Spikes Asia

The Best Gift for Your Child

FREEFLOW PRODUCTIONS, Singapore / NTUC INCOME / 2019

Film

Overview

Entries

Credits

Overview

Background

Parents tend to want to provide the best for their children, giving them everything they can afford. In family-centric societies, like those in Asia, when children become mature adults, they generally feel duty-bound to financially support their parents. Health naturally deteriorates with age, and medical bills can be insurmountable.

This creates the problem where when children grow up to have families of their own, they need to financially look after their parents as well as their own children: they are the sandwiched generation.

This commercial makes people rethink this age-old practice, and to consider the solution of a retirement plan. By splurging less on the frills for their children, and by taking care of themselves financially, they do not depend on their children during their silver years. Hence, when children go on to have families, they would not feel the pressure of being sandwiched between two generations.

Execution

What was make or break about this commercial is the twist — when we realise the groom actually appreciates his parents and does not think they are ‘The Worst Parents in the World’.

The director had to pay significant attention to that moment, and portray the father-son relationship in a manner where viewers realise that the dynamic of their relationship is one of constant ribbing. One slight misstep and the groom could come across looking purely spiteful and ungrateful, putting off viewers, instead of delighting and touching them.

A traditional speech can also be monotonous. To fully engage the viewer, draw them in, and grip them, the director incorporated the photo slideshow. This adds another visual layer, of grainy, textured still photography, that acts as a time portal, transporting viewers and letting them journey through the memories of the groom.

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