Told entirely through fake commercials, this short film titled Adman tells an unconventional love story that takes viewers on a heartfelt, funny ride–one spot at a time.
Written and directed by Ben Callner (an alum of SHOOT’s 2012 New Directors Showcase) and produced by his brother Adam Callner, Adman introduces us to our aspiring "adman" (aka Logan), his parents, and then we see him embark on his career, meet the love of his life, and experience the trials and tribulations that go with that–each chapter conveyed through commercials for such essentials as ice cream, chewing gum, double stuffed cookies, dog food, Australian tourism, stain remover and beer.
In real life, the Callner brothers over the years have worked with varied major brands including Volkswagen, Lenovo, Hanes, Motorola, Verizon and GEICO.
Production company on Adman was Raucous Content. The DP was Doug Chamberlain.
Credits
Production Raucous Content Ben Callner, writer/director; Adam Callner, producer; Ben Callner, Adam Callner, Steve Wi, Phyllis Koenig, Doug Chamberlain, Melissa Mapes, Ben Suenaga, executive producers; Doug Chamberlain, DP; Christian Stone, production designer; Lily Garcia, 1st AD; Graham Geraghty, 2nd AD; Heather Allison, costume designer. Editorial Ben Callner, Joe Kell, Alex Pirrone, Ben Suenaga, editors. Casting Alyson Horn, Maya Adrabi, Lindsay Bronson. Sound Ben Holst, sound designer/mixer. Color MPC NYC James Tillett, colorist. Postproduction Friendshop. Audio Post Tunewelders. Cast Ted Cannon, Jocelin Donahue, Judy Kain, Dar Dixon, Jarrod Crawford, Tim Karasawa, Josh Covitt, Erick Chavarria, Bill O’Neill, Sam Carson, Niko Posey, David Aaron, Paul Vinson, Michele Lainevool, Adam Nemet, Harrison Polo
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
