We open on a close-up of a female mannequin–but we’re not looking through a department store window. Instead we’re in a busy diner. The camera then reveals that the restaurant staff and customers are all mannequins. Burgers are cooking on the grill and are clearly on their way to being burnt in that there’s no one to tend to them but lifeless mannequins.
The camera then reveals a banner headline on the front page of a discarded newspaper: “Mannequinism Linked To Political Activity.” The spot next takes us outside to city streets, with mannequins in various slice-of-life poses. But humanity intervenes, as young people enter the scene, circulating flyers that urge us to prevent mannequinism. A yellow flyer is placed on the windshield of a car, with a mannequin seated in the driver’s seat. Flyers are tucked under the arms or in the pockets of mannequins standing on sidewalks.
As the young humans canvas the streets with the flyers, waving a flag against mannequinism, a voiceover relates, “Protect yourself from mannequinism. Vote, volunteer, stay informed. It’s easy to get involved.” The Web site address www.fightmannequinism.org then appears on screen.
This Ad Council PSA is part of its youth civic engagement campaign in conjunction with the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Created by WestWayne, Atlanta, the campaign encourages 18-to-24-year olds to get or to stay involved in their communities.
“The City” was directed by The Guard Brothers (Tom and Charles) of bicoastal Villains. Richard Goldstein executive produced for Villains. Producer was Matt Caltabiano. The spot was shot in location in Los Angeles by DP Tami Reiker.
The WestWayne team consisted of chief creative officer Scott Sheinberg, executive creative director Steve Baer, art director Joel Davis, copywriter Kevin Botfeld and director of broadcast/producer Connie Newberry.
Editor was Nick Lofting of Union Editorial, Los Angeles. Union’s Todd Iorio was online editor/Flame artist and Josh Eichenbaum was audio post mixer. Colorist was Mike Pethel of Company 3, Santa Monica.
Music composer/arranger was David Wittman of bicoastal Elias Arts, with the shop’s Dean Hovey serving as sound designer. Marit Tinguely executive produced for Elias.