GS-Yuasa is a Japanese company that manufactures batteries. We were asked by the performance-driven branding agency Orb to help out with GS-Yuasa’s first-ever TV Commercial production. We’ve worked with the Orb team for years, doing multiple ads for Glide and some other projects. In 2021 Orb had pulled a stunt to get Gymshark‘s attention (that worked REALLY WELL) and when they needed something to extend their moment in the sun we produced this video for them. They gave us the campaign background and a list of things that were, or had been, powered by GS-Yuasa batteries.
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.
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.
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!
They always say ‘show don’t tell’, so on this point we’ll let our behind the scenes video we put together do the talking.
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