Friday, October 17, 2008

I wouldn't want to be here.



Now this advertisment is a perfect example of how non-verbal communication can have so much to say about an entire scene. Being used to the idea that coaches usually shout or go through tactics to players during a half of a game, the coach instead uses silence to drive his message through. We discover that the tactic was surprisingly useful as the players get his message without him uttering a single word!

The director potrayed the players emotions just be focusing on their actions and faces such as the dejected faces on the players, the knotted hands, being afraid at looking at the coach, doing little nervous actions in a tense situation like drawing back their legs or adjusting their gear.

Without the need for words or a voice-over, the audience can infer on their own about what the players had gone through a bad half. He intercuts the coach's outward display of expression. Crossed hands gives a position of annoyance and authoritation. He stares at the players, daring any to look back or explain why their performance was so poor. His measured breathing also implies that he is in control of his emotions.

As he continues to not say anything, the players gradually know what needs to be done and resolves to do it ; by the shots of them looking back to the coach or nodding to themselves before the buzzer sounds. As they file out back into the ring, the coach looks back, knowing that he has done his job and motivated his team.

The director playfully injects the last line of "knowing what they need to hear = priceless" at the end driving the point home. In which, you do not need to shout or use elaborate words to express yourself!

Tastefully done! Now to try that tactic on my tuition kids. hoho.

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