I recently had the chance to direct a PetSmart Commercial with Dana Carvey, where he played King Charles III, which was rad.
As a young lad, I started playing drums at an early age. I had a drum set in the living room that I would beat the crap out of whenever I had a chance. Wearing glasses and being a bit nerdy, I needed a Rock ’n Roll icon to look to for guidance. Insert Garth Algar of the public access show Wayne’s World, or better yet, that man behind the frames - Dana Carvey.
When I ran Wayne’s World through my parent's VCR, I felt like Garth was speaking right to me. When Wayne’s World 2 dropped, I couldn’t believe Garth found a wife with the same matching glasses!
Working with Dana Carvey as a director for PetSmart was an experience I will never forget. Everyone was cracking up when he stepped onto the set as King Charles III. A constant performer, he would switch between multiple characters between set-ups and take the pressure off the crew.
One of the things I appreciated most about working with Dana was his attention to detail. He would review every line of the script with us, ensuring we understood the intention behind each word. He was also very open to feedback and suggestions, which made the process feel collaborative and supportive.
Another thing that stood out to me was how approachable Dana was. Despite his celebrity status, he was down-to-earth and easy to talk to. He would take the time to chat with us on breaks and ensure that everyone was feeling good about our work.
The spot was developed by MAXIMUM EFFORT and produced by SixTwentySix.