KANU Commercial Featuring Actor Gong Yoo: Story and Style Points from Single Origin Colombia's Tolima

KANU Single Origin Colombia Tolima — Behind-the-Scenes and Key Points of the Commercial Featuring Gong Yoo

KANU's "Single Origin Colombia Tolima" commercial combines actor Gong Yoo's calm and dignified image with the storytelling of single-origin coffee to compellingly convey the "depth of a cup" to viewers. This post outlines the brand's intended message, the advertising concept and directing intent, background music (BGM) and sound design, estimated filming locations, style highlights such as costumes, hair, and makeup, anticipated behind-the-scenes issues during filming, and details that will likely be of interest to global fans. Take a look at how the product's origins, the visual aesthetic, and the actor's performance harmonize.

Brand Positioning and Advertising Concept

KANU's Single Origin series is a line that emphasizes the "unique flavor of its origin." This episode of Tolima, Colombia, highlights the impact of a specific region's climate, soil, and cultivation methods on coffee flavor, clearly aiming to impress upon consumers its value as more than just "simple instant coffee" (its origin story, its multi-layered flavors). Gong Yoo is the perfect actor to embody this premium positioning, conveying the message of "discovering a profound flavor" through his restrained expressions and gestures.

Video Direction and Storytelling Points

Advertisements typically follow a structure: cuts evoking the landscape of the origin (e.g., a montage suggesting coffee farms and harvesting scenes), close-ups of product details (capsules, packaging, and inside the cup), shots of the actor tasting and admiring the coffee, and then the brand message. To simultaneously convey both "storytelling" and "credibility" within a short timeframe, the scene transitions are fluid and the music is emotional. Gong Yoo's gaze and hand gestures (such as the way he holds the cup and the gesture of smelling the aroma) symbolically portray the act of "deliberate savoring."

Background Music (BGM) and Sound Design

This commercial likely features a calm, lyrical acoustic-based BGM. Soft pads are layered over warm guitar or piano arpeggios, with thin strings interspersed to add a lingering emotional impact. Furthermore, the Foley effect, such as coffee-related sounds (such as the opening of a capsule, the dripping of water, and the rim of a cup being wiped), likely enhances the "sensory experience" auditorily. The directing effectively lowers the sound during tastings, highlighting the actor's breathing or small exclamations to heighten viewer immersion.

Filming Location Estimation — Where Was It Filmed?

Based on the visual aesthetic of the commercial, the filming likely took place along two axes. First, the montage cuts reminiscent of the country of origin were likely created using studio sets or licensed stock footage. Second, the actor's tasting and close-up shots of the product were likely filmed in a controlled studio set (a simple kitchen/café set) with precisely controlled lighting. Some exterior scenes, if any, could have been shot in urban green spaces or terrace cafes to enhance the image of "modern relaxation."

Costume, Hair, and Makeup — Gong Yoo's Directing Intentions

Gong Yoo's outfits were likely designed to evoke "understated luxury," in keeping with the tone of the commercial. Classic knits, wool jackets, and slim-fit shirts in neutral and deep tones (such as beige, navy, and deep brown) are expected, complementing the rich flavor of the coffee. Hair is likely to be natural and neat, and makeup will likely focus on minimal retouching to enhance the skin tone on camera. The overall image emphasizes a "comfortable yet classy man."

Making-of-the-scenes/Possible NG Situations and On-site Episodes

Due to the nature of food and beverage advertising, potential NGs are diverse. For example, issues can arise due to the position or angle of the cup, reflections in the liquid, the actor's tasting timing, or differences in reaction due to the beverage temperature. Furthermore, if the crema or color appears odd in close-ups, the prop team often replaces or adjusts the drink on the spot and reshoots. Gong Yoo likely completed multiple takes with a professional attitude, and the making-of video's humorous interactions with the staff and impromptu ad-libs are likely to be popular with fans.

Points to Watch for Global Fans

Emphasis on Origin: The label "Colombia Tolima" is intended to convey to consumers the flavor differences resulting from the climate, soil, and processing methods of a specific region. Therefore, exploring the characteristics of coffee from that region (such as acidity and body) will enhance your experience.

Sound Details: Listen carefully to how Foley helps you imagine the flavor, such as the sound of capsules opening and water dripping. 

Expressions and Gestures: Observe how small gestures, such as the way Gong Yoo holds his glass or his facial expression when smelling the aroma, convey his "attitude of savoring."

Look Recreation: Capturing the colors and silhouettes of the clothing in the ad and applying them to a seasonal style guide can be beneficial for expanding blog content.

Making-of-the-making requests: Check the brand's official channels (YouTube and Instagram) for making-of videos, and you can create additional content with NG and ad-lib footage.

Conclusion

KANU's "Single Origin Colombia Tolima" ad effectively conveys the product's value by combining the storytelling of its origins with actor Gong Yoo's understated elegance. The harmony of music, filming, and styling visually and audibly conveys the "drinking experience" to consumers. The release of the making-of video will provide even more behind-the-scenes footage and NG footage, providing valuable material for fans.

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