Fittingly for the current Mental Health Awareness Month, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention released this hero film (with an edited down :60 and a :30 PSA) which introduces us to a man who is clearly depressed. His loved one see the telltale signs as he becomes more and more enshrouded in darkness.
But this piece casts some light on him and offers a measure of hope–the light being triggered by a daughter who talks to him, draws him out as he starts to discuss his feelings, problems and thoughts.
Aptly titled “Talk Away The Dark,” this piece was directed by Vincent Rene Lortie of The Corner Shop for agency TBWAChiatDay New York.
CreditsClient American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Stephanie Rogers, EVP & chief communications officer; Doreen Marshall, VP of mission engagement; Brett Wean, director, writing and entertainment outreach; Jonathan Dozier-Ezell, director of digital communications; Vera Lukacs, social media director; Maria de los Angeles Corral, media relations. Agency TBWAChiatDay NY Amy Ferguson, chief creative officer; James Sowden, chief strategy officer; John Doris, head of production; Walter Connelly, executive creative director; Royston Ang, sr. art director; Patrick Burke, sr. copywriter; Victoria Lin, art director; Nico Fish, copywriter; Tara Keith, associate integrated producer; Jennifer Kung, strategy director. Production The Corner Shop Vincent Rene Lortie, director; Anna Hashmi, founder & exec producer; Katie Taylor, exec producer; Samuel Caron, line producer; Olivier Gossot, DP; Catherine Pelletier, production designer. Production Services Company Telescope Films Editorial Work Editorial Martin Leroy, editor; Remy Foxx, exec producer, L.A.; Gabrielle Page, head of production, L.A.; Victor Medina, producer; Joseph Tuzzolino, assistant editor. VFX Framestore Martin Lazaro, creative director; Zimei Song, lead Flame compositor; Noah Catan, compositor; Sue McNamara, sr. producer. Music Squeak E. Clean Studios Jesse Watt, composer; Jennie Armon, executive creative producer; Rob Barbato, executive creative director; Tarjas White, sr. producer; Emma Dufault, studio & production assistant. Sound Wave Harry Butcher, sound designer/mixer; Beth Tomblin, exec producer, London; Aaron Reynolds, supervising sound designer; Vicky Ferraro, exec producer, NY. Color Company 3 Sofie Friis Borup, colorist; Shannen Troup, color producer.
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More