Homemade Ads That Made It to Global TV
This playlist features a selection of commercials we created for clients across different countries, tailored for both local TV and social media. We placed the funnier commercials first, followed by the not-so-funny ones. Between 2014 and 2017, we produced around 300 ads. As a creative duo, we managed every stage of production—from the first idea to the final cut. I directed the spots, Carlos Rufo Martins wrote them, and we both acted in most of the roles.
These commercials are all homemade, low-budget, and surprisingly effective, produced under our brand CheapCommercials, which was active from 2014 to 2017.
Several of these ads were broadcast on major TV networks worldwide, including National Geographic Channel (USA), Russia 1 (Russia), Sigma TV (Cyprus), Correio da Manhã TV (Portugal), ABC (USA), Trans7 (Indonesia), Seven West Media (Australia), and more.
From Backyard to National Geographic
A TREE SERVICE COMMERCIAL GONE VIRAL
This commercial went viral in 2015–2016, especially on Reddit, due to the absurd mismatch between the plot and the fact that the actress had to wear a bikini throughout. The client insisted on the bikini, despite our warnings that it wouldn’t pass TV approval. As expected, the local station in Florida rejected it. However, the commercial gained international attention and was later featured by National Geographic in their documentary series Original Sin, episode is #6, called “Sex in Advertizing”, aired in USA: August 26, 2016, 9pm ET and in Portugal on 12/22, an episode about the misuse of sexuality in advertising, including commentary from Calvin Klein himself. The client still needed a version suitable for TV, so they commissioned a second, more “normal” commercial—with everyone fully dressed this time 😄
Written by Carlos Rufo Martins, who also stars alongside the lead actress.
Directed by Svetlana Bakushina
Moon Mission. Who Forgot the Flag?
A fun commercial we created while working on the Volkov Theater’s production of The Tempest by Shakespeare in Yaroslavl in 2012. The ad plays on the space race, humorously suggesting that the Soviets were the first to land on the moon. However, the Soviet cosmonaut, distracted by a puzzle game, forgets to plant the flag, while the Americans, taking advantage of his distraction, go ahead and do so. The cast featured actors we had previously worked with on Shakespeare production.
Watch Out! A Babysitting Thriller Ad
The concept came from the client, who wanted to highlight their professional nanny service by contrasting it with a portrayal of a terrible babysitter. The idea was for the nanny character to gradually become sinister, ending with the punchline: “You should have chosen [client’s name] nannies.”
A green screen footage with our little son
FROM HITCHCOCK TO MICHAEL JACKSON
We co-wrote the script with Carlos Martins, and the ending was inspired by Michael Jackson’s infamous moment dangling his baby over a hotel balcony — a scene we recreated using green screen. We filmed it in our living room, with me leaning over the back of a sofa while holding my son. He actually had his hand on the floor the entire time, but we managed to disguise it in the final shot.
I also played both female roles in the production, and our son appeared as the child. I tried to direct the piece in a Hitchcockian style, drawing on his interviews about building suspense, but adapted it to achieve a darkly comedic effect.
We Mixed Chopin, Liszt & Can-Can… For Chocolate!
We produced this commercial for a Malaysian chocolate brand, filming it at the Auditório Carlos do Carmo in Lagoa, Portugal. Carlos Martins wrote the script, and we produced it together. I directed, acted, and arranged the music—mixing Chopin, Liszt, and the Can-Can into one piece. It was a wonderful opportunity to combine classical music with some fun stuff. 🍫🎼
SHE BEARD IT ALL
VITAMINS FOR MEN FUNNY COMMERCIAL
A HAIRY SITUATION
We were approached by a client with a quirky concept already in mind: a man takes a beard-growth vitamin and wakes up the next morning with a full, glorious beard. The twist! His girlfriend accidentally takes one too—and wakes up just as bearded.
The premise was funny and bold, and we knew the execution had to match. We dove into the world of DIY special effects, watching fake beard tutorials online. After a lot of trial and error, we landed on a method that worked: I trimmed the ends of my own hair, used a strong hair gel to coat my chin and cheeks, and then carefully pressed the hairs into place. The result was surprisingly convincing—and hilariously unsettling.
More Gear, More Locations, More Fun
This was one of our a bit higher-budget productions. We even hired actors! Filmed in multiple locations, and had access to better resources overall. We even built our own DIY lights, dolly, and a slider. For once, I had the rare luxury of focusing entirely on the camera work, a welcome change from our usual multitasking setup.
BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS
Not That Kind of Rubber
This commercial plays on the double meaning of the word “rubber.” As a man heads out on a date, his concerned father calls after him, asking loudly if he brought a rubber. The scene cuts to the car gently rocking, only to reveal the couple exercising with rubber bands. The twist lands with just the right blend of innocence and mischief. Carlos played both the father and the son, with old-age makeup and a touch of flower in his hair to give it that convincing white look. We used video compositing to bring the characters together. A simple trick—but effective.
Written and produced by me and Carlos Martins, we also performed all the roles.
How We Got Into Funny Business
This hilarious ad was the very first commercial we ever produced together — and the moment we realized we were a true comedy duo. It was created for an Australian client and aired on a local Melbourne TV station. We made it in the Algarve, Portugal, in 2015. We wrote and produced it together with Carlos Rufo Martins, and performed both roles.
Massage Therapist for Top Models – And He’s Had Enough!
The client owned a web studio and wanted to show how his services transform ordinary websites into thriving businesses that attract loads of clients. Carlos came up with a hilarious concept: a massage therapist for top models is completely overwhelmed with work thanks to the success of his new website—he’s so busy, he doesn’t even have time to eat! He grabs bites of a sandwich between sessions, and at one point, a drop of mayonnaise lands on the model’s back. We were too shy to ask the actress to do that part, so we filmed it on my back and edited the footage seamlessly—you’d never notice. The whole thing is spiced up with a Scottish accent. We couldn’t find the perfect native Scottish voice actor, but luckily, we found a brilliant Welsh actor who nailed the accent. Written by Carlos Martins, who also performs the main role and I directed it.
Inspired by Inspector Clouseau
This commercial was created for Cognac Finish Vodka, a premium spirit from a respected French distillery. Carlos had the idea to play on my Siberian background by placing me in a French lesson—a nod to both vodka and France. The setup is simple: a private tutor tries to teach me a single French word, but I keep getting it wrong. Only at the end do we find out why. The scene was inspired by Steve Martin’s Pink Panther, where Inspector Clouseau struggles to pronounce “I would like to buy a hamburger.” We must have watched this masterpiece a thousand times.
Written by Carlos Rufo Martins. Directed by Svetlana Bakushina. We also performed both roles.
We Don’t Ask Questions
Almost a decade ago, we were commissioned to produce a series of hilarious commercials for an apart-hotel chain with one very specific brief: make them provocative to boost bookings. According to the client, suggestive themes would catch attention and drive sales, and they wanted that edge. We took the challenge and wrapped the concept in a thick layer of comedy, playing with implications rather than showing anything explicit, just a wink, a nudge, and absurd situations. Written by Carlos Rufo Martins Directed by Svetlana Bakushina