It's finally out. Stray Kids Felix, Gong Cha commercial

Hello, this is Korea advertising. 1. Advertisement Background: Gong Cha and Stray Kids Meet The “My Vibe Right Now is Gong Cha” campaign is a brand campaign by global milk tea brand Gong Cha and Felix, a member of global K-pop group Stray Kids. Gong Cha is a brand that has led the popularization of milk tea and is loved by the younger generation. Stray Kids is a group that holds a unique position in both music and performance, representing the emotions of the global Generation Z. This advertisement conveys the message that Gong Cha’s beverages are not just simple food items but also a medium to express ‘vibes’, or emotions and moods. 2. Main Slogan: “My Vibe Right Now is Gong Cha” The main phrase and slogan of the advertisement, “My Vibe Right Now is Gong Cha,” goes beyond the simple meaning of drinking a beverage and delivers an emotional message that Gong Cha represents the emotions of this moment. In particular, the expression ‘공차중’ utilizes a unique Korean wordplay (wordplay) to su...

Behind the Scenes of "The Secret of Christmas": The Making of the Google Gemini Ad Starring Byun Woo-seok and Park Hee-soon

Google Gemini's "Secret of Christmas" Ad Behind the Scenes: Byun Woo-seok and Park Hee-soon's Filming Set, BGM, and NG Revealed

Google Gemini's new campaign, "Secret of Christmas," garnered significant attention from fans both domestically and internationally immediately after its release thanks to the natural acting of actors Byun Woo-seok and Park Hee-soon and the heartwarming visuals. This post details the behind-the-scenes story of the ad, including the background music selection process, filming locations and set construction, NGs and rehearsals during filming, costume and styling details, and even small anecdotes from the filming set and post-production.

Background Music (BGM): A Choice that Captures the Heart of the Video

The BGM for this ad was chosen to convey both the warmth of winter and the secret excitement of excitement. The planning team reviewed several samples based on acoustic piano and strings, and the final track was an acoustic ballad with a hint of minimal electronic rhythm. The music director edited the film to ensure adequate space for vocals and narration (if any) to complement the chemistry between Byun Woo-seok and Park Hee-soon. For the climax, subtle sound effects (such as the crunching of snow and the chiming of bells) were added to enhance the immersion of the scene. Copyright and licensing arrangements were also pre-arranged to meet international distribution standards, with global audiences in mind.

Filming Locations and Sets: Indoor Warmth and Outdoor Winter Scenery

Filming took place on both indoor and outdoor locations. The indoor scenes were shot on customized sets, focusing on cozy living rooms and window scenes. Christmas decorations and lighting accentuated the warm atmosphere. Outdoor scenes combined synthetic snow (artificial snow) and real snow equipment to create the illusion of falling snow. Some locations were constructed as street sets reminiscent of European alleys, capturing a global sensibility. The set designer meticulously planned the placement of props (gift boxes, cards, and small trees) to ensure that iconic details were visible from every camera angle.

Costumes and Styling: Capturing Character and Seasonality

The costume team designed the outfits for Byun Woo-seok and Park Hee-soon to capture their distinct personalities while maintaining the campaign's winter sensibility. Byun Woo-seok wore warm-toned knits and casual coats to convey a youthful and friendly image, while Park Hee-soon wore a classic wool coat and scarf to convey a mature and stable image. Materials such as wool, cashmere, and high-density cotton were chosen for their textures that were easily visible in close-up. Thorough fitting and material testing were conducted to minimize reflections or wrinkles under lighting. Considering global distribution, color tones were monitored and adjusted to ensure a natural look in each country's broadcast environment.

NGs and Rehearsals: Strategies for Natural Reactions

The director preferred capturing the actors' natural reactions after setting up the scene rather than excessive rehearsals. Despite this, multiple takes were secured for key emotional scenes from various angles. In one take, Byun Woo-seok's hand trembled slightly when handing over the gift, resulting in a missed shot. However, this subtle trembling actually enhanced the tension and was used as a B-cut. Another NG occurred during an indoor shoot, where a small noise from a lighting device interrupted a line. The crew quickly checked the situation and resumed reshoots, completing the shoot without any major issues.

Episodes from the Shoot: Genuine Laughter and Improvisational Moments

There were many heartwarming moments on set. During a break, Park Hee-soon improvised a Christmas carol, brightening the atmosphere on set. The natural laughter and smiles that emerged from that moment were reflected in the final edit. In one outdoor scene, a sudden surge of wind effects caused an actor's hair to fly, but Byun Woo-seok humorously resolved the situation, allowing the entire crew to continue filming with laughter. While filming schedules and security restrictions limited opportunities for autograph requests and brief greetings, which would appeal to global fans, the production team filmed a short behind-the-scenes clip for social media as a form of fan service.

Filming Techniques: Camerawork, Lighting, and Sound Details

The camera team effectively combined shallow depth of field and smooth slow motion to capture the romantic mood. Focus racking was used to visually convey the emotional flow by subtly shifting the focus of the characters' eyes, while tracking shots and Steadicam naturally followed the movements of the two actors, bringing the scenes to life. The lighting was centered around soft light, maintaining a warm tone, while close-ups used soft highlights to highlight skin tones. The sound team recorded background music and on-site sounds (footsteps, bells, etc.) separately and meticulously mixed them in post-production.

Post-Production: Editing, Color Correction, and Sound Completion

In post-production, the tempo of each cut was precisely adjusted to match the beat and emotional arc of the music. During the color correction stage, highlights were softened and shadows were lightly pressed to emphasize the characters' expressions, maintaining the warm narrative with the cool winter tone. When using original or licensed tracks, the sound team produced separate masters for distribution in each region, including copyright attribution, to ensure compliance with the regulations of each platform.

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