Walter Jones is known to his Postal Service colleagues as the man behind the camera, but now he’s moved center stage.
Jones, an acting multimedia specialist, helps create training videos, online materials and other productions in Detroit District.
These days, he also appears in “Biggest Gift,” the first TV commercial in this year’s USPS holiday advertising campaign.
“This was a great learning experience to give me a different perspective in my current job,” said Jones, who was flown to Los Angeles to film the ad.
The spot shows a young boy longing to replace his teddy bear’s missing nose. The boy’s parents order a new nose that a letter carrier, played by Jones, delivers in time for Christmas.
Although the Postal Service uses actual employees for all of its ads, participants aren’t necessarily shown performing their real-life jobs.
Jones auditioned for a previous advertising campaign a few years ago but wasn’t selected. He decided to apply again this year.
“I thought I’d give it another try and see what happens,” he said.
To other employees interested in appearing in USPS advertising, Jones has two pieces of advice.
“Be yourself when you create the audition video,” he said. “And keep trying. You never know when it will be your turn to represent the Postal Service in a big way.”