Research blog: Commercial Conventions

 Research: commercial conventions and codes  

My group is doing a commercial in a record store. The audience usually sees people walking around the store or enjoying the music from the records.  

-Includes colorful visuals/graphics (often sticking to one specific Triadic/ complementary color scheme ex: red, blue, yellow) 

-Most of these commercials took place in the ’90s and can be described as” vintage” 

-There is a very upbeat mood/ setting.  

-There are voiceovers and music in the background most of the time  

-Props include records, cassettes, CDs, turn tables, and sometimes instruments and posters. They advertise their products by using shots and close-ups and pans of the interior of the store that showcase the shelves the vinyls are on  

-They often name famous band records they have in stock first. They start the commercial with a persuasive hook, including many deals. They lay the options out in front of you  

-Sometimes the actors dance to music  

-Clothes they wear can be described as “retro”  

-Record store name and location are often at the very end of the commercial  

- Creates a dramatic effect by zooming out dramatically on the records  

-sometimes the characters are put through situations where their turntables break and they need to upgrade to a better one.  

-Since these commercials were primarily filmed in the 90s most have VHS effect that makes them look “vintage”  

-Characters wear colorful clothes that match the atmosphere, and they have unique hairstyles.  

-Usually, more than one person is in the commercial invoking a feeling of kind of like peer pressure in a way? They are all trying to persuade you to buy this record. 

-They talk over softly played music in the background. 

-They could cut from one scene or action to another. 

For our commercial, my group decided to do a record store. In these commercials, the audience is often shown people walking around the store and enjoying music from the records. Most commercials also include:  

-colorful visuals/graphics (often sticking to one specific Triadic/ complementary color scheme ex: red, blue, yellow). 

-upbeat moods and music. 

-Voiceovers are used to describe the products.  

-cross-cutting between two people in the store. 

-Sound bridge when showing the outside of the store than inside or the other way around. 

-props like records, cassettes, CDs, turn tables, and sometimes instruments and posters.  

-Close-ups and pans of the interior of the store that showcase the shelves and the vinyl that is on. 

-showcasing famous band records they have in stock.  

-a persuasive hook, including a lot of deals (they lay the options out in front of you). 

-Actors dancing to music. 

-” retro” styled clothes. 

-record store name and location (often at the very end of the commercial). 

-dramatic effects like zooming out dramatically on the records. 

-scenarios between characters like someone's turntable breaks and they need to upgrade to a better one.  

-VHS effects to make it look more “vintage”. 

-colorful clothes that match the atmosphere and unique hairstyles. 

-pathos and emotional manipulation like peer pressure. 

-talking over softly played music in the background.