TV COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION FOR GS-YUASA

CREATIVE

It was this huge range of fascinating applications that became the inspiration for
the creative approach we took, pitching the idea of seeing the world through a child’s eyes. One of the main aims of the TV advert production brief was to raise awareness of the brand so it was important to find a way for one of the characters to say ‘GS-Yuasa’ in the script. On this point, we feel like we particularly nailed the landing.
We love this sort of work, like this TV Commercial for Co-op or this TV ad for Buy as you View.

PRE-PRODUCTION

Obviously, storyboards are key with a creative television advertising project like this and animatics are a good tool for ensuring that TV ads don’t run longer than the allotted air time. But something we’ve learned through experience is that the safest option is simply to shoot a rough ad with a couple of volunteers and an iPhone. It flags up any problem scenes or odd cuts and can be both lifesaving and inspirational.
That’s all useful technical stuff but like any project, from commercial corporate video to film for the cinema, it will live or die in casting. As GS-Yuasa is a global company the international usage options required for cast were absolutely fiendish to work out but once this was confirmed our director, Patrick Killingbeck, got to work. All of the cast did a great job but particular credit goes to young actress Florence Whitmore who was genuinely wonderful.

PRODUCTION

for a shoot involving a child actor, cars, a motorbike and a bit of a trek up a hill on day 3 to get a good view of the wind turbines. The only major problem we encountered was on the third day – wind turbine day. The view was magnificent except for all the mist! Thankfully we’d scheduled a light day and we had time to wait for it to clear.

Fun Fact Film Fans!

All SUVs sold in the UK now have tinted windows in the back to protect children from prying eyes. Great news for privacy conscious parents. Less fun for film crews trying to shoot through the window!