Special Olympics Northern California (SONC) and advertising agency Barrett Hofherr are launching an awareness campaign demonstrating how Special Olympics brings people together in ways that erase lines of division and isolation. The “Do Something Special” campaign launched on June 23, in conjunction with the organization’s annual flagship event, the 2023 Summer Games in Santa Clara, Calif.
The spots, including this longer form piece, address the preconceived notions of what it’s like to live with an intellectual disability and feature real athletes reclaiming the word “special” as a thing of power: “Special isn’t what we are. It’s what we do.”
“The word ‘special’ has become a label that too often marginalizes when it’s meant to celebrate,” said Jamie Barrett, founder of Barrett Hofherr. “This campaign–and more specifically the athletes themselves–seeks to confront that misperception head on.”
Matt Palmer directed via production company Avocados & Coconuts.
CreditsClient Special Olympics Northern California Agency Barrett Hofherr Jamie Barrett, chief creative officer; Todd Eisner, executive creative director; Michael Simon, Daisy Serafini, art directors; Liam Berg, copywriter; Conor Duignan, head of production; Marianne Lawler, sr. producer; Amie Chan, head of strategy; Kiersten Hazard, sr. strategist; Dora Beilin, social strategist. Production Avocados & Coconuts Matt Palmer, director; Dalia Burde, exec producer; Gabrielle Occhipinti, production coordinator; Drew Kass, DP. Postproduction Avocados & Coconuts Gaby Scott, editor; Jessica Kenney, post producer. Music Heavy Duty Sound Design & Mix M Squared Hayley Kay, Mark Pitchford, sound engineers. Color Grade Legion Xander Schwab, colorist.
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