Here are the top 10 Car commercials you can use to inspire your next project.
Crafting Epic Car Commercials
Unveiling the Art of Automotive Storytelling
The best commercials are mini movies.
We love them.
Although short in length, ranging from :30 seconds to 2 minutes on average, a carefully crafted , edited commercial with a good storyline can create a lasting impression on the audience.
Of all genres, the Automotive genre is one of our favorite categories of commercials. A good car commercial will captivate you with a blend of stunning visuals, innovative editing, riveting sound design, and a theme stated that if done right, will leave you fulfilled with the story conclusion.
If it’s done its job, you may be going to the dealership later on.
To make an amazing car commercial there are some critical elements it needs to stand above the competition:
- Editing
- Color Grading
- Sound Design
- Storyline
- Cinematography
- VFX
- Emotional Appeal
These are all vital ingredients in an auto commercial.
Below is a list of our 10 “Dreamvision™ Certified” favorite automotive commercials we use as inspiration in our creative projects.
Sick Editing
When editing a car commercial, a vital element is the pacing.
Pacing in editing refers to the speed of the cuts. The editing team must manipulate the footage to create a lot of excitement whenever we see the car driving.
Montage scenes using slots of speedometers, car tracking shots flying by, drone shots and quick detail inserts all come together to create a fast paced speed that creates the experience.
The Porsche “The Heist” super bowl commercial showcases the perfect blend of dynamic editing, changing from fast paced to slow paced shots to keep us interested. This commercial also integrates humor into the edit which makes the overall video more fun and light hearted. In general the edit is a vital part of the experience.
Color Grading
Color grading plays a vital role in the overall tone and emotion of the commercial. The color will set the mood, and usually the color grade will be designed to compliment the color of the cars in the video. This will help the car stand out. Many times it is smart to ensure the color grade stays on brand with the company. For example in most Ferrari commercials, you will definitely see a lot of red as well as colors that complement red to ensure it remains on Brand. On the below video you will notice how they desaturated all colors except for the orange that is the color of the lamborghini
Sound Design
Like most professional commercial sound design is critical. Even more so for car commercials. A professional car commercial just isn’t the same without well-crafted sound design. Making the right choice of sound effects , ambient noise and music can elevate the experience and make an impression on those watching. The Lamborghini Revuelto commercial is a masterpiece in sound design. It elevates the story and makes us feel like we are there in that environment.
Storyline
Storyline is the glue that holds together all great films.Not all car commercials have a strong, clear storyline, but the good ones will. Story will always win in our eyes. However you can still make a great automotive commercial even with a basic storyline. The tried and true beginning, middle and end always works, aka the 3 act structure. The storyline should have a setup section introducing the world we are entering, a body section where the fun and games are occurring, and some type of ending with a twist or conclusion that surprises us. The most important thing is to leave the audience satisfied once the commercial is over.
Cinematography
Amazing cinematography is another important element in all great professional car commercials.. The use of unique camera angles, interesting framing and unique perspectives , all come together to create the dynamic experience. Making you feel like you are in the driver’s seat. In this popular commercial made for Pennzoil, we see some insanely cool shots that create a riveting experience for those watching.
Visual Effects (VFX)
Some shots are almost impossible to pull off. For those situations, a good VFX team can bring the idea to reality. Most car commercials use some form of motion graphics and animations, however with the latest innovations in virtual production and programs like unreal engine, it is possible to create completely fake commercials all made with software. This commercial by alpha romero was made entirely with unreal engine and its mind blowing.
Emotional Appeal
Creating an emotional connection is sales 101. If a commercial can make you feel something deeper and hit your heart, it can make you connect with the story and by default the car company. We feel that these storydriven car commercials are equally as effective as your traditional fast paced montage edits. The just hit different. In “a true christmas story” by lamborghini, the video tugs on our hearts as it tells a christmas story about a boy and his dad fixing the dreamcar.
Conclusion
Epic car commercials are a testament to the power of creativity and innovation in automotive advertising. By harnessing the key elements of editing, color grading, sound design, storyline, cinematography and emotion, brands can create commercials that not only showcase their vehicles but also tell a story that captures the imagination of their audience. These epic commercials stand as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring filmmakers and advertisers, encouraging them to push the boundaries and create their own unforgettable masterpieces. If are interested in making a epic creative projected like these contact us below for or create services.
