The card people
An online poker campaign where people dressed as playing cards keep finding themselves in poker hands. From storyboard to screen.
♥The challenge
Online poker was crowded and loud. Every room promised bigger tournaments and better bonuses, and most of the advertising looked the same.
The brief was a concept that would cut through that noise. Something people would remember, that would also bring players to the tables.
♠The idea
Card people. Ordinary people who happen to be playing cards, going about their day, who keep ending up in poker hands. A queue at a bus stop. A lunch break. A night out.
We had card costumes made to measure for photoshoots, print and online advertising, and commissioned a series of TV commercials.
Five strangers at a bus stop. One royal flush.
♦The storyboard
This is the storyboard for the royal flush commercial, frame by frame. The card people gather at a bus stop, one at a time, until the hand is complete.
Fr. 01The Queen and Jack of Hearts wait at a bus stop.
Fr. 02The King of Hearts joins them.
Fr. 03Close on the King.
Fr. 04The Ten of Hearts turns up.
Fr. 05And finally, the Ace.
Fr. 06A couple walk their dog past the stop.
Fr. 07One of them notices something.
Fr. 08Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten. A royal flush.
Fr. 09The bus pulls away, and the brand goes with it.
♣The films
Here is the finished Bus Stop commercial, followed by two more from the series.
♥The shoot
The costumes were built to work in print as well as on screen, so the same card people could appear in press ads, online banners and the commercials.
