The language gap is deployed to good humor but for a worthy cause in “Little People,” an online :45 for the Belgium-based N.G.O. Vredeseilanden (‘Peace Islands’).
“Little People” opens on a hitchhiker and a Spanish-speaking farmer trucking through a dusty agricultural area. A misunderstanding quickly ensues when the spirited hitchhiker tells the driver he sells “little people,” forgetting to specify that they are key chains. “Every year in Belgium we sell little people,” said the Belgium. “Most people use them as a key chain or on their backpacks or in the car,” he says.
Visuals of actual little people dangling from a key chain, a backpack and a rearview mirror flash across the screen. The smiling Belgian is obviously unaware that the driver assumes he peddles actual people. Disgusted, the driver comes to sudden halt after the Belgian confesses that his dog once ate one. Calling the hitchhiker, in a heavy accent, “crazy Belgian!” the farmer leaves the perplexed traveler behind on a barren dirt road. The spot closes with the tag, “Buy ‘little people’ keychains and help poor farmers in the South,” accompanied by the Vredeseilanden logo.
Frank Devos of Caviar, Los Angeles/Brussels/Amsterdam, directed “Little People” for agency Duval Guillaume in Antwerp, Belgium.
The NGO program encourages sustainability for farmers while raising funds through the sales of the keychains. The revenue benefits indigenous farmers.
Kato Maes exec produced for Caviar with Ilse Joye and Katia Renson serving as producers. The DP was Danny Elsen.
The Duval Guillaume creative team included creative directors Geoffrey Hantson and Dirk Domen, copywriter Sebastian De Valck, art director Thierry Wiebking and producer Bruno Dejonghe.
Dieter Diependaele edited via Caviar, Brussels.
Disney Pledges $15 million In L.A. Fire Aid As More Celebs Learn They’ve Lost Their Homes
The Pacific Palisades wildfires torched the home of "This Is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, perhaps most poignantly destroying the father-to-be's newly installed crib.
CBS cameras caught the actor walking through his charred house for the first time, standing in what was once his kitchen and looking at a neighborhood in ruin. "Your heart just breaks."
He and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, evacuated Tuesday with their dog and they watched on security cameras as the flames ripped through the house, destroying everything, including a new crib.
"There's a kind of shock moment where you're going, 'Oh, this is real. This is happening.' What good is it to continue watching?' And then at a certain point we just turned it off, like 'What good is it to continue watching?'"
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the heavy winds that fanned the flames as numerous groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from the Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by a connection to his "This Is Us" character, Jack Pearson, who died after inhaling smoke in a house fire. "It's not lost on me life imitating art."
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia's wife on "This Is Us," nearly lost her home in the Eaton fire, which scorched large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said Thursday that part of her house is standing but is unlivable, and her husband lost his music studio and all his instruments.
Mel Gibson's home is "completely gone," his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed Friday. The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday while appearing on Joe Rogan's... Read More