TV COMMERCIAL ASSIGNMENT

Group Commercial Project – Students will work in small groups to produce a 60 second TV commercial that
expresses a dramatic conflict in story form to promote its product. These projects will be evaluated for proper exposure,
technical expertise, creativity, and effectiveness as a promotional spot. Projects will include sound and be shot in widescreen.
Project is to be turned in on disc for playback. These discs will not be returned after grading. Make a copy for
yourself and your partners. See the details below:

Assignment Requirements:

1. Project must be exactly 60 seconds long, not including color bars (10 seconds), slate(10 seconds), and 10 second countdown (which are required). Should land between :59;15 and 1:00;00. Add the pre-roll elements in last so you can use the timeline markers to help you know the length.

2. Project must be in color and shot in HD widescreen. No letterboxing should be seen. Make sure the camera is in 16x9 mode when shooting.

3. Project should be turned in on data disc -not a video DVD. Export using H.264 at 1280 x 720, progressive 60 fps (even if shot in 24p) at 8 mbit/s datarate.

4. This is a TV commercial, so it must promote a product, service, or organization in some manner. Public service announcements are allowed for this project. This can be soft-sell or hard-sell. Either way, it must be mostly dramatic. Dramatic refers to the use of actors with dialogue to help set the scene or create a situation. There are various structures for this type of commercial. Here are some examples:
     a. Scene starts with a problem or conflict, the product or service is introduced, the product or service is tried, and the problem or conflict is solved. Ends with a product/logo shot and possible announcer.
     b. Scene starts with a situation that seems unresolved, the commercial switches to a moderator or narrator segment that discusses the project or service. We then return to the dramatic situation until it is resolved. Ends with a product/logo shot.
     c. Spot starts with an announcer or moderator who introduces a situation. The drama then begins and moves through to the resolution. The moderator/narrator returns with product/logo shot.

5. The project may be edited using any professional software (Premiere Pro, Avid, Final Cut, or Vegas). To show you did this, a screen shot of your completed timeline must be printed out and turned in with the disc or added to the data disc as another file item. You may use AfterEffects for the logo/product shot if animation is needed. Photoshop is also allowed. Audio sweetening is allowed using other software. Everything should be original, except for the use of product trademarks, etc. You may not use any footage that you haven't shot yourselves. No stock footage. Choose to use products and services that would not be offensive to an Evangel audience or violate the student code of conduct.

6. There are three main areas of evaluation for this project:

     a. Does the project seem to have professional quality in terms of camera work and editing.

     b. Does it seem the actors understood their role and tried to give a good performance based on the group's directions.

     c. Are advertising strategies and product appeal being communicated effectively? Does the spot serve the client appropriately?

7. You may use any product, service, or organization for your commercial provided it actually exists, that one would expect it would be advertised, that it does not violate the student handbook, or have any sexual or immodest connotations.

8. You may not act in your own project, but may use friends or other people in the class for actors. Your group is the crew - crew people are not in their own spots.

9. Try to have fun while doing this. : )