Ever wondered how fast food chains like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut became such popular household names? (Here’s a clue: we see them all the time on TV or sometimes even YouTube!)
That’s right, through TV commercials!
Fast food TV commercials (TVC) are short advertisements aimed at promoting the restaurant and/or their products and services. They are designed to grab the viewer’s attention in order to drive up sales. The content of these commercials can range from showcasing menu items to promoting special deals and discounts.
Though typically broadcast on television, fast food brands also utilise digital platforms such as social media, online video and streaming services to reach their target audience. The use of these platforms allows fast food brands to reach a wider audience, engage with customers in real-time, and track the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.
Let’s take a look at some of the various types of fast food TV commercials.
Note: Some content in this article may be enhanced or paraphrased by using AI writer software.
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Fast Food TVC References from Around Singapore
PLEASE NOTE: The videos referenced in this blog article are not produced by Vivid Snaps. The following videos are sourced from publicly available websites, such as YouTube.
World Cup Fast Food Special Commercial
A refreshing take on your regular food commercials, this McDonald’s TVC promotes two new burgers – World Cup style. It uses clever puns and wordplay combined with a mini soccer field setup for the burgers to create an engaging World Cup season commercial.
Fast Food x Streetwear Brand Collab Video
KFC did an exclusive collaboration with a local streetwear designer for National Day a few years ago. To promote this collaboration, they produced a video shot in a way that resembles a fashion brand commercial, but with food product placements. The style of the video appeals to teens and young adults with its ‘swag’ vibes – you can see it in the font types, text effects, film burn effects, light flares, orange-teal look, glitch effects, etc. Its fast pace keeps viewers engaged, with photos and smaller footage panels popping over the main footage. And let’s not forget the pretty cool sound design – while the visuals are great on their own, the video’s sound design made it way better.
Chinese New Year Fast Food Special Commercial
This wholesome Chinese New Year TVC by McDonald’s follows the ‘reunion’ of three separate groups of friends and family. The conversational voiceovers speak to the viewer, complimenting the happy moments in the visuals. There is no obvious mention of their ‘Prosperity’ meals, only product placements and their staff as part of the cast. Even the message at the end makes use of wordplay to include the word ‘prosperity’ without ever mentioning their seasonal meals. This keeps the advertising part of the video subtle, focusing more on evoking warm-hearted emotions from the viewers. Such feelings will then be associated with their brand as a whole, instead of just a few products.
Short Fast Food Advertisement
As the title suggests, this Pizza Hut ad is a fun take on ‘say cheese’ that promotes their Cheesy 7 Pizza. It uses split screens to resemble an online meeting screen, while also utilising wacky backgrounds and effects. The ad stays relevant by following social media trends like the heart shape pose in an online meeting screenshot.
“How-to Order” Fast Food Advertisement
McDonald’s how-to-order video is meant to be viewed on social media platforms with its (originally) 9×16 framing. With that in mind, the ad makes use of ‘social media’ sound effects and trendy music to appeal to target audiences often found on said platforms. The video uses dynamic camera movements and angles as well, such as wide, sweeping camera movements, overhead shots, POV shots, speed ramps, dolly zooms, etc.
Fast Food TVC References from Around the World
PLEASE NOTE: The videos referenced in this blog article are not produced by Vivid Snaps. The following videos are sourced from publicly available websites, such as YouTube.
Fast Food TVC Skit
Subway’s hilarious skit is a scripted ‘behind the scenes’ of a nyonya interrupting your typical food commercial shoot. It’s comedic how the director gradually grows more frustrated throughout the filming process as the nyonya inserts herself at the most random of times to correct their efforts. Despite how funny it is, there is a level of honesty in this skit in how the nyonya tries to stick true to the director’s script, implying that the viewer should trust that what they see, is what they’ll get.
Short Fast Food Television Commercial
Most fast food TVCs are only 10-30 seconds short, not unlike this advertisement by Wendy’s. Simple and straightforward, this commercial gets to the point quickly so as not to lose the viewers’ attention. It is also snappy in the way it cuts from one speaker to the next, merging dialogue from different scenes seamlessly. This is also partly to do with the video’s mockumentary style of filming and editing (think The Office or Modern Family), with camera zooms and characters talking to the camera.
Fast Food Music Video
In this commercial, Jollibee promotes its brand in the form of a music video. Though unlike other music video ads, this one is sung by a child (it’s pretty funny and adorable!). Set during the covid lockdown, the story follows a child’s POV of what indoor life is now like with his family. While there is no direct mention of the fast food brand till the end of the song, there are product placements throughout the entire video (particularly the soft toy mascot that the boy clutches in most of the shots). This video is a good example of how product placement should be used – subtly and naturally (basically, it shouldn’t be forced or feel out of place in the shot).
Conclusion
Overall, the goal of a fast food commercial is to grab the viewer’s attention and create a memorable, appealing image of the restaurant’s food, atmosphere, and brand. Fast food TV commercials play a critical role in promoting fast food brands and driving sales, and their impact on the industry continues to evolve with new technologies and changing consumer habits.
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The production of a fast food TV commercial involves several stages, including scripting, casting actors or hiring models, scouting locations, shooting footage, and editing the final product. The production team works closely with the fast food brand and advertising agency to ensure that the commercial aligns with the brand’s messaging and appeals to the target audience.
Should you choose to work with us, our team can guide you through the entire video production process. We’ll support you on your journey, giving you tips and tricks on how to produce the best video while also taking your needs into account. You can book a consultation with our producers and project coordinators by using the contact us form on the right side of the page, or the button below to get in touch.
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