AS2:Task 3: Requirements for a production

Before the advertisement can even begin the process of physical creation, I must consider all of the elements needed to make it successful. We decided as a group to choose advert idea number one, which was the HowToBasic style advertisement. This means I will now need to decide on the following:

• Technical Equipment
•  Potential Filming Locations
• Actors 
• Costumes and Props

Technical Equipment

Due to the simplicity of the advertisements concept, the only technical equipment that will be needed is:

• A digital camera
• A tripod
• A blender

Getting hold of the camera and the tripod shouldn't be difficult, as the media department hire them out to students for free specifically for projects which will be presented in class. The blender itself is an average household item, which an individual from the production team can produce on the day. This means that none of the technical equipment will cost anything at all, as nothing else is needed. Also, the media department hire them out for as long as the group needs them, as long as they are returned safely and within a fair amount of time, so rushing isn't necessary. However, if for some reason we couldn't gain access to equipment for free we would have to hire it from a company. 
To hire a similar camera to those in the media department would cost £49 per day: 

To hire a similar tripod would cost £8 per day: 

Both from HireACamera.com

Potential Filming Locations

As the advertisements concept is incredibly simplistic, I feel as though we will need to film in different locations with multiple people doing the same thing. So as the milkshake is being made, different work surfaces could be used to show different locations, even if it's just in one persons house. However, as the projects aim is to get messy, it's probably a good idea to film somewhere that's easy to clean and can get covered in milk and ice cream without being potentially ruined. Locations could include:

• A kitchen worktop
• A kitchen table
• A table in the garden
• A garage that is empty and easy to clean

Although locations are limited due to the nature of this advertisement, I feel as though if we film in at least three different locations, it will bring more variety to the ad.

Actors

No specific actors are needed for this advertisement, as all that will be on camera is the persons arms and hands. This means that the entire group can be included by making their milkshake in various locations and no one needs to brush up on their acting skills like in past projects such as the pencil advertisement and the montage in which almost the entire group, except myself, are included in. This sounds too simple, however it will still be effective as for once we all get to be on camera, even if just our hands.

Costumes and props

There is limited props needed for this advertisement, including:

• A tea spoon
• A table spoon
• A bowl
• A plastic cup
• An empty milkshake bottle with no label

I realise that the list above is explained like the equipment used in cooking or baking, which essentially, it is! The only other props needed will be the actual ingredients themselves, including:

• Golden or maple syrup- confirmed as of April 2016: Maple.
• Vanilla ice cream
• Milk
• Sweet Waffles

No costumes will be needed, however participants in the advertisement should wear clothes they don't mind getting wrecked, as the process will be messy. This may also mean the camera may need to be in some kind of protective casing that is transparent so it does not get broken. 

AS2:Task 2: Generating Ideas

The Verdict

After watching a variety of different milkshake advertisements, as well as the ones in the previous post, I have finally decided a rough idea of what i want out advertisement to look like. Of course, our ideas at this point may be different, so after stating my idea, I will post our final idea complete with storyboard and unique selling point.

First Idea

Both of the advertisements i analysed in my previous post used humour, parody or some form of animation to create something both visually exciting, and selling. My first idea formulates from this, and I am hoping to create something similar, but without the animation as I unfortunately don't possess equipment advanced enough to create, record and edit this.

The first idea I have is to create a parody of  famous youtube personality known as 'HowToBasic'. This video blogger is unique to others, as no one online knows of his true identity, and his videos are a parody in themselves of DIY videos. His videos have been frequently posted since early 2012 and the popularity they've gained due to their overall weird content is outstanding, with over 6795449 followers as of 2016.  WARNING: The video below is a little strange. Viewer discretion is advised.

Although it seems a bit crazy, I do know where i'm going with this. The video above is indeed strange, however the method in this madness is to create something so mad that it goes 'viral'. A video goes 'viral' once it has been spread around the internet and gained so many views that it becomes known to everyone who frequently uses social media or watches television. For example, Madonna falling over at the Brits went 'viral' because a lot of people saw it and found entertainment in it.

So my idea is to use this childish humour and idea of parody for my advertisement. I will cut out the inappropriate sound effects and occasional feet shots, as i want this to be aired without censorship.

To begin the video, i want to show someone preparing the 'fresh' ingredients for the milkshake, so breaking up the waffles into small pieces, scooping ice cream, pouring milk and syrup. However, as they're doing this i want it to be messy as possible and look like it's difficult, exactly like HowToBasic does in his videos. From here, i want it to get more and more ridiculous, and use a variety of camera angles and cross cuts to create a confused and jolty scene. To end the advertisement i want the person to clear the mess and simply place down a bottle of our product with the name 'SmashShake' and slogan 'The easy way to Gourmet'.

My second idea is aimed more at a more mature audience. Also, for this advertisement, the entire group will be seen on camera rather than just the hands of one person. The form of this advertisement will be realist narrative rather than surrealism, and the style of repetition to promote the product more persuasively.

However, the advertisement will still contain some humour, as without it i feel an advertisement for positive products is a little bland. So to begin the advertisement, i will show a group of teenagers outside of a shop after buying drinks for a 'party', and then arriving at the 'party' and showing each other what they've bought. As the camera swoops over a line of alcohol being pulled out of bags, one of the teenagers will pull out our milkshake. The others will act confused after a zoom in on the product, and ask why the person has bought it to a party, to which they will reply by handing it over to them, with a dramatic pause on them holding it out. After they have all tasted it, and agreed that it's great, i will then show them all leaving the party except the one person who hasn't tried it and all going to que outside of the shop. I will then finally show the product left on a table at the part next to the lonely party, zoom in with the logo 'SmashShake, crashing the party since 2016'.