We open on U.S. Navy reservist Mike Johnston stepping out on the track, warming up and preparing for his evening training session. He takes a breath and adjusts his foot into the starter block. He turns his gaze up in determination and begins his sprint with the utmost focus.
We then see that Johnston is no ordinary athlete as we cut to a shot of his amputated leg supported by the word “Passion” in place of where his prosthetic leg normally exists. We see him careen forward at full speed, treading evenly on both real and false limb alike as we see his leg morph to read, “Power.” The shot of his moving legs slows along with the super, “Strength,” which suddenly shatters, revealing his real-life prosthetic leg.
Johnston moves out of the screen as we see the super, “Own your life, ” along with the voiceover, “You already have everything it takes to own your life.” The spot closes with the USA Paralympics and Department of Veteran Affairs logos followed by the super, “Find your sport. USParalympics.org.”
“Words–Own Your Life” was directed by Luc Schurgers of Green Dot Films for agency Ignited. Editor was Doobie White of Therapy.
Actor Steve Guttenberg Returns To L.A. Neighborhood Now Charred By Devastating Wildfire
Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable.
With homes smoldered, streets emptied and friends scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the fortunate. His property was miraculously spared. But the actor-producer still struggled to reconcile his relief with the haunting sight of his ravaged, once lavish community.
"Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy," said Guttenberg, pacing through the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his home has electricity but no running water.
Guttenberg thanked God that his block was safe, but he said about 20 homes were burned "pretty bad" in his 80-home community after wind-whipped fires tore across Los Angeles, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He said the fires are the worst he's ever seen in his 66-years.
The wildfires have burned the homes of several celebrities including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton.
Guttenberg said he never expected all of this to happen.
"It's like when someone dies suddenly," he said. "It's like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. That's how shocking it was."
During Guttenberg's stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm trees, homes reduced to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation.
"I've seen people scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their kids, people having anxiety and panic... Read More