Commercial Assignment
This is old - and incomplete. I thought I had it finished and was just going to paste it in here but then I couldn't find it and when I did it was not complete. Here is what I have.
Charles Barkley and Dwayne Wade Commercial for T-Moblile
Not sure why exactly, but during the superbowl my husband and I just both really got a kick out of this particular commercial. Overall, the way the video was shot with constant calls filled with random tidbits and criticisms made you feel for Wade but also see the humor because it was not happening to you.
Breaking the commercial down:
Camera shots.
Several shots are used in this one minute commercial including: long shot, medium shot, close-up shot, tracking shot, wide-angle lens, and also avoids the zoom shot for effect.
The long shot, medium shot, and close up shots are used interchangeably throughout the commercial. The makers switch quickly between long shots and close up shots for effect with Charles Barkley to introduce him and then give the effect of in-your-face, which is ultimately what they are trying to create. The medium shots are used when the characters are together and combined with close-up shots when one character is talking to the other. The speaker is the focus of the shots. They do not take Dwayne Wade from long to close-up shots. Also, zoom is not used because they are attempting to show brisk transitions between shots to create either a sense of urgency/force (when Barkely is talking) or to create a manipulation of time and change of place to again help manipulate time. This leads the viewer to believe that the class are taking place over a period of several days/weeks at various times throughout any given day.
The wide-angle lens are used with Barkely to show his massive/impressive surroundings to support him as a massive/impressive figure himself. The tracking shot is used only once when the camera follows Wade down the tunnel. This the viewer believes is Wade heading to the locker room which has a sense of importnace or urgency as well - yet Barkely still calls ANYTIME.
Lighting
Low key lighting is used predominantly throughout the commercial. Low key lighting, according to the text, is used in detective, horror, or gangster movies - dark movies where power is an issue. This idea would fit the commercial because Barkley a figure with some power over his protegee Wade and though there is not horror present, there is a feeling of “gangsta� control over Barkley’s younger peer. The only places with high key lighting are in the bathrooms and bedrooms - places that should be private sanctuary type places of safety - which is not the case in the commercial creating this idea that no place is safe and Barkley really can/will call ANYTIME whether he is in the bathroom/working out or Wade is in the bathroom or bed.
Through lighting as well as scene/wardrobe changes, time is truly manipulated. Viewers do not know if this is happening in a day, a week, or longer. Fact is, it doesn’t matter in the commercial, the point is they are showing contact at ANYTIME.
Sound/Music
There are three sounds in the commercial - voice, a playful musical tune, and the T-Mobile chimes. The main sound in the commercial is the speaking parts of the characters. Their tones start out normal and unassuming with Wade showing and speaking excitement when Barkley announces he has added Wade to his Fave 5. This immediately changes as Barkley is loud and in charge, Wade is tolerant and stuck. At the end a spokesperson comes on and comments on T-Mobile. This voice is the only other voice besides the two central characters.
After the speaking begins a playful tune comes on in the background that sounds like clown music or a teasing/mocking tone. This fits well with the comedy of the commercial and keeps the commercial light and playful. Periodically the T-Mobile chimes also play along with the background music. Neither the music nor the chimes take over the voices of the characters.
Relationships
Initially the two characters are introduced individually but quickly share the screen, a short interaction, and then again are separate. In the scene they share, Barkley states he added Wade to his Fave 5, Wade is excited and tells Barkely to call “Anytime� which Barkley questions and Wade repeats, “Anytime� This alone is slightly commical and foreshadows the remaining scenes which depict Barkley’s literal interpretation and abuse of Wade’s “Anytime� comment. The relationship begins as friendly interactino and turns to friendly annoyance and tolerance-in a light manner. It remains a respectful relationship.