Seven lives are lost to home fires every day in the U.S.–more than all natural disasters combined. In an effort to change these statistics, the American Red Cross is launching “The Great Escape,” a PSA aimed at educating families on home fire safety.
This campaign from BBDO New York focuses on preparing families with two simple steps: Practicing a 2-minute fire drill, and testing smoke alarms monthly.
To bring this message to life, this spot–directed by Noam Murro of Biscuit Filmworks–features a surreal somewhat playful universe where toys have come alive and are practicing a timely evacuation from their dollhouse–a scene which we later realize is a figment of one child’s imagination.
Credits
Client American Red Cross Agency BBDO New York David Lubars, global chief creative officer; Roberto Danino, Anne Lac, Gary Du Toit, Lance Vining, SVPs, creative directors; Ryan Sheehy, Emma Wren, copywriters (social); Tamara Yakov, art director (social); Alex Gianni, SVP, group executive producer; Jason Guzman, associate producer; Julia Millison, music producer; Alexandra Britt, sr. strategic planner. Production Biscuit Filmworks Noam Murro, director; Shawn Lacy, partner/managing director; Andrew Travelstead, exec producer; Emily Skinner, producer; Sean Moody, head of production; Eric Schmidt, DP; Brock Houghton, production designer; Jennifer Berry, production supervisor. Editorial Rock Paper Scissors East Paul Hardcastle, editor; Eve Kornblum, managing director; Lisa Barnable, producer; Tim Mika, assistant editor; Barbara Kontarovich, Flame producer; Edward Reina, Flame artist. Color Primary Daniel DeVue, colorist; Thatcher Peterson, exec producer; Jenny Bright, producer. Audio Post Heard City Tom Morris, mixer; Andi Lewis, producer; Sasha Awn, Jackie James, exec producers; Gloria Pitagorsky, managing director. Music Human John Christopher Barnes, composer; Morgan Visconti, creative lead; James Dean Wells, exec producer.
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The film’s protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a child’s life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
