framethrower

Study the greats · Find refs fasterFilmmakers · Animators · Advertisers

GenreDramaThrillerComedyHorrorRomanceActionCrimeSci-fiAdventureAnimation

Volkswagen “Basketball” 2007

Volkswagen “Basketball” (2007) is a Volkswagen commercial directed by Sebastian Strasser, produced by @radical.media. It won one award: ADC*E 2007 Gold TV Commercials.

A group of street basketball players argue over who gets to pick Peter, a seemingly ordinary guy, for their team, only to reveal his surprising talent with a new Volkswagen Polo GTI.

Video: Sebastian Strasser on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. Four men, three Black and one white, stand on an outdoor basketball court, talking and gesturing, with buildings in the background.© Volkswagen0:00
  2. Two men, one in a white and red basketball jersey and another in a grey t-shirt and maroon basketball jersey, are talking on an outdoor basketball court.© Volkswagen0:05
  3. A group of five men, some in basketball jerseys, stand in a circle on a city street, looking at and talking to each other.© Volkswagen0:06
  4. Two men in basketball jerseys talk on an outdoor court, one gesturing with his hand, during the day.© Volkswagen0:12
  5. Four men on a basketball court, three of them in basketball jerseys, are discussing something, with one man pointing and another holding a basketball.© Volkswagen0:12
  6. A man in a tan t-shirt holds a basketball and looks over his shoulder at other men playing basketball on an outdoor court.© Volkswagen0:13
  7. A Black man in a basketball jersey argues with an unseen person, while a white man in a t-shirt stands behind him on an outdoor basketball court.© Volkswagen0:21
  8. A man in a brown t-shirt holds a phone and gestures while talking to other men playing basketball on an outdoor court.© Volkswagen0:24
  9. A young Black man in a white and red basketball jersey yells at an unseen person, while an older Black man stands next to him on an outdoor basketball court.© Volkswagen0:26
  10. A man in a t-shirt and shorts dribbles a basketball next to a red Volkswagen car in an outdoor parking lot.© Volkswagen0:29
  11. Four men in basketball attire stand and sit around a green car at night, looking and pointing off-screen.© Volkswagen0:38
  12. A group of men, dressed in casual sportswear, stand around a parked car, pointing and reacting to something off-screen at night.© Volkswagen0:39

Stills © Volkswagen. Made by @radical.media and Sebastian Strasser.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

The car is so good, it makes an average guy a basketball star.

underdog revealstreet credunexpected talentproduct as enablergroup banter

The cut

Length
46 s
Shots
17
Average shot
2.7 s

What creatives use Volkswagen “Basketball” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Volkswagen “Basketball”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    Four men, three Black and one white, stand on an outdoor basketball court, talking and gesturing, with buildings in the background.© VolkswagenTwo men, one in a white and red basketball jersey and another in a grey t-shirt and maroon basketball jersey, are talking on an outdoor basketball court.© VolkswagenA group of five men, some in basketball jerseys, stand in a circle on a city street, looking at and talking to each other.© VolkswagenTwo men in basketball jerseys talk on an outdoor court, one gesturing with his hand, during the day.© Volkswagen
    Frames from Volkswagen “Basketball”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Volkswagen “Basketball” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    Four men, three Black and one white, stand on an outdoor basketball court, talking and gesturing, with buildings in the background.© VolkswagenTwo men, one in a white and red basketball jersey and another in a grey t-shirt and maroon basketball jersey, are talking on an outdoor basketball court.© VolkswagenA group of five men, some in basketball jerseys, stand in a circle on a city street, looking at and talking to each other.© VolkswagenTwo men in basketball jerseys talk on an outdoor court, one gesturing with his hand, during the day.© VolkswagenFour men on a basketball court, three of them in basketball jerseys, are discussing something, with one man pointing and another holding a basketball.© VolkswagenA man in a tan t-shirt holds a basketball and looks over his shoulder at other men playing basketball on an outdoor court.© Volkswagen
    Length: 46 s · Shots: 17 · Average shot: 2.7 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a unexpected talent

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Volkswagen “Basketball” is built on a unexpected talent. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Dairy Milk “Gorilla”© Dairy MilkChannel 4 “Paralympics – We’re The Superhumans”© Channel 4Nike “Short A Guy”© NikeE-Trade “Monkey”© E-Trade
    Dairy Milk · Channel 4 · Nike · E-Trade

More commercials by Sebastian Strasser

Award-winning auto commercials

Questions

Who directed the Volkswagen “Basketball” commercial?

Sebastian Strasser directed it, produced by @radical.media.

What awards did Volkswagen “Basketball” win?

1 awards, including ADC*E 2007 Gold TV Commercials.

Sources for the credits and awards

web.archive.org