AHN HIEU WEDDING VIDEO SPOT:
OVERVIEW:
This is my first stab at making a TV commercial. With today's technology I believe we can make high quality videos that portray exceptionally dramatized slices of life that pay rich dividends.
This week's challenge is to make an ad for An Hieu Wedding, a Vietnamese wedding card company. After a brief meeting with the brass, we've decided that the best approach to stimulate sales is to offer discounts in short term marketing campaigns. How will we do it? Well, it turns out that in Vietnam--ordering wedding cards is a last minute ordeal--which gives us plenty material to play with in the realm of comedy.
Therefore, I envision a skit where an engaged couple is enjoying a romantic moment until the fiancee asks the groom about whether or not he sent out the wedding invitations (like the one her friend is holding), as the wedding is just one week away. When he realizes he forgot, everything turns upside down to the point where even the dog shakes it's head at him.
Then, when fiancee looks away in disgust to talk to her friend about how forgetful he is, his friend slips him an AHW business card and tells him to call An (can mean brother) Hieu and that "everything with be OK." The groom excuses himself, pretending to go to the bathroom and is comically seen in slow motion sprinting to make the call, at which point--we see the mouth of brother Hieu saying: don't worry--everything will be OK."
From there we show shots at the ceremony, with the wedding cards in sight on the table, and everybody content--until they ask the bridegroom being asked if he brought the ring. He then turns in terror looking to brother Hieu for help, only to see him comically throw up his hands.
THE SCRIPT:
AN HIEU WEDDING COMMERCIAL
SHOOT DATE: 08 FEB 2020
CAST:
BRIDE - Nguyễn Lữ Tâm Bình
MAID - Hà Vân
GROOM - Nguyễn hoà ng long
BEST - Nguyễn Hà Anh Kiệt
CANADIAN - Jai Jind
BAR SCENE
INTERIOR | L'ANNAM MIXOLOGY WINE BAR | EVENING | SITTING
SCENE SETTING:
Two couples, BRIDE and GROOM & MAID and BEST are sitting at a table in a romantic lounge.
ACTION:
MAID pulls out her wedding card and looks at BRIDE.
MAID
Look at these wedding cards we just got from BROTHER HIEU? Aren't they lovely? I'm so glad we got this done on time! Our wedding is only two weeks away.
ACTION:
BRIDE takes the cards. She is amazed at their beauty.
BRIDE
Wow these are amazing! So elegant. I love it!
ACTION:
BRIDE turns and looks at GROOM.
BRIDE
Honey, where are our wedding invitations? The wedding is only a week away and I have to send the invitation to my English teacher in Canada.
ACTION:
GROOM looks at BRIDE with fear. He just realizes that he forgot to order the wedding cards.
GROOM then looks at BEST for help.
BRIDE'S face changes from angel to devil and throws her hands up in frustration.
BRIDE
You always forget everything!
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT:
The waitress shakes her head at GROOM with squinted eyes.
ACTION:
BRIDE turns to complain to Maid of Honor.
BRIDE
He always forgets everything!! I don't know why I said "yes" to him when he asked me to marry him!!
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT: BRIDE CONTINUES COMPLAINING TO MAID OF HONOR AND
FADE OUT INTO THE BACKGROUND.
ACTION:
BEST Secretly slides AHW contact card to GROOM. camera zooms in on the card detail.
BEST MAN
Call BROTHER HIEU, he'll make everything OK.
ACTION:
GROOM stands up calmly with the card hidden in his hand
GROOM
Baby, I have to go to the toilet. Please excuse me.
ACTION:
GROOM goes out the door.
SCENE TRANSITION:
scene transitions to the outside of the bar.
STREET SCENE
EXTERIOR | OUTSIDE OF BAR ON WALKING STREET | DAY | RUNNING
SCENE SETTING:
GROOM is outside of the bar trying to call BROTHER HIEU to print his wedding cards.
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT:
GROOM Runs and jumps down the stairs - camera IN slow motion - and looks for his phone in his pocket. he realizes he FORGOT it.
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT:
AN OLD MAN THEN throws it to him -camera IN slow motion AS HE CATCHES IT.
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT:
A woman on the street shakes her head at him with squinted eyes.
ACTION:
Groom calls and Mr. Hieu answers.
GROOM
Brother Hieu, I need your help! I forgot to print my wedding cards and am getting married next week! Can you fix it?
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT: Camera only shows the lips of BROTHER HIEU say in serious tone:
BROTHER HIEU
OK!
BEACH SCENE
ext. | BEACH BAR HUE ON THE BEACH | AFTERNOON/EVENING | WALKING
SCENE SETTING:
the two couples ARE happily walking along the beach. CANADA is not revealed yet.
ACTION:
MAID looks happily at BRIDE’S new AHW wedding invitations in admiration of their quality.
MAID
WOW, these are even prettier than mine, and done just in time!
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT:
camera pans over to reaveal CANADA walking with the group, holding his own invitation. He looks up at them shaking his head
CANADA
Yeah, good thing BROTHER HIEU got these made so fast, or I wouldn't have been able have made it to tomorrow's wedding. By the way did you guys like the custom wedding bands that I sent you last week?
ACTION:
BRIDE’S face changes from angel to devil. Slowly turns to GROOM:
BRIDE
Honeeeey? did you...
ACTION:
GROOM looks over to BEST and CANADA in FEAR.
ACTION:
BEST and CANADA look back with their hands up in defeat, signally that they cannot help him.
SPECIAL CAMERA SHOT:
A random woman on the beach shakes her head at GROOM with squinted eyes.
ACTION:
BEST throws GROOM his phone to call for help. GROOM dives – CAMERA IN SLOW MOTION – and catches the phone.
ACTION:
scene ends with GROOM sprinting down the beach - camera in slow motion- calling BROTHER HIEU as BRIDE chases him.
NOTES FOR SUCCESS:
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Should use professional cameras with lenses that support "depth of field effect."
Should use more than one camera to grab multiple angles of actors' faces.
Cameras should be able to film in slow-motion.
The frame rate must mimic traditional cinema 35mm film.
LOCATIONS:
Cafe / Restaurant should be elegant enough to highlight the quality of the wedding cards.
Ballroom should be small enough to allow a minimal use of actors and extras.
There should be shots of local landmarks for people to identify with.
ACTING:
The lead actors Bride (B) and Bridegroom (BG) should be able to act well and be very animated.
The Bride has to know how to get angry in a cute and funny way.
The Bridegroom should be very expressive to communicate his fear of his wife's wrath.
AUDIO:
The sound recording, effects, and music score are the most important actor in the production.
A professional company must assist in capturing the voices of the actors and sound effects.
THE RESULT:
A work in progress. Still yet to be completed. Commentary coming soon.