Two Hollywood stars, six NBA players and a hip hop sound track combine to communicate a strong message about AIDS testing in a PSA produced by HBO in association with the NBA, the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDs and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The PSA runs at www.testing411.org and YouTube and is playing on air at NBA TV, BET and MTV.
The :60 “AIDS Testing PSA” is narrated by Jamie Foxx with Queen Latifah and the NBA stars providing remarks about how important it is to get tested for AIDS. The NBA stars include Richard Jefferson, Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Samuel Dalembert, Kyle Korver and Marcus Williams.
Testing a microphone provided the theme for the spot. “Testing, testing 1-2, we took it across into AIDS testing,” said Chris Spencer, HBO’s senior vice president/general manager of creative services, who directed the spot.
The spot begins with a shot of a microphone and Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah saying, “Testing, testing.” Then it moves to the basketball courts, with the NBA stars in action, offering comments on AIDS testing as they take it to the hoop.
The spot was shot in locations around the country to accommodate the cast, from New Jersey, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, where the NBA stars play, to Shreveport, LA, where Queen Latifah was located.
The spot was shot with a wide frame Super 16 mm camera, Spencer said.
“We had really good people and cool shots, but we needed a unifying force to pull it together,” he said. The answer — a hip hop track from Rhythm Cafe/Chicago, the music production company, that was produced by Jim Olen, composed by Stevie Butler, starring hip hop legend Doug E. Fresh as the lead vocalist. The lyrics include, “Get on the ball, get tested,” which unifies the basketball theme with the AIDS message. “We’re doing all we can to get the word out, we wanted something energetic and non-stop to bring home the fact that there’s no fear and no shame in getting tested,” Olen said. “When I heard the track, I knew it would be good,” Spencer said.
The spot began playing on June 13 and was timed to lead up to National HIV Testing Day, June 27. The website provides information on testing options and a database on HIV testing centers.
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More