INside Out: Commercial Tips
The Commercial
Commercials are advertisements that seek to promote the benefits of something by showing how that “something” is the solution to a common problem. In the case of INside Out, the problem is the poor health of many Hoosiers in Indiana. So what’s the solution? The solution is INShape Indiana. Consequently, you should focus your commercial on how the INShape Indiana initiatives of nutrition, physical activity, and avoiding tobacco can improve the health of your city or community.
So, now that you know what the problem is and how to solve it, you’ll want to create a plan, or filming schedule, for your commercial. One of the best methods for planning a commercial is storyboards. Think of the storyboard as a type of comic. Each block has a sketch or a picture with an action. Underneath the picture there is a line or two of dialogue describing what’s going on in the picture. You can photograph, draw, or handwrite a description of the action in a story board’s blocks. For each picture write out, or sum up, the action for your characters.
Download the INside Out Storyboard Template
Make as many copies as you need, but remember the commercial can only be one minute long. Don’t forget to write your name at the top of each page.
“But what if I don’t own a video camera?”
- See if your school’s audio video department, or radio and TV teacher, will grant you access to their equipment.
- Check and see if your school or local library has a camera that they loan out.
- Try scaling down your production and use the Web cam to film your commercial. Some libraries may have internet accessible computers with a Web cam.
- Check your local convenience stores for an inexpensive disposable digital camera.
- Tell a friend or neighbor with a camera that if they help you film, you’ll give them a role in the commercial.
- Ask a friend, relative, or neighbor if they own a camera that you can use for a school project.
If you’re still not sure of how to start, or need additional help, here is list of Web sites that are certain to help you ‘shoot’ like Spielberg.
Sites That Will Help You Create Your Commercial
- iMovie Project-offers information on how to shoot & edit
- The Storyboard Artist-examples of storyboards and how write & draw them
- Advertising Lesson Plan-Universal Studios version of a storyboard
- What is INShape Indiana?
- How do I create an INShape account?
- Where is the INShape Indiana login page?
- Is the old INShape Indiana tracking system still available?
- How do I request a representative from INShape Indiana to attend my event?
- Can I talk to an INShape Indiana nutritionist about my specific health needs?
- Can I talk to an INShape Indiana fitness trainer about my specific health needs?
