Plot: A “diverse” set of three happy Verizon Wireless Store employees closing up shop only to have a divine surprise, the ability of 4G LTE. Not only is it 4G LTE, its powering the new Samsung Galaxy Tablet 10. They race back into the store, still brimming with aftershock and empowering the Galaxy Tablet 10 and displaying all of its education based apps in contrast to the iPad’s initial commercials of entertainment apps at the time.This is one of the many series of poorly crafted commercials from Verizon in the 2011.
I know they say lightening never strikes twice in the same place, but if lightning strikes a building that I just closed down; I’m not rushing back in to see what the after effect of the strike. I don’t care how much I am waiting for 4G LTE, my life is more valuable than a celestial upgrade of data transfer from the Telecom gods. But alas, I must awake from my rant and try my best at pointing out the Neuromarketing Tactics embedded within this video.
The Breakdown: Frame By Frame
0:01– Closing the store is Flex (an old school rapper/actor), playing the role of the “African American” Verizon Wireless employee named, Dwayne. Verizon always tries to keep it status quo with the “diversity” in their ads.In my opinion, they make the best that they know how; still it gets pretty comically offensive at times.He represents the tall, dark, and handsome type; I have seen Verizon wireless employees that he resembles here in the Washington D.C. Area.
0:03- Now, Dwayne walks out with a moderately attractive Hispanic woman on his left and a curly-headed brunette Caucasian male on his right. Status quo of “diversity” met here! Check that off the list for reaching your targeted group of audience.
0:05- They hear thunder and turn around to await the arrival of something that seems ominous yet heavenly as the clouds roll in.
0:08- Camera shot once again to confirm the status quo of “diversity” and so you can take another look at the woman to get a clearer picture of her ethnicity. Let’s not try to figure this one.The look on Dwayne’s face is classic.He has awaited this moment, nothing in life are more important to him than waiting for this. It is the coming of…well right now we don’t know, but it better be epic.
0:10- “oh sh**, here it comes…” expression comes over Dwayne’s face as he almost contracts whiplash in order to look at his co-workers as they look back at him like, “what?” Am I’m supposed to be brimming with excitement? I can’t take it anymore! Um, question…If anyone has any captions for this one, can you post them in the comments?
0:12- Lightning striking the store symbolizing the birth of something powerful.No-no, don’t run, ‘tis just 4G LTE lightning; it won’t hurt you.
0:14- They race in after seeing the remnant of the shock cover the metal doors. Obviously something should have happened tothe store’s data storage facility.Their network should have also been fried.They may have to call home, to the Verizon mother-ship; for new equipment.It’s going to be a long night, right? Don’t forget to take pictures for insurance purposes.
0:15- The 4G LTE Tablets kiosk is still getting rid of its electrical charge, or in this case, powering up with LTE. Behold, this kiosk was not there before, witness it and all of its LTE glory.
0:18- They open the door for Dwayne because there is no stopping a man on a mission this epic.He has to go first, he’s tall, and tall people go first.
0:23- We see Dwayne’s name on his name tag, taped on their instead of engraved. Don’t worry Dwayne, that happened to me too when I was a teenager, working at a Safeway as a bag boy. In my case, they used masking tape and a pen, to write my name. How many African American Males in their 30’s or 40’s do you know named Dwayne?
0:25- The woman goes from playing a war game to the Google body app. “…entertain yourself, and enrich your knowledge like you have never imagined.” Wait…you mean I get to learn about the human body on this thing? I didn’t know there was an app for that? Who makes it, again, Apple?
0:28- And here comes the Verizon logo written in lightning for a powerful logo brand, yeah…that should stay in your mind.
