Large companies face the challenge of creating a compelling story in under a minute that engages audiences and promotes their product. The Budweiser beer company did just that with its "Friends Are Waiting" ad. They produced it for Global Be(er) Responsible Day, hoping to not only advertise their drinks, but also raise awareness of safety measures that should be taken when drinking. With the story of a growing puppy and its owner, the audience becomes involved and learns the underlying message about alcohol consumption. Between pathos, ethics, logos and repetition, Budweiser balances the story of a loving dog and the bond between owners, as well as advising on the responsibility of drinking. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the commercial, it is evident that Budweiser most commonly uses pathos to engage people's feeling of love towards the dog and its owner. We are first shown the puppy being carried by the owner, making him seem like a prominent character in the story. It begins to remind the audience of their pets and the first bond they had. From there the bond between owner and dog manifests itself through playing in the park, napping together, and overall growth from puppy to dog. This once again connects with the audience by bringing back memories of when their pets were little and how much they helped them grow. With the addition of the song's lyrics, "You and I were made for love, a lifetime ain't long enough to show you what you mean to me" and the catchy, upbeat melody, people find themselves humming the lyrics and thinking about the bond in the commercial as well as with their pets. When it comes time for the owner to go out with his friends, the audience feels sorry for the dog because he was abandoned after all their adventures. By now they have built a strong bond with the dog and they worry about it because we wonder where the owner is all night. By creating this connection, Budweiser created an emotional connection between pet owners and the story of the commercial, keeping them engaged in the transformation and the product. The commercial takes a turn towards the ethical when the single phrase, “For some, the wait is never over. But we can change that… make a plan to get home. Your friends are counting on you,” comes in. This sets the tone that although Budweiser would like to promote their product, they would like people to enjoy their beer responsibly This wording is strategically placed at the center of the wait to see if the owner will return home to his loving companion. Since this is a commercial for Global Be(er) Responsible Day, they use the bond between owner and dog, along with these compelling words, to draw everyone's attention to the fact that they can drink and still be responsible of their life.This causes the audience to feel a sense of credibility towards Budweiser because they care about the impact of its drink as much as its sales Budweiser also conveyed credibility when it turned "Friends are Waiting" into a series of multiple commercials, each showing a different relationship between a puppy and its owner. In this way they enabled a "hashtag" for the media, "#FriendsareWaiting", thus allowing their product to be easily spread and talked about on the Internet. This being the twenty-first century, most young and middle-aged adults are up to date with current social media apps, making them very.
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