Artist, filmmaker, and animator blackpowerbarbie recently directed and stars in a vibrant new ad campaign, “You Gotta See What We See,” for Destination Toronto via production company Fela and advertising agency Bensimon Byrne. In a love letter to her hometown, blackpowerbarbie provides an inside look at Toronto’s thriving art scene through the personal lens of her friends, community, and local hangs.
“The art scene in Toronto has played an important role in shaping the artist that I am today and it was important for me to share how I feel about my hometown and the many diverse perspectives it represents,” said blackpowerbarbie. “Working with Destination Toronto was a great experience, they gave me the creative latitude to make this commercial a very authentic representation of why Toronto is such a special place.”
She invited local Toronto artists Lauren Pirie and Smolik to be featured alongside her in this spot, with both providing their perspectives on the unique cultural relevance of the Toronto art scene. The live-action commercial features animated flourishes, with each artist’s work featured alongside the segments they’re featured in; blackpowerbarbie’s candy-colored characters and vision, Smolik’s graffiti-inspired street art, and Pirie’s surreal painterly canvases.
The campaign delivers an authentic window into the lively Toronto downtown scene, from the coffee shops to the galleries, studios, block parties, and backyard dinners of this group of friends.
CreditsClient Destination Toronto Agency Bensimon Byrne Lorne Covant, creative director; Ana Segurajauregui, associate creative director; Nina Hang, art director; Megan Radisa, copywriter; Katie Link, producer. Production Company Fela blackpowerbarbie, director; blackpowerbarbie, Kelly Schiesswohl, animation; Taj Critchlow, Fuliane Petikyan, Director X, exec producers; Dean Rosen, COO; Amir Karimi, head of production; Travis Richel, producer; Mikayla Fasullo, integrated producer; Olivia Swayze, operations manager; Simon Mohos, production coordinator; Matt Moreland, 1st AD; Steven Tsinokas, DP. Editorial Married To Giants Steven Tsikokas, editor. Color ArtJail Kevin Wu, colorist. VFX Steven Meyers, VFX Sound Design/Mixing/Score Gavin Whelehan
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