Shooting a mini-series of TV ads may seem overwhelming but it’s clear that Mikey Bustos, the talented Fil-Canadian YouTube celebrity and Jack ‘n Jill’s Chicharron ni Mang Juan endorser, is right at home in it. Perhaps it’s because the Chicharron ni Mang Juan commercials take off from Mikey’s popular Filipino tutorials on YouTube, thus creating that undeniably familiar atmosphere.
Just like his online hits, the commercials feature Mikey donning the classic barong and speaking with his trademark Filipino accent as he shares clever insights on endearing Pinoy quirks: from uniquely Filipino gestures to popular phrases. Traditional elements such as wooden walls and capiz windows in the background also heighten the authentically Pinoy feel of the commercials.
Regardless of each commercial’s directional treatment, Mikey is easily the kind of guy who finds comfort in new situations. He brings professionalism to the table but maintains that casual, relaxed air around him, especially apparent as he jokes around with crew members in between takes. According to top TVC director Henry Frejas, Mikey was a total team player during the shoot. “He’s very talented, he’s fun to work with,” says Direk Henry. In fact, Mikey himself provided input throughout the production process. Being the seasoned performer that he is, Mikey put his artistic license to work with the material presented to him. Henry says, “What we wanted to do is capture him.” And that they did, including a few of Mikey’s alter egos such as “Ate”, his version of an older sister and “Frank”, his take on a typical young male Caucasian.
For the hardworking Mikey, switching from one character to another¾ complete with wigs and paddings ¾ is all in a day’s work. All that energy may be credited to Chicharron ni Mang Juan, which Mikey munches on whether the cameras are rolling or not. Fans of Mikey’s online videos will surely appreciate his effortless transition from web to TV in the series of commercials from Chicharron ni Mang Juan. Proving that they do make a great team, Mikey and the truly contemporary Pinoy snack will have Filipinos craving for that trademark crunch and sarap ng Pinoy goodness that Chicharron ni Mang Juan is known for.