write a script for a 30-second television commercial for a product or entity of your choice

Advertising Assignment Description and Rubric

For this assignment, you will write a script for a 30-second television commercial for a product or entity of your choice. Submit the completed assignment on CANVAS.

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Developing your script: Decide on a format: narrative, or information-based, or experimental. A narrative format involves a short scene or story, and has characters on screen. Narratives can be serious (like a Subaru commercial) or humorous (like many beer commercials). An information-based format typically uses direct address (an announcer or spokesperson speaking directly to the audience), and describes the qualities of the product. Make sure that you actually research the product and provide true information about it. Commercials for home repair companies, banks, and household products often use this format. Lastly, an experimental format is more like an experimental short film and typically uses sounds and images to create an experience that is not directly narrative or informational. Nike commercials and perfume commercials are often more experimental.

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Script layout: Use either two-column or three-column layout. Two-column layout has one column for visuals and one column for audio. Three-column layout has one column for visuals, one column for speech/scripted audio, and one column for sound effects and music. If your audio will involve multiple sources at once, three-column layout is clearer. If you want to include music, you must actually find the music and include a link to it in your script (including an indication of starting and ending times). Don’t just say “sad music plays”. Describe visuals clearly. Feel free to draw storyboards if that helps you get across the visuals you want.

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Formatting your script: When necessary, you can use camera instructions such as CU (Close Up), MS (Medium Shot), or LS (Long Shot), but use these sparingly. Label any text you want to appear on screen as a graphic or chyron. Dialogue: Put the character’s name and a colon in front of their dialogue. (Optional: label it SOF in parenthesis for Sound on Film). Voiceover: Put VO: in front of it.

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Timing: Read your script out loud to make sure that it is roughly 30 seconds long.

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Grading Rubric: Advertising Assignment

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