Case Study by Ryan Yee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moDzHUafMxs&t=1s

Overview

Produced and directed a dance commercial for the rebrand of Guayakí's college ambassador program, Yerba U.

Roles

Producer

Director

Cinematographer

Editor

Choreographer

Team

Co-Producer/Director

Dominic M.

Dancers

Conrad R., Devin M., Camila P., Alexa C., Erica T., Will L.

Film Crew

Matt J., Kevin H.

Timeline

August 2018

to

February 2019

BACKGROUND

Diving into dance.

During my sophomore year of high school, I joined the competitive hip hop dance team Young Skull Club (YSC). With a break-dancing brother and a Zumba-teaching mom, it's surprising I hadn't tried dancing sooner. At YSC practices, my friend and co-producer, Dominic, brought cans of Guayaki Yerba Mate to our grueling five-hour rehearsals. They were delicious, quenched my thirst, and fueled my energy.

Over the next few years, my passion for dance, videography, and photography grew. By senior year, I had created several dance concept videos featuring original choreography and b-roll of Guayakí Yerba Mate products. Unknowingly, I was building a portfolio that I would later use to pitch a project to their team.

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PROBLEM

What's the pitch?

A few days after releasing our concept videos, we noticed engagement from Guayakí’s social media accounts on YouTube and Instagram. Sensing an opportunity, Dominic and I decided it was time to reach out.

Through relentless networking, we connected with Guayakí's Digital Media Director. We had been developing a concept for two months, ready to present a polished idea. However, during our discussions, we realized our original plan didn't align with Guayakí's vision. We quickly adapted, understanding that our video needed to embody the essence of Guayakí, not just serve as another dance video for our personal accounts.

IDEATION

Back to the drawing board…