Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Clever promo videos the ESPN way



John Anderson gives up the seat, that he promised to save for Stuart Scott.  I'd give it up, too, if tennis star Maria Sharapova were looking to sit next to me.    


Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin took the NBA by storm early last year, when he played lights-out basketball as a New York Knick.  (He has since been traded to the Houston Rockets.)  Here he lends his smarts to anchor Jay Crawford.   


Olympian Natalie Coughlin has 12 medals to her credit.  Here she catches this little leprechaun red- ... er, green-handed with some of her winnings.


Phil Mickelson, known as Lefty in golf circles, schools Scott Van Pelt on proper body posture and eye sight while anchoring.

These commercial videos require very few, if any, props.  ESPN relies on its set, cubicles and cafeteria as its stage.  The script is simple and clever, and the acting required is minimal.  Of course it helps to bring in well-known athletes and draw on its own anchors as counterpoints.  

So as you conceive your own promo videos, draw on resources, settings and ingenuity you already have.  Persuade select friends or family to be part of it, if need be.  Decide on what appeal to take.  For example, the four videos above have a pretty star, smarty pants, sexy athlete, and zen master.       

No comments:

Post a Comment