal Way, Washington 98003
Directions: Take exit 143 (320th Street) off 1-5 and turn west onto 320th. Then go about two blocks and turn left onto 25th Avenue. This
hotel is just off 1-5 and is 2 blocks east of SeaTac Mall (which is now called The Commons at Federal Way).
Monday, May 22, 2006
5 p.m. Open house Embassy Suites Hotel Portland Airport (Spruce & Pine Rooms)
6 p.m. Dinner 7900 N.E. 82nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97220
Directions: From 1-5 take the Banfield Fwy (1-84) to 1-205 and head north to the Airport and take the Airport exit (24) onto Airport Way.
Then take a left at 82nd Avenue (the hotel sets on the south side of the road and 82nd is the very first traffic light).
There will be a drawing for door prizes at the end of each community meeting. For additional information call the Planning & Grants De
velopment Department at 503-879-2250. If you can not attend and wish to comment on Tribal goal setting please write to Mr. Kim Rogers,
Planning & Grants Development, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. Comments from
these meetings will be used in guiding programs and in preparing grant applications (e.g. ICDBG, ANA, HeadStart).