I Wonder (A short ad for Wonder Unit)

Broadstroke idea for a short

I Wonder is a 90-120 second short advertisement for Wonder Unit.

Similar to an inspirational sports commercial, instead of following a sports star, we follow a young creative person unsure about their position in this world.

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Core message:

This world wasn't built for you. Not everyone loves what you love in this world. In fact, most people don't. It doesn't mean it's not important. As you came into this world, the wonder of the unknown sparked new ideas. You wondered what was behind the door no one ever thought to open. Your imagination didn't have any rules. There were no limits. To just think of something is to create it in your mind. When you create something, you will something into the world that didn't exist before. It is significant. Especially if the rest of the world doesn't recognize it, it is still important.

You just made a thing. It's beautiful because your unique point of view – the way you see the world allowed you to see something no one else could see before. There's a beauty in the things you make – not just the big things, but also the small.

As you create more things, people will tell you the way the world works, what to do, how to act, and what to think. You continue to wonder, but it's difficult within the confines of these rules. Is it wrong to wonder? Did these laws always exist? Who made these rules? Did they have you in mind? Everyone wants you to live life a certain way, even the people you most love – yet you simply can't accept what they want you to do. Are they wrong? Are you wrong?

You just changed the world. If even only one person enjoys a thing you've created, you've just changed the world. Even if that one person is you.

Sometimes it's lonely. It's lonely when you love a thing no one else loves. It's lonely when you share something and people ask why you aren't doing another thing. It's lonely when you're completely surrounded by people and still feel totally alone.

And yet some of the best things you create are when you are alone.

If you are open to it, beauty is everywhere, even in the banal – especially in the banal. When you have no control over where you are, who you are with, or what you are forced to do, you can still wonder. You can still create.

When you create something you are proud of, there is a feeling no one else in the world can ever understand. You had an idea, a thought, solved a huge problem, or made some beautiful artifact, and no one else will ever appreciate the joy from. You're grinning ear to ear and everyone else thinks you're weird. They will never know. And that's ok.

This world wasn't built for you, but it doesn't mean you can't create your own.

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Monologue format / style

Core ideas from above, but written as first person rhetoric:

"This world wasn't built for you. Not everyone loves what you love in this world. In fact, most people don't. It doesn't mean it's not important."

BECOMES

"I wonder if this world wasn't built for me. I wonder why everyone doesn't love what I love. Is that important?"

Read like spoken word.

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Video pacing

The video starts with this kid pensive in the banal world.

An internal monologue starts as voice over: "I wonder if this world wasn't built for me."

The monologue continues with more rhetorical concerns that a young uncomfortable creative person has in this world.

The visuals begin to be slightly augmented by small fantastic flourishes created by the kid.

The monologue continues with more confidence and more speed as the visual flourishes expand and start to grow into the space.

The kid is transported to a new world of their creation that continues to grow.

BUT - something bad presents itself.

Monologue shifts to doubt.

Bad thing starts extinguishing the growth.

Another bad thing presents itself. Crushing the creations and eroding the environment.

Another bad thing comes directly for the kid.

Everything dark with the exception of the kid and the spark of an idea.

Monologue says something defiant.

Begins a visual Cambrian explosion of ideas and transportation through different worlds.

Builds to a crescendo.

Cut back to the original shot of the kid in the banal world with a self satisfied smile.

Ends with the final resolution of the monologue.

Title screen: Wonder Unit.

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Objective

Viewer thinks, "Hey, this kid is me."

I want any kid to see themself in this video. Every kid has felt like this regardless of their creativity or social status.

I also want any person to see themself in this video. Even though these are thoughts kids have as kids, they are very much true for adults, no matter how much they suppress the ideas.

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Reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOtEeTGCd_E (Nike Sports shit)

Nike shit is so formulaic that it's an actual cliche. But I love this shit. Listening to them always makes me feel optimistic, even though many of their messages are fucking dumb: "Dont settle for homecoming queen or linebacker, do both." FUCK YOOOOU. Inspirational music, somewhat inspirational monologue, Beautiful visuals, NIKE LOGO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwsuXHA7RA (Apple - Here's to the crazy ones)

My critique of here's to the crazy ones is: cool, but you are basically just celebrating and giving public accolade to people who already have public accolades. When I'm a kid and I watch that video, I don't think I identify with any of the people on the screen, I don't even know what they do. I want the precursor to that ad. I want to know that it's ok to wonder about ideas - to be alone with your thoughts - to make something and be so satisfied even though the rest of the world will never understand. I don't want the world to celebrate it, I just want to know that it's ok.