Richard Sears of Synthetic directed this two-spot campaign for Women’s Fund of Mississippi and The Ramey Agency designed to drive teens to a site which dispels myths about sex, including such matters as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and birth control.
In the “Pregnancy” PSA, we see the places where high schoolers go to avoid adult supervision–first a now empty hotel room as a supered graphic reads, “You can’t get pregnant your first time,” followed by a resounding “False.” Then there’s a backyard swimming pool where the misnomer that chlorine prevents STDs is dispelled. The camera next takes us to a bonfire in the woods accompanied by the inaccuracy that birth control pills stop STDs. Then we see a parked car with the sound of a couple laughing inside. “I can pull out in time,” reads a super, followed by the myth buster “False.”
An end tag and voiceover urge viewers to separate fact from fiction and to log onto FactNotFiction.com.
No people are seen in the spot–just the locations where private couplings can happen. The character-rich locations allow for a raw and gritty look reminiscent of Mississippi’s iconic photographer William Eggleston.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that Mississippi’s teen birth rate (55 per 1,000 teens) is nearly double the national average (34.3 per 1,000 teens). In spite of school-based education programs, the Centers for Disease Control reports 58% of all Mississippi high schoolers (9th-12th grade) are sexually active and 35% did not use a condom when they last had sex. It’s statistics such as these that motivated director Sears to be a part of the FactNotFiction.com PSA campaign.
“The law of the land in Mississippi allows for contraception education, and the goal of these PSAs is to equip parents and students to ensure a complete school health program is available,” said Sears. The campaign is airing with some resistance, however, in a conservative southern state where women’s health issues and sex education are the center of controversial debates. Carol Penick, executive director of the Women’s Fund of Mississippi said, “We are in no way encouraging the teens in our state to have sex. However, if a teen does choose to have sex, we simply want them to be able to make an educated decision–and to fully understand the risks involved.”
NFL Players In Training–For Features and TV Through Sessions With Filmmaker Deon Taylor
Isaac Ukwu's sights were solely set on just playing in the NFL — until two season-ending knee injuries in college served as a harsh reality of football's fragility.
The setbacks reshaped Ukwu's perspective, showing him that football was part of him, but not all of him. Even after signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent last year, the defensive end knew he needed more than just the game.
So, when the NFL introduced a program for players exploring careers in film and television, he seized the chance to build his off-the-field legacy.
"You can't let your entire identity be football," said Ukwu, an aspiring actor, who was one of 20-plus former and active NFL players selected to join film training sessions at the NFL Career Tour hosted by Hidden Empire and Skydance Sports. During the three-day sessions, athletes explored the nuances of filmmaking — learning behind-the-camera roles like directing, producing and other essential elements of bringing a project to life — while also sharpening their skills as actors.
The sessions recently concluded with the creation of short films at the Hidden Empire studios in Santa Monica, California. The company is led by independent filmmaker Deon Taylor, best known for "Black and Blue" and "The Intruder," and his wife Roxanne Avent Taylor.
"This experience is really invaluable," said Ukwu, who hopes to break into acting before eventually exploring directing and producing.
Some of the players featured in the sessions included Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Cincinnati Bengals lineman Orlando Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward, Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley.
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