PSA to make a splash on Hayden Lake

There will be drama today on Hayden Lake. Literally.

A local production company will film a scene in which out-of-control Jet Ski-ers leave a fisherman and his two grandchildren soaked in their wake.

“They’ll come zooming in, throwing up a big spray of water and splashing the family, which is not a nice thing to do,” producer Syd Albright said.

After the big splash, Kootenai County sheriff’s marine deputies will swoop in and arrest the offenders, impounding their personal watercraft.

It’s part of a public service announcement on lake safety that Albright’s K County Productions is shooting free of charge for distribution to television stations. The company is working with the Sheriff’s Department on the project.

Albright said the commercial, which should be ready to air by August, is intended to be a dramatic message to personal watercraft users.

“We want to smack ‘em right between the eyes so that people say, ‘This is serious,’ ” he said.

The commercial will star two reserve marine deputies, Dustin Repp and Travis Smith, who several years ago filmed a promotional recruitment video for the county’s marine deputy program.

“They really like to ham it up in front of the camera,” said Sgt. Matt Street, who oversees the marine deputies.

Street said the department regularly gets complaints about personal watercraft coming too close to docks.

The production will involve a crew of 33, many of whom have worked in Hollywood, Albright said.

Albright is a member of Kootenai and North Idaho Film, Video and Entertainment Society, which is seeking to attract more productions to the region. Many KNIFVES members are volunteering for the PSA, he said.

Albright said his company’s ultimate goal is to attract a feature film to North Idaho. And to remind Jet Ski-ers to play nice on the lakes, of course.