Independent creative agency Little Big Engine has created a campaign for Hooked on Phonics, including this spoof spot which marks the brand’s first use of humor and entertainment to attract parents and teachers. The campaign departs from Hooked on Phonics' track record of mostly direct-response advertising.
This tongue-in-cheek :30 shows a mom and dad who find it a tad disconcerting that their young daughter has mastered reading and using multi-syllable words.
“We wanted to try something different in the ‘branded conversation’ space,” said Lauren Ball, VP of marketing, Hooked on Phonics. “The creative shows what happens when a child is literally hooked on phonics.”
Credits
Client Hooked on Phonics Lauren Ball, VP of marketing. Agency Little Big Engine Patrick Maravilla, creative director/writer; Brandt Lewis, creative director/art director. Production Little Big Engine Little Big Engine, director; Zip Films, producer; Munn Powell, DP. Editorial Cosmic Pictures
After losing part of his right leg due to cancer, Terry Fox campaigned to raise national awareness and funding for cancer research by running his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada 42-km daily run, on his prosthetic leg. Fox, who died in 1981, is a national hero. His image will be on Canada’s new $5 bill.
In this two-minute video titled “Finish It,” the Marathon of Hope is recreated. It’s all done in one take, and it features an actor/marathon runner who uses a prosthesis on the same leg as Fox. CGI was deployed to make him look more like Fox. To further ensure the actor represented Fox accurately, not only did the actor and team watch and study many videos of Terry, but Terry’s brothers, Fred and Darrel, coached the actor on Terry’s running style and mannerisms. They also created a copy of Terry’s prosthesis for the actor to use for the shoot.
The message is clear. As the Marathon of Hope now marks its 45th anniversary, we now have the opportunity to “Finish It” for Fox, raising money and awareness to get a cure for cancer over the finish line, completing the work that Fox started. The public service film starts with Fox on the marathon run, eventually joined by a crowd of other dedicated runners from all walks of life who take over the race.
Mark Zibert directed via production company Scouts Honour for Toronto agency Diamond. The video features a never-before-heard version of the song “Courage” from Canadian band The Tragically Hip.
“We wanted to create a campaign that captures the magnitude of Terry Fox’s legacy while driving meaningful action,” said Peter Ignazi, chief creative officer at Diamond. “By revisiting the Marathon of Hope with such care and reverence, we aimed to reignite Terry’s mission and... Read More
