For Aberdeen resident Bob Hanley, a letter written to a reporter in Charlotte set in motion a chain of events that ensured his spot in a television commercial about home and auto insurance.

Hanley and his granddaughter, Sidney Glenn, 16, will be featured in an AAA commercial that was filmed Friday at the Hanley home on Montford Street in Aberdeen. A film crew was at the home from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shooting footage for the 30-second commercial, which is expected to air in larger television markets throughout North Carolina beginning in late March.

"Their professionalism was excellent. He (the director) was looking to get the shot and he waited patiently until he got just the perfect shot," Hanley said.

In January, Hanley responded to an article he read in the Charlotte Observer about shopping around for lower insurance rates. When he read the article, it resonated with him.

"The same thing happened to me," he said. "I had been with my current insurance company for 15 years, had no accidents, and then one day I got a letter in the mail telling me that my premiums were going up 32 percent."

Hanley was mentioned in a follow-up story on the subject published in The News & Observer of Raleigh on Jan. 23. The story caught the eye of representatives from AAA, and they contacted Hanley.

"They did an article in their GO Magazine (on Feb. 6), and then they asked me if I would do a commercial," he said.

A film crew and representatives from AAA spent a day with Hanley, his wife, Gail, and his granddaughter Sidney.

Being part of a commercial was something new for Hanley and Glenn.

While they waited for filming to begin, both Hanley and Glenn said they were nervous.

"I think she (Gail) is more nervous about this than us," Sidney Glenn said just moments before leaving the room to grab the piece of paper with her lines to rehearse a few more times.

Gail Hanley said she was confident that her granddaughter, who is a student at West Forsyth High School and regularly competes in equestrian events, and her husband would be fine.

"She's used to pressure, and he'll hit his mark. He's a pro at this," Gail Hanley said.

After the shooting, both stars of the commercial needed numerous takes to get that perfect shot.

"Poor Bob," Gail said. "He had to do about 80 takes."

Despite the long day, Bob Hanley said he appreciated the experience.

"It was truly an experience," he said. "Something I'll never forget."

Contact Tom Embrey at (910) 693-2484 or tembrey@thepilot.com.