Brian Billow of production house O Positive directed and co-wrote (with Jay Manheimer) this satirical campaign in which Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Donald Trump square off in a series of lakeside chats.
Trump imparts his wisdom to Lincoln on topics ranging from the pandemic to skipping taxes and even a proposed Commander-in-chief change possibly in the offing for Mount Rushmore.
The latter is the subject of this tongue-in-cheek installment of the “Abe and Trump Being Frank” series with plans for Trump’s visage to replace that of Theodore Roosevelt. (Trump would evoke the "statue of limitations.")
While the topics are different from episode to episode in this campaign series, one message is constant–make sure to cast your vote in the fast approaching national election.
Billow is an alum of SHOOT’s 2008 New Directors Showcase.
CreditsCreative Jay Manheimer, Brian Billow, writers. Production O Positive Brian Billow, director; Ralph Laucella, exec producer; Grayson Bithell, line producer; Sameet Patadia, production manager; Vanessa Golenia, social media producer; Sebastian Pfaffenbichler, DP; Maia Jovan, production designer; Greg McCollum, first AD. Editorial Arcade Edit Geoff Hounsell, Sean Lagrange, Dean Miyahira, editors; Alexa Atkin, editorial producer. Finishing & Grade The Mill John Leonti, creative director; Anastasia Von Rahl, exec producer; Bret Aros, associate producer; Logan Highlen, colorist; Patrick Dirks, 2D artist; Chris “Badger” Knight. Music N.O.R.E. Hazardis Soundz, Spkilla, producers.
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