Research Blog: Commercial Conventions

For my commercial, I decided to use Body Armor the sports drink. Although this drink is not as popular as Gatorade, I chose to do it because it is a healthier option and one of my favorite drinks. In this type of commercial, the viewers normally see athletic individuals taking part in sports or exercising. As I was researching, by watching different advertisements, this convention was expressed throughout the entirety of most ads. The actors were either in an outside setting or a training facility. The setting, facial expressions, and background music made the commercials even more powerful. The setting always seamlessly matched the intensity being portrayed in the advertisement. Moreover, the facial expressions of the actors also added to the excitement of the ad. To bring it all together, the background music was upbeat and it did not take away from the overall point of the ad. They utilized props like soccer balls, golf clubs, tennis rackets, basketballs, Body Armor, and much more. A variety of sports were also consistently represented in the ads. Body Armor, in particular, emphasized their message of the drink being able to help you regardless of what physical activity you are participating in. In commercials for Body Armor, motivational voiceovers were always used to express these messages clearly. In comparison to many other ads, Body Armor focused more on their message rather than just showing the product repeatedly. They would physically show the Body Armor towards the end of the commercial to leave that lasting effect. The actors were in shape and wearing athletic clothing like shorts, thinner shirts, tights, compression shirts, athletic sneakers, and more. Actors were also shown intensely performing their activities drenched with sweat. A great amount of the actors who were included in the ads were well-known athletes who were there to further endorse the products. By having famous athletes along with normal actors in the Body Armor commercials it effectively represented their selling point. It showed that no matter who you are or what you are doing, this product can help you perform at your best. I also noticed that close-up, long, and establishing shots was used in the advertisements. In addition to the pan, zoom, and hand-held camera movements. All of these conventions combined, produce eye-catching commercials that have the audience eager to buy their products.