Center Parcs is in the short break holiday business with five Villages across the U.K.; Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Elveden Forest in Suffolk, Longleat Forest in Wiltshire, Whinfell Forest in Cumbria and Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire. To show that these Villages with acres of forests are a great place for families to come together, London agency Brothers and Sisters created this TV ad celebrating the forest environment as an immersive playground.
Directed by Eric Lynne of Partizan and using the well-known children’s game of consequences, the TV commercial follows a family of four through the forest telling a story. Starting as all good stories do with “once upon a time,” the imaginative tale builds between mom and dad, son and daughter–each sharing different lines. The characters from their imaginative story, including a robot, a leaf monster and a great forest whale, magically spring to life around them as the story builds.
Electric Theatre Collective collaborated with Hollywood concept artists who have worked on movies for the likes of Marvel to design the characters in the 50-second spot titled “The Forest is your Playground.” The characters took over two months to develop, with painstaking detail to ensure they fit naturally in the forest environment. The piece took 1,200 hours of animation in addition to the time spent modeling and lighting each of the characters.
Colin Whaley, sales and marketing director at Center Parcs, commented, “Our research shows that in modern life, parents rarely get the chance to get on the same level as their children and give them undivided attention. This new campaign shows how through imaginative play and simply using the things around you such as the forest and nature, you can be together as family.”
CreditsClient Center Parcs Agency Brothers and Sisters, London Andy Fowler, executive creative director; Robbie Ferrara, Andy Drugan, creative team; Phoebe Rixon, producer; Nicola Ridley, executive producer. Production Partizan Eric Lynne, director; Arnaud Potier, DP. Editorial Walter Mauriot, editor. VFX/Post Electric Theatre Collective Sian Jenkins, postproduction producer; Ryan Knowles, lead VFX; James Belch, assistant VFX; Dean Robinson, lead CG; Paul Templeman, lead animator. Sound Design 750MPH Sam Ashwell, sound design. Media Planning/Buying Blue 449
The Best Work You May Never See: Ad Council, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, GSD&M, Director Andre Muir Show Us “The Bravest Thing”
As Suicide Prevention Month begins, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Ad Council teamed with agency GSD&M to roll out PSAs for their national campaign: “Don’t Wait. Reach Out.” The initiative, which started in 2021, urges Veterans who are facing challenges to visit VA.gov/REACH, a comprehensive website that helps them access the many resources available.
The PSAs, including this one titled “The Bravest Thing,” were directed by Andre Muir of production house SMUGGLER. “The Bravest Thing” acknowledges that it can be hard for Veterans to reach out if they’re struggling--but in the eyes of their loved ones, seeking help is an act of bravery. By featuring Veterans alongside their friends and family, the film encourages Veterans to open up if they’re struggling and reminds everyone that they can play a role in supporting Veterans in their lives.
“When a Veteran is ready to reach out, VA is ready to provide services and support. One of the bravest things Veterans can do is ask for help,” said Dr. Matthew Miller, executive director, VA Office of Suicide Prevention. “These new messages are powerful and compassionate additions to the ‘Don’t Wait. Reach Out.’ campaign that features the voices of loved ones, underscoring the vital role that family and friends play in supporting Veterans. We all play a role in suicide prevention and this call to action engages community and connections, which are crucial in preventing Veteran suicide. Through this campaign, we can spread hope that Veterans, and all of us, can overcome crises and difficult life challenges.”
6,392 Veterans lost their lives to suicide in 2021, according to the latest data from the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.... Read More