HELLO
Engine Room is thrilled to share this concept with you. We’re motorists and BMW fans through and through. The following is a top-line breakdown of our content idea, but it isn’t complete without your own thoughts. So we’ve created a space at the bottom of the page for you to weigh-in. We hope you enjoy it. Sincerely:
THE SPARK OF AN IDEA
We could all use some magic right now. (Though, really, when can we not?) And few ideas conjure a greater sense of mystery and magic than the “barn find”. That moment when something truly special is re-discovered. Living proof that some vehicles stand the test of time. We felt this viscerally when traveling the highways of the midwest this summer. It spun around in our minds as a story we had to tell. A love story of a girl, her grandfather and the bike they share over miles and years.
The STORY OF A GIRL AND HER GRANDFATHER
We open on a family farm that’s starting to show it’s age. In a few quick, shots we establish a young city girl arriving to help her grandfather in the fields. She adores her grandfather and these visits are the greatest thing ever.
One moment she always looks forward to is when Grandad pulls out his bike. To her, it’s giant in the way things always appear to little kids. (Note: We’re using an ‘04 R1150R in the example but would work with you to determine the preferred bike.)
THE STORY OF A BIKE
Grandad lifts her onto the seat. It’s not getting any easier with age. He patiently tells her about the bike. “This is the front brake… you’ll use that more than you think.” and “The engine’s a boxer twin. Don’t put your feet up on it, ok little Bean?”
The little girl leans proudly into the bike and glows with pride that she can spend this time with her grandfather. We see the beginnings of a lifelong interest grow inside of her.
AND KEEPING THE PAST ALIVE
Up until now, this has been a true story. These shots were taken on the family farm. But now we bring that magic, and the bike, into the future.
Tucked away
Grandad is getting too old to ride. The bike is just a little too heavy for him. Work is taking it’s toll and so he gently covers it up when she leaves.
A PASSAGE OF TIME
Vines grow and the sun sets and rises and sets again.
FOUND MEMORIES
We look down over the shoulder of a young woman. She’s looking through an envelope of old photos. Grandad was young once. And he always had a BMW. She pulls out a picture of herself on his R1150R. The photo feel heavy, so she flips it over to reveal a message from the past.
TAPED TO THE BACK: A KEY
And BELOW IT: A NOTE
Hey little Bean - Probably not so little anymore! You remember everything I taught you, ok? I’ll be watching.
xo Grandad
A LOVE THAT LIVES ON
We return to the farm. Many years have passed, evident from the untended grass and rusted-out farm tools. But it still has its beauty. And our goal will be to give the woman’s arrival a sense of power and gravity.
This place has weight to it.
Crickets and wind.
She approaches the barn tentatively.
Pulls off the sheet, thick with dust.
She finds the bike just as Grandad left it.
In a soft whisper, we hear her: “Hi.”
It’s a bike, sure. But it’s Grandad too.
We cut to the road in front of the farm. She grips the throttle. This was her Grandad’s bike.
Now it’s hers.
WHAT’S A STORY WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE
Our story is flexible in terms of timing cuts. We can make a long form video asset that runs 2-3 minutes for IGTV, Facebook and YouTube. However there are key moments we can edit down for compelling teasers or short form content on Instagram Stories or TikTok. We would also be able to provide stills and layouts for ongoing calendar assets.
Thank You
We truly appreciate your time. As we mentioned at the beginning, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Engine Room was founded on the idea that direct collaboration between the brand and creative stakeholders unlock the greatest potential for the work. So we look forward to hearing from you.