Max Lanman, 29, a writer and video director based in Los Angeles has made commercials for a number of high-profile companies, including Microsoft and Häagen-Dazs, in the past. But for his most recent project, the award-winning creative turned his attention to his girlfriend Carrie Hollenbeck’s desire to sell her old car, which she affectionately named ‘Greenie’ and asked for $499 but was eventually shocked when the bid reached to $150,000!
Posted on YouTube and featuring overhead drone footage, a sweeping scenery of the Californian coastline, an emotive soundtrack, and a cameo of an adorable cat, the video begins with the words: ‘My girlfriend needs to sell her car. To help her. I made this commercial.’
The narrator, played by Matt Pratt, then begins the story by saying: ‘You, you’re different. That’s what makes you one of a kind,’ as an unnamed woman played by Anne Marie Avey, gets into the car.
Cutting to the vehicle’s outdated features, a cassette tape is inserted into the car’s stereo so the driver can listen to music on her iPod.
The camera then pans to a collection of rubber ducks looking out the back window, before showing the driver cuddling a fluffy grey cat on her knee while at the wheel.
The narrator seemingly speaks to the woman driving the old car, saying: ‘You don’t care about money, you have everything you ever wanted. You don’t do it for appearances, you do it because it works.’
As the viewer is then treated to an external shot of the car in motion and the driver dancing and singing to herself, and drinking a cup of coffee, the narrator adds: ‘This is not a car, this is you. It’s a lifestyle, a choice, your choice.
The video, which is simply called ‘Used Car Commercial // 1996 Honda Accord’ was written and directed by Max and produced by Max and Christoper Riley.
It also features bold captions sharing how many miles are on the clock (141,095 in total) and the basic bid that Max wanted was $499. However, the popularity of the video brought humongous results.
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The video so far has got more than 2 million views and the current bid for the old car has reached $150,000. Imagine, $150,000 in hands when you wanted just $499 and the bid is going on!
In the small print, the director reveals that the cat and coffee pot are not included but the ‘bug shield, rubber duckies, and tape converter’ are included.
It also comes with the disclaimer that the girlfriend in the video is not his actual girlfriend, and since making the video his girlfriend has become his fiance.
As the woman sits on the car pensively looking out to sea, the video ends with one final hard sell: ‘Luxury is a state of mind’.