-
My first television commercial!
Hi all,
I’m so excited because I just got my first job at making a series of commercials for local TV near my hometown in Endicott, NY. The first commercial is a 30 second spot for Nanticoke Gardens (nanticokegardens.com). I’m posting here to see if anyone could contribute some interesting ideas.
The first commercial needs to promote Nanticoke Gardens’ products and that they’re open for Mother’s day. Their main goal is to lower the average age of people purchasing to middle-ages homeowners. I already have an idea in mind, but anybody have something outside of the box?
It would be greatly appreciated as I brainstorm!
Thanks,
Ryanryangschultz.com
SUNY Oswego (Broadcasting & Graphic Design)
Sony HDR-AX2000
MacBook Pro (Snow Leopard) 2.66Ghz, 4GB RAM -
17 Replies
-
Follow a trail of “hints” mom has left around the house….maybe using large thumbprints in green, as narration talks about giving mom what she really wants for mother’s day. The thumbprints are on EVERYTHING: cups of coffee, the morning paper, all over the bathroom mirror, the TV remote, etc.
Another take may be happy homeowners who nevertheless feel something is still missing from their home (green stuff).
Coffee klatch in dining room, husband is in the other room getting a snack in the kitchen but overhears some women gossiping about stuff, you hear pieces of it, phrases like “… they got potted so unbelievably fast…”,”….never saw two lips so beautiful…”, and “…I always wear gloves when I do it…” Hubby is starting to worry what’s going on, then spies the Naticoke Gardens catalog or flyer or whatever on the countertop, maybe with some items circled. Relieved, he shrugs and goes back to wherever with his coffee and snack. Narration something under the ending like “Women are hard to figure out sometimes… but easy to make happy. Springtime sale going on NOW, at Naticoke Gardens. She’ll think you’re a genius. (Even though it’s her idea.)”
-
Hm, I kind of like the first idea. The idea I had is based on a more urgent approach.
The commercial would start with a middle aged man quickly waking up (like popping up in bed) with a surprised expression, as the narrator says “Forget about Mother’s Day?” Then a series of quick cuts follow, seat belt buckling, key turning in the ignition, then a car pulling up to Nanticoke Gardens. Then the narrator would continue by speaking of all the wonderful things Nanticoke Gardens has to offer while video is playing of their merchandise and employees helping the man choose something. Then at the end, a door would open revealing the man’s aged mother with a big smile on her face followed by a graphic with information about dates and times open, find us on facebook, etc.
How’s that sound?
ryangschultz.com
SUNY Oswego (Broadcasting & Graphic Design)
Sony HDR-AX2000
MacBook Pro (Snow Leopard) 2.66Ghz, 4GB RAM -
Guy wakes up in bed, seen from above, the bed is absolutely covered in tiny flowers (or sod).
Bathroom: reaching for his toothbrush, there are a bunch of flower stems in the stand.
Breakfast: looks down, the cereal bowl is full of…. mulch.
smash-cut to:
Mother’s Day, (graphics popping) wife opening gift box of stuff clearly labeled as from the client’s place.
Mom (faking total surprise):“Oh, it’s PERFECT! How did you EVER know???”
Hubby (faking total confidence): “Men just have an instinct for these things, dear.”Cut to narrator tag and full screen logo and other info
-
[Mark Suszko] “Follow a trail of “hints” mom has left around the house….maybe using large thumbprints in green, as narration talks about giving mom what she really wants for mother’s day. The thumbprints are on EVERYTHING: cups of coffee, the morning paper, all over the bathroom mirror, the TV remote, etc.”
The kernel of this idea — someone applying a green thumb imprint — is so wonderful and extensible it almost makes me weep. This is not just a concept for a Mothers’ Day ad; this would be a perfect foundation for branding and campaigns for years to come.
It’s so visual, it’s a lot of fun, it makes gardening feel very accessible, it would be extremely distinctive, and you can tell so many stories with it. It works across web, print and video, and with a little effort, it could work on the radio, too. It’s like the Easy Button of gardening.
Mark, if this is what you come up with off-the-cuff to share on a web forum, I am looking you up the next time I’m stuck on an idea.
Ryan, you could do a lot worse than to build your campaign around this, and your client could do a lot worse than to adopt this into the rest of their branding and in-store signage.
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
I really like all these ideas. But wouldn’t the idea of a husband finding like flower petals in his bed and a flower in the toothbrush holder, etc, be more visual and more easily understood than greene thumbprints? I’m trying to think how you could make large green thumbprints really stand out on all these objects when it could be as simple as a flower in a toothbrush holder or flower petals in bed?
Let me know, my brain is already storming with script ideas for both these concepts haha.
ryangschultz.com
SUNY Oswego (Broadcasting & Graphic Design)
Sony HDR-AX2000
MacBook Pro (Snow Leopard) 2.66Ghz, 4GB RAM -
Thanks, Walter.. you mean it doesn’t make you hungry for beef stew? The thumbprint is not entirely original, then again, so few things in advertising are.
I like spitballing ideas, I’m an idea machine. They might not all be great. But enough of them will be. My problem generally is, I don’t get hooked up with people who can afford to implement my best ideas.
-
Well thank you for your help Walter, I appreciate you responses.
ryangschultz.com
SUNY Oswego (Broadcasting & Graphic Design)
Sony HDR-AX2000
MacBook Pro (Snow Leopard) 2.66Ghz, 4GB RAM -
Oops sorry I meant Mark. But Walter thank you also! Haha
ryangschultz.com
SUNY Oswego (Broadcasting & Graphic Design)
Sony HDR-AX2000
MacBook Pro (Snow Leopard) 2.66Ghz, 4GB RAM -
“I’m trying to think how you could make large green thumbprints really stand out on all these objects”
It’s been done before but works, mute the color on everything else in the shot. Have the green thumb be the only thing that is full color. When you follow the thumbs through the house, have it end at a catalog for Nanticoke Gardens also be in full color.
Good luck,
Doug
-
WOW!
Ryan you owe Mark some compensation. Maybe some lawn furniture.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up