Storming social media
DONOVAN AND DAVINA: PACKAGE CREATIVE CONTENT INTERESTINGLY
Brands have picked up on their ‘vibe’ and asked the pair to do campaigns for them.
Acouple who are innovative, creative and think out of the box have really shaken up social media content creation during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Popular comedian Donovan Goliath and his partner violinist Davina Mae Gordon are skyrocketing and showing everyone how it’s done. In their play on fashion brands such as Can’t kiss (Calvin Klein), Dishes & Banana (Dolce & Gabbana) and Christians Dior (Christian Dior) they use humour, viral content and Tik
Tok videos to bring us entertaining videos and pictures. The couple’s videos have even had Missy Elliot on, who showed her love on their take of her song Get Your Freak On.
Goliath said that after the third or the fourth post at the beginning of the lockdown they noticed their content kept referring to something lockdown related.
“All of the stuff was successful in the beginning because of the relatability. Like we were all going through this thing and we kind of just packaged it in a different and interesting light.
“A lot of the information going out was quite sombre and very serious. We just took a lighthearted spin without making fun of it.”
Their content eventually got brands such as Vodacom, Gumtree and Castle Lite knocking at their door.
Gordon said brands could not necessarily give full creative freedom, but this was expected because of the message they want to send.
“It has been a change of mindset. While we were putting stuff up in the past, we were in control of what we were doing and that was quite nice. But now with someone saying,
‘actually if you go on this angle’ can be a challenge. At the same time you are dedicated to the job so you kind of go with it.”
Goliath added: “Look, I must be honest – what has been good is that we have worked with a lot of brands on campaigns.
“They have bought into what we’ve been selling essentially. So the stuff we have put out, people have been saying we like this vibe.
“But obviously big brands have a tone, a voice and a message they need to speak to as well. So there is a little back and forth now and then until we come to a happy medium.”
Even though working with brands is a great avenue to get their work out there, they did not want to become creatives who had lost their voice.
They strive to be different, so they would not necessarily jump on the bandwagon of everything that is hot right now. “It must always feel like fun, it must
feel like we being paid to do the things we love doing. The audience that is consuming that sees and feels it,” Goliath said.
And they are definitely having fun with what they creating and shooting by iPhone. Due to the circumstances of the new normal, they can’t shoot their content in a studio but use what they have to make something look cool and special.
As Goliath has a background in advertising the pair make sure that the basics of lighting, background and set-up are applied within their restrictions.
On their Volkswagen road trip campaign, Gordon said: “We like these homemade aspects, doing makeshift stuff.
“I had my head hanging out of the window, allowing the wind to blow my hair. Its funny fake in a way.”
Goliath added that quality was subjective and people would be forgiving if the content was good and more realistic as they liked seeing that.
The couple has incorporated their other professions into their content. Gordon joked that Goliath’s violin skills needed some work and that they might put up a funny video of his progress, but due to their busy schedules this was still in the works.
Spending so much time together during this time has strengthened their relationship, Goliath said, praising his partner’s cooking skills. She also makes beautiful and moving violin renditions, such as of the Black Eyed Peas song Where is the Love.
Gordon said the intention of her music now was to uplift people. “People right now need that the most. There is so much negativity in the world right now and everyone is feeling anxious.
“My motivation is to occupy people’s minds just for three minutes or so.”
They said they were cautious about going back on stage and would rather not take the risk even if regulations allowed it, citing 2021 as their possible date of return.
“Performing on camera is a very different energy, set-up and rhythm but it makes you stronger. I do think when we do eventually return to the stage, all the training we have been doing will pay off,” Goliath said.