Blending horror with comedy, Chad Oliver, junior in media studies, visual media option, scored his first script-writing award in a Doritos commercial contest.
Initially interested in competing in the 30-second Super Bowl commercial contest, Oliver also entered a 30-second commercial script for the Doritos Dinamita under the Doritos Legion of the Bold contest.
Though Oliver was not a finalist for the Super Bowl commercial, he was selected in early February as one of the three first-prize winners for his script, earning him $1,000.
Oliver said he received an email from Doritos about using his script for a second contest, which takes the script to the storyboarding phase.
The best storyboards will compete in the final contest, which will transform the storyboards for the screen.
Oliver described his commercial as "Friday-the-13th style."
A man with a chainsaw chases teenagers in a cabin. When the teenagers hide in the bathroom, one teen eats a spicy Dorito Dinamita chip. He starts to sweat from the spiciness until the man with the chainsaw discovers them. The man puts down the chainsaw, takes off his mask and asks, "Are those Doritos?"
Oliver said the commercial concludes with the logo and everyone having fun eating the chips.
"Since I want to be a screenwriter and this is the first time I got paid to write a script, it tells that my idea was good enough to pay me $1,000," Oliver said. "It was the first time I cheered when I was in a house alone."
Oliver said his passion for film began before college.
"I've always loved working with cameras and just making little videos since I was a kid," Oliver said. "If I could write or direct for movies, that'd be a dream come true."
Oliver said he learned the correct format and strategies to organize his thoughts and write a full story for screenwriting in Anna Weinstein's writing for TV and film class last semester.
"I wouldn't be writing in my free time if it weren't for her class and her guidance," Oliver said. "I probably wouldn't have entered this contest if it hadn't been for learning the format from her."
Weinstein, adjunct instructor in communication and journalism, said Oliver is entirely responsible for his success.
"One thing I love about Chad's success is the fact that this script that won is a comedy script," Weinstein said. "He was always so serious and studious in class ... It just serves as a reminder that screenwriting is work. It's a job. You don't write a funny script by being a silly goofball. Humor is a skill that you develop and hone, just like any other skill."
Will Runels, junior in finance, said he told Oliver about the Doritos Super Bowl contest the two filmed the submission for together.
"I never had an idea I thought was worth doing," Runels said. "I'm more of the technical person. I do the computer program part of it, but Chad comes up with really good ideas."
According to Runels, Oliver inserted his interests in the Dinamita script.
"When it comes to his creative skills, he draws from something he likes," Runels said. "He likes horror movies, and the contest he won looks like horror aspects mixed with Doritos."
Oliver said he will begin storyboarding when Doritos officially announces the contest guidelines later this month.
"It's definitely changed the way I see my future unfold," Oliver said. "I might be looking for internships in ad agencies now, and that's something I've never considered before. I'm considering commercials now since I've had a little bit of success in that -- maybe pursing that as well."
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