This short introduces us to Claudine, an elderly lady who spends her time with B.E.N., a companion robot. But the quality of that time comes into question–particularly as it concerns being able to combat the woman’s loneliness.
B.E.N. is an abbreviation for “Bionically Engineered Nursing.” And despite the amazing technology, there’s no substitute for the human touch to remedy a person’s isolation. Through this short, the Society of Saint-Vincent-De-Paul (SSVP), a charity network in France, makes the case for people to volunteer and spend time with those in need of human interaction. SSVP has been fighting loneliness and isolation since its founding in 1833,
Ad agency CLM BBDO, Paris, came up with the concept for this short, titled “B.E.N.,” which was directed by David Wilson via Paris production house La Pac.
Credits
Client Society of Saint-Vincent-De-Paul Agency CLM BBDO Matthieu Elkaim, creative director, BBDO Paris Charles Dessaux, art director; Emile Martin, copywriter; Julien Sanson, production director, BBDO Paris; Martine Ferey, post producer, BBDO Paris; Corentin Monot, strategic planning director; Ophelia Doria, strategic planner; Lauren Weber, communications director. Production La Pac David Wilson, director; Jérôme Denis, Anna Roudaut, executive producers; Antoine Ricard, 1st assistant director; Victor Seguin, DP. Editorial Roxane Huet Ferret and Emily Aubry, editors. Postproduction Mikros Fabrice Damolini, post producer; Laruent Creusot, Jao M’changama, Flame; Sebastien Mingam, Magalie Leonard, grading. Sound Production THE Raphaël Fruchard, sound producer.
At the heart of this campaign for Pay.UK Current Account Switch Service (CASS) is a playful yet relatable narrative, brought to life in the hero TV commercial, “Blind Date.” Directed by Rosie May Bird Smith of Biscuit Filmworks for agency House 337, the spot follows a woman nervously meeting her blind date, only to discover the person waiting for her is someone you definitely wouldn’t want to meet on a blind date. The voiceover reassures: ”Blind dates. They’re a bit like switching bank accounts. You don’t want any surprises. That’s why we guarantee there won’t be any when you switch with the Current Account Switch Service.”
“Everyone knows the pain of a bad date, the gut-churning realization you’ve texted your boss instead of your mate, and being stuck next to someone eating the world’s stinkiest lunch,” said Ross Newton, creative director, House 337, who added, “Life is a minefield of unwanted surprises, so coming up with the campaign idea was the easy part. The real challenge was deciding which situations to include and which to ditch. Sadly, these scenarios are all too relatable for us all, myself included.”
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