shot by shot scene analysis

I chose The Silver Trucks commercial featuring Paul Rodriguez. It stands out compared to most product commercials and the lighting is very different.

First it starts out by showing an extree close up of the actual trucks for a skateboard. The trucks are in the rule of thirds both horizontally and vertically.  Light reflecting of the silver makes them look good.

The next shot is a skateboarder rolling by and staying in the third edges of the frame. The close up shows that the focus is in the trucks, and not the skater.

The next shot shows Paul Rodriguez, who is easily recognized in the skateboarding community. He is on the right third of the frame and lit while the background is dark so the attention is on him. I personally like the colored lens flare that adds more character to the shot.

The next shot goes back to the skateboard where he performs a trick. The close up and main focus is the trucks. What really brings more flavor to this shot is the silhouette of the skateboard. The only light that is visible is along the lines of the trucks. The background and foreground are black, while the trucks have a beam of light going through them. This is pretty direct and a DP's dream.

The next shot is a pan shot of him doing a trick that involves balancing on the trucks. The framing makes sure not to show his face, so you don't focus on him, but the board and trucks. This shot has is very low key and puts only the action in focus. No distractions in the foreground or background.

The next shot is very interesting because it's a tracking shot and the skateboard is the main thing lit. There are two light sources coming from the ground that has the perfect effect on the board. The lights just look plain cool, and helps keep his location a mystery. The lights are on the right third while the bench is on the left third.

This shot is another panned shot, but a little closer on him. The camera is put on this side of the bench to show the underside of the board and the trucks. It is dead center in the frame so all the attention is focused on the board. The back and side lights create lots of contrast.

This is a silhouette shot of Paul. He is on the right third of the frame and the edge where the light fades off into the darkness is on the bottom third.

The next shot just shows him siting on the bench smiling and being happy because it sends a positive image for the trucks. Lots of contrast. Very low key with a strong light source to the left. He is on the right third and the bench is on the bottom third.

Then a shot that gives him credibility and establishment shows up. He is on the right third of the frame and is the only thing lit. Because there is so much darkness in front of him, a white title fits perfectly. The empty space opens up your mind to the abyss and shows that the possibilities are endless with these trucks.

The last shot is just a black background and the white logo for silver trucks. It is in the middle to show importance. The black background and lit subject in the middle keeps continuity with the rest of the commercial. If it was bright and a rainbow, it would ruin the whole feel.


Video link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLBGFscWskU