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Pnn podcast — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:55:43 GMT

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Pnn podcast — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:46:50 GMT

Skittles Commercial: A Closer Look

Day. Two happy people face each-other.
Character 1 has a singing rabbit
Rabbit = Funny and Unusual
Character 2 is shown "wanting" rabbit
2 Characters trade Skittles for rabbit
Unusual Rabbit is = to 1 Skittles Bag
Character 2 is happy.
ThunderClap!
Color Change
Character 2 is glaring at rabbit
Rabbit is now annoying
Character 2 runs in rain
Character 2 envies happy Skittles Character
Rabbit bites Character 2 and runs away
Character 2 is at loss
Establishing shot/End/Skittles Slogan

This is a story of loss. When the creators of this commercial sat down to figure out how to drive up Skittles candy sales, I'm sure this wasn't the first thing they thought of. A commercial like this is planned, storyboarded, analyzed and eventually shot and edited. Think about this commercial. What is the story? What makes you care about the characters? Try and apply what you learn to your own media.

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Pnn podcast — Tue, 08 May 2007 01:27:51 GMT

Crash Course Storytelling

PNN's unofficial guide to making good video

Filming is Storytelling

Before you ever pick up the camera, know your story. Everything you do from now on revolves around your story. Live for your story. Visualize your story when you close your eyes and watch it as a movie in your head.

Your story can be about anything. It's your job to make it interesting.

Think about what makes your story interesting
Why do you care about this story?
If something grabs you by the lips and screams, "hey listen to me!" you might just have a story

Think about your favorite TV show.

What do you remember most?
Chances are, the show is based on a character
Chances are, you care about the character
Chances are, the character is a little like you

Dissect your favorite TV show. Then dissect your show.

Example: The Simple Life
Premise: It's funny to watch "rich" people doing "every day" things

You want to see Paris and Nicole's horrified reactions
You want them disgusted (emiotion) by cleaning a pig pen
However, you also want them to learn something
You want them to find a way to get the job done
You want justice; to make them see how hard everyone else has it

Bingo! That's the bottom line of The Simple Life: Justice for "the rest of us." It's our chance to teach them a lesson.

Paris and Nicole became Scapegoats for the upper class. This skyrocketed their careers. Audiences felt they could finally relate to characters they would be alienated from. This is the premise of good stories: bringing people together.

Your story may be about a sales rep who is trying to break into the world of professional wrestling, or perhaps your story is about a zookeeper who refuses to retire. Whatever your story idea, it's your job to use video and audio in a way that makes your audience care about your character.

Keep in Mind:

A well-planned, weekly (even bi-monthly), story with good emotion and character is far more likely to be enjoyed by your audience than a show that has a lot of content, airs daily and says nothing. It takes time to make and edit a good show, so try and capture the "soul" of everything you do. Due to the nature of video editing, shoot for quality over mass quantity.

Stories on PNN - Podcast

MORE TO COME!

New Article

Skittles Commercial: A Closer Look

New Article

Crash Course Storytelling