Whether or not you agree with the causes he has championed through his public service commercials, director Laurence Thrush of Growth Films, Santa Monica, has made his creative filmmaking mark via these endeavors. Continuing in that mini-tradition is his latest work, a two-spot package for Cures Now, a group advocating embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning for the purpose of curing diseases.
This is the third time that the helmer’s PSAs have made SHOOT’s "The Best Work You May Never See" gallery. Thrush’s work for the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (SHOOT, 8/2/02, p. 11) and for Physicians for Social Responsibility—an anti-gun violence organization—(SHOOT, 9/27/02, p. 11) both gained recognition in this section last year.
"Paralysis," one of the ads for Cures Now, opens on an attendant pushing a wheelchair-bound man into a dimly lit room. The attendant removes a metal footrest from the chair and places it on the armrest. He then brings out a blowtorch and proceeds to weld the footrest there. Sparks crackle around the face of the paraplegic, who wears a defeated expression. The attendant then brings out a circular saw and continues to make renovations to the chair. The footrest and other metal pieces turn into a restraining bar that goes across the front of the wheelchair, turning it into a cage. Other add-ons further confine the man’s head, chest and arm movements.
A medium shot through a glass door shows the wheelchair as a metal trap. The handicapped man says, "Therapeutic cloning is the greatest hope for curing spinal cord injury. A ban on therapeutic cloning research will mean I’ll never get out of this chair." The spot ends with the Cures Now logo, accompanied by the group’s Web address (www.curesnow.org) supered against a black background.
The other commercial in the campaign, "Diabetes," shows a girl playing with a dog. Her mother informs us that her daughter—who may one day go blind due to her diabetes—is actually training a guide dog. "People should allow stem clone research," the girl says. "Stem cell research can save people with a whole lot of different diseases."
In conceptualizing the campaign, Thrush worked closely with Jerry Zucker, founder of Cures Now. Zucker himself is a producer and director, with helming credits that include Ghost, Rat Race and Airplane (which was co-directed by him, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker).
The support team at Growth Films consisted of producer Simon Thrush, production manager Corina Dennison and production designer Gary Riffat. "Paralysis" was shot on location in San Jose, Calif., by DP Gary Young.
Editor was Ben Longland of Rock Paper Scissors, Los Angeles. Dex Deboree produced for Rock Paper Scissors. Online editor was James Budak of A52, Los Angeles. Colorist was Rajiv Bedi of Company 3, Santa Monica. Eric Ryan of RavensWork, Venice, Calif., served as audio mixer. Sound designer was Michael Anastasie of stimmüng, Santa Monica.
