Sport Clips

Great haircuts don’t just happen. Skilled stylists don’t just fall out of the sky. They have to earn their scissors. And in this series of films we will take a look behind the scenes by offering viewers an honest, unfiltered, all-access, inside-look at what happens before you sit down in a chair at Sport Clips. 

We’ll capture the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations, and the successes and setbacks of real Sport Clips Stylists working through the rigors of real life training. We’ll see, feel, and hear them digging deep, going that extra mile, giving that 110%—even though that’s mathematically impossible! Because, if you want to be a Sport Clips Stylist—you don’t know the word impossible!

In other words—we’ll be taking these moments and actions way more seriously than they should ever be taken, and that—is where we will find the fun, the magic, and the comedy. In fact, the more seriously we treat this, and the more straightforward and true to NFL Films this feels—the funnier, better, and more entertaining it will be.

The Look & Tone

We’ll be exploiting all the conventions of mocumentary filmmaking to create our own version of Hard Knocks. Following that model, we’ll be working with multiple cameras so that we can maximize our coverage. We’ll use handheld photography to lend the scenes the raw realism of being captured live—and mix that with a more stationary interview and/or confessional style that offers us some personalized glimpses of our Trainer.

To broaden the scope of the film, we’ll be adding in some bigger views that bring a bit of grandness to the settings and action. The overall idea is to Nike it up a bit and give the film the same big, bold accents of a Michael Bay film.

As a way of adding more depth, dimension, and authenticity to the scenes, we’ll design shots that are layered, with action in the foreground, mid ground, and background. Staying on the longer end of the lens will allow us to stack that imagery in ways that give the impression of a stadium or training facility teaming with action—without actually needing fill it with hundreds of people.

When we get beyond those broad strokes, this really comes down to collecting thorough coverage of the scripts you guys have written—which I think are filled with all sorts of hilarious comic opportunities. But we don’t plan to stop there. As part of our process, we’ll also plan on adding to those moments by expanding on lines, scenes, and situations. 

This is where the real fun will begin. We’ll set up a shot, have the cameras rolling, make things happen in a loose, real, and intentionally “imperfect” way, and then give our actors the freedom and flexibility to run with the moments and explore other comic possibilities. 

As a result we’re going to end up with enough material to deliver a hilarious :30, all the :15s—and much, much, more.

The Casting

The straw that stirs this comic drink will be our Trainer/Coach, and we want to make sure to cast an actor who can play the humor in the most serious way possible. The style of performance we’re looking for will be similar to that of Eastbound and Down and/or Curb Your Enthusiasm. The characters play the moments straight. They don’t think they’re being funny. They never appear to be reaching for laughs. This is their life. They’re deeply invested in it. They’ve forgotten more than we’ll ever know. And out of that reality, is where we’ll mine the comedy.

It might also be worth considering casting an assistant coach for our head coach to work with (similar to Ted Lasso’s Coach Beard.) It’s just a thought, but it might give us a few more opportunities to create some comic moments by having someone there for our coach to interact with. It could be a male—or better yet, a female. Someone who rose from the ranks, and now, under our Trainer’s tutelage, is waiting for her chance to get a team of her own.

The Stylists will be a diverse mix of young women who are athletic enough to perform all these actions. Ideally, we’ll want to search for women who have some comic improv training or experience, and the same talent to play the moments straight. Their goal isn’t to (purposely) make us laugh. Their whole purpose is to make the team. 

Location

For practical purposes, the best situation will be to find an existing stadium that is in close proximity to a production hub. For example, the Westlake High facility might give us the architectural aspects we need. It has the look of a football palace which can pass for a pro stadium. It’s been used for several shoots (including the Friday Night Lights series). The main drawback would be the color scheme, which is blue and red. But we might be able to manipulate that so that it appears to be designed in the Sport Clip red and black colors.

Once we find the right location, we’ll want to scout it, shoot some tests, and then start art directing areas that can be used for set ups. These will include areas on the field, training rooms, locker rooms, coach’s office, etc.

There’s also the possibility of using an indoor facility, but my feeling is that there’s no substitute for a stadium that can offer us those glorious morning to evening skies, the natural light, and the feeling of scope gained from a big open stadium.

Training Camp / Intro Spot :30

We’ll open on an establishing shot that gives us a sense of place. It’s early morning. Maybe we see a stylist walking in from the parking lot with a big duffle slung over her shoulder.

The sun is rising on the horizon, bathing the whole scene in beautifully soft and warm natural light.

We cut to the Trainer sitting in a director’s chair off-center in frame. He’s speaking to camera with a dead serious attitude; sharing some of those old hair-cutting nuggets that are ingrained in his brain. 

TRAINER: In guys’ hair, game day is everyday. Hair doesn’t quit. Neither do we…

Cut to a shot of stylists out on the filed doing reps with scissors. Off camera we hear the trainer counting off… 

(OC) ninety-eight… ninety-nine.

TRAINER: Being a Sport Clips Stylist is not for the faint of heart.

Maybe we can expand on that a little. When he hits one hundred he could blow the whistle, and the stylists take off running, slap the scissors down on a station, grab blow dryers, and sprint back to the line. Go, go, go, go, go…!

Another quick cut takes us to a line of Stylists giving shampoo massages. Our Trainer marches down the line observing. 

(OC) Hit all seven pressure points!

TRAINER: …Nor weak of fingers.

Back to the field, we hear a whistle blow.

(OC) Finger curls!

We cut in close the hands of a Stylist curling tiny dumbbells dangling from her fingers and then widen out to see the entire team doing the same. (This is also one of those shots that can be captured in a training facility interior).

Cutting to the interior of a training room, we look over the shoulders of Stylists sitting in classroom desks studying film. (Perhaps this has the raw look of some film shot live during an actual haircut.) A second or two after we drop in, maybe he could yell Freeze! And then point to a detail on the screen. Right there! That’s Styling! Remember it!

TRAINER: We’re pros. Our details matter. 

The camera comes around the corner of a locker room and slips quietly inside to see a dejected woman cleaning out her locker. Maybe she glances up to a hand printed name tag, and slides it out of the place holder above the locker—just taking a keepsake with her…

(OC) Some can’t cut it here. Like, literally, can’t cut it.

The end moments feel like they should have more of a game day feel. They’re on their own. Applying all the lessons they’ve learned…

We’re close on a stylist finishing a Client’s hair. She spins the chair, whips off the apron, maybe whisks a brush across his shoulder. He looks awesome.

(OC) We want every guy to get our A game… Every time.

(OC) Boom, Baby! That’s what I’m talking about, Karen!

Following a cinematic Michael Bay styled pulled out, we capture a beautiful shot of the entire field, with the sun setting on the horizon…

And then we bring this episode to a close by cutting to a busy Sport Clips with Logo and Tag.

Sport Clips. The pros in men’s Hair

ALTERNATE ideas could include: 

A close up of a Stylist doing reps by pressing up and down on the peddle of a chair as she pumps it higher. TRAINER: You gotta do better than that.

A drill in which Stylists whip the apron with a flourish from around mannequins. TRAINER: More wrist, people!

A line of mannequin heads with wigs propped on a tackling sled. The Stylists move down the line, clipping, clipping, clipping…
Stylists with bungee chords attached to their waists—running toward the chairs. TRAINER: You gotta want it more!

The :15s

We’ll be taking the same approach to the :15s as we did to the Intro spot, with the main difference being that these will focus on one training situation—some of which will be an expansion of a scene shot for the :30.

Inspection

We open with the Trainer interview segment. He’s addressing the camera—speaking to an off camera interviewer in a very candid way. Maybe, in this instance it could be a walk-and-talk, with the camera traveling along with him as he leaves a corridor and steps out onto the field.

This has more of an afternoon feel. The Stylists have warmed up and been given their assignments, and now the Trainer is returning to check up on them. 

TRAINER: Our playbook has countless guy’s hairstyles. And we perfect each one. 

Maybe we can take a quick cutaway to a detailed shot of him slapping the cover of the playbook closed and placing it on a shelf on in a drawer.

This could also be a situation for an assistant to come into play. When the Trainer says “Countless.” The assistant could come up with an actual number. “Sixteen thousand, three hundred, and twelve.”

Or… He could be marching along with the trainer to deliver the second line.

We cut to see the Trainer assessing the Stylist’s work. Each stands next to a guy in a chair. The guys hold cards with their hairstyles written on it. Buzz Cut. Slick Back. Pompadour.

The trainer parades past the guys. He slides his hand over the head of the Buzz Cut; looks over the Slick Back, and proceeds to the Pompadour…

(OC) Like Velvet… Nice gel work, Kate… Hmm… Less “pomp,” More “adour,” Jill.

Maybe to punctuate the moment, he blows his whistle, and moves on just as Jill jumps back in to retool the Pompadour.

Stamina :15

Opening again on the Trainer—sitting on the sidelines, or walking toward the field. It’s magic hour. The sun is setting. A beautiful sky stretches out over the stadium as the field lights come on.

Cut to the Stylists still at work, training—working on clients seated in chairs. Fatigue is starting to set in on one or two. 

The Trainer is inspecting their work—carrying a water bottle and wearing a towel slung over his shoulder. 

Maybe off to the side we see a trainer rubbing down the hands of a stylists that’s cramped up…

TRAINER: Sport Clips stylists average three thousand men’s cuts a year. Stamina is a must. Hair never quits, people. Neither do we.

He approaches one Stylists who looks like she’s been at it all day. 

TRAINER: Dig deep, Alice. (Fourth Quarter!) 

He holds the bottle up, squirts water into her mouth, and moves on.

TRAINER: That’s my warrior. That’s my warrior.

The Play :15

We open on our mnemonic of the Trainer introducing the situation. 

TRAINER: Every guy’s hair is different. We need a play for each one.

We cut to him on the sideline. Maybe the clients are seated on the bench. Just as a client leaves an on-field chair, he blows his whistles and signals to a guy on the bench. You’re in!

The Stylist gets her first look at him as he hops into the chair. 

TRAINER: (shouting) Robin, what’s the play?

Robin looks the guy over. Makes a snap decision. 

ROBIN: (shouting back) Square head cut. Flat top comb. Fade brush on sides.

Back to the Trainer. He fist pumps.

TRAINER: Nice! Go!

Another idea might be to see one of the Stylists have to call an audible. This could start with the client removing a hat to reveal a surprising shock of unexpectedly thick and wild hair. The Stylists starts calling out Kill, kill, kill. Clips! Scissors! Spray Bottle…!

Stylists are going in motion, running back and forth, delivering different equipment to her, etc.

Pressure Points :15

This will be an expansion of the shampoo moment from the :30. Maybe after it’s introduced, we can cut to an extreme close up of hands massaging a client’s head. The camera slides ever so slightly to one side—and we reveal the Trainer’s face staring at the action—just inches away from the hands.

We can cover the lines as written. And in addition to that, maybe we can play with them a bit so that the Trainer is directing the placement of the hands.

TRAINER: To the left… Lower… Lower… 

And then we hear the client respond. 

CLIENT: Aaaaaaaahhhh!
The camera rises with the trainer as he stands upright. Instead of breaking the peace and quiet of the Client’s moment, maybe he winks at the stylist. Gives her a thumbs up, and silently mouths: That’s the spot…

As he walks off, the other Stylist, who have been observing all respond with silent claps. 

And finally…

These are some of the thoughts I have right now, which I hope will help you get a good idea of how I would approach this campaign. The main thing is to go into this with the idea of using the scripts as a road map, covering them well, and then building on that with additional moments of inspiration. 

That’s it for now. Thanks again for thinking of me. I love what you guys have come up with, and I look forward to speaking with all of you further.