︎
Tarik W
                     //RETRO THEMED VIDEO GAME COMMERCIAL

A small compilation of the ads back in the 90s that helped inspire the concept of this video. The idea for this commercial was to mock micro-transactions in video game, a concept that didn’t quite exist in the 90s but is very prevalent in some games today. Where unlocking levels and items are no longer earned but must be purchased instead. To replicate the style of an early 90s ad, I used various forms of practical effects. A make-shift light manipulator; sort of like an umbrella with different coloured lighting gels, was spun continuously in front of the key light to motivate the light for a flickering tv. A fog machine was used for atmosphere, this was also paired with a leaf blower and torn pieces of paper to help motivate the energy emitting from the TV. It was a lot of fun using this in the actor’s – Charlie – face.

This video was originally shot on a HD DSLR, though for a 90s ad the imagery was a little too clean. To really breakdown the pixels, I passed the final edit through a VHS player twice to achieve an authentic 90s feel. Before passing the footage through the VHS, I oversaturated the colours to help make them 'bleed' over the edges. The process for the VHS pass involved burning the HD footage onto a DVD disc, plugging the DVD player into an analogue CRT TV and capturing the DVD footage onto a VHS tape using the TV’s built-in VHS player. This was then re-digitised by capturing the VHS footage by Firewire. Aspect ratio was changed from 16:9 to 4:3.

I drew-up a rough storyboard to help visualise the main shots that were needed on the day of filming. I always find them helpful as more often than not, illustrations tend to be understood more clearly and negates most confusion. It acts as a helpful and loose guide to follow throughout the day.