Directed by Nick Piper of Backyard for Minneapolis-based agency Mithun, this lighthearted spot titled “Slant House” depicts the misfortunes and comic inconveniences that arise for a couple who built their dream house on a hill.
The incline causes their dishes to slide, drawers to fall open and vacuuming to be a most arduous chore. But thanks to their new Toro all-wheel-drive lawnmower (and the redesigned, easy to use Z Tractor), mowing their steep lawn is a piece of cake.
CreditsClient Toro Agency Mithun, Minneapolis David Carter, chief creative officer; Angie Schoemer, producer; Randy Gerda, associate creative director/art director; Joe Stefanson, associate creative director/copywriter. Production Backyard Nick Piper, director; Terence Maritz, DP; Blair Stribley, president/partner; Chris Zander, managing director/partner; Emily Malito, head of production. Janette De Villiers, exec producer (South Africa); Debra Stubbs, head of production (South Africa); Mel Charrington, line producer (South Africa). Editorial Channel Z Mike Weldon, lead editor. VFX/Finishing VOLT Studios Steve Medin, owner/creative director. Music Finger Music
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More