Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Staff report
When it came time for Mark Monstrola to make a video in his bid to win Brides magazine’s Groom of the Year contest, the meteorologist for 21-WFMJ TV did what he knows best.
As a result, Monstrola is one of two remaining men in the online contest. If he garners the most votes this week, he’ll win a big-screen TV, a honeymoon package and a wedding band.
All contestants had to make a two-minute video. Monstrola’s is in the style of a weather report, using graphics and photos to illustrate how his life was before he met his fianc e, and after.
To view the video or vote in the contest, go to brides.com and click on the Groom of the Year button on the right. The other contestant is Victor Fuentes of Brooklyn, N.Y. The one with the most votes Monday morning wins.
Monstrola, 25, of Poland, is engaged to marry Shannon McGarry, also of Poland, on Sept. 17.
The idea for the weather-themed video came from a co-worker at WFMJ, said Monstrola.
“I was tossing around ideas, from doing an interview-themed video in Mill Creek Park, to Shannon and I traveling to all of the places that have become special to us throughout our relationship,” said Monstrola.
“However, with the equipment and personnel we have here at the station, the decision was an easy one. We had a bunch of Valentine’s Day-themed graphics in the system, so I decided to combine them with a weather twist to come up with the story. Everyone at the station helped out a ton getting this thing together. We have a bunch of creative and smart people around here. If it weren’t for them, the video never would have made it to the Internet.”
The video was made early last week, said Monstrola, who also thanked everyone in the Mahoning Valley for helping him reach the finals.