This two-minute film for State Farm from DDB Chicago sheds a somber, poignant, motivating light on the need for volunteers, underscoring the need to translate caring into doing. The short rolled out online on neighborhoodofgood.com, a site that matches volunteers to causes in the community.
Dante Ariola of MJZ directed the piece, titled The Following, from which :60 and :30 versions were cut that are running on TV during the college basketball tournament and other high-profile programming.
The soundtrack to “The Following” is “Don’t Let Me Down,” a Grammy-winning song made popular by the Chainsmokers. It’s been re-recorded by four time Grammy winner Joy Williams, formerly of the Civil Wars. Williams’ version of “Don’t Let Me Down is available on streaming music channels and she is donating her proceeds from the single to the American Red Cross. Comma Music served as the music shop for supervision and licensing.
Credits
Client State Farm Agency DDB Chicago John Maxham, chief creative officer; Mel Routhier, group creative director; Adam Cook, creative director, copywriter; Chris Bruney, creative director, art director; Katie Bero, Brian Culp, associate creative directors; Diane Jackson, chief production officer; Scott Kemper, executive producer; Linda Bres, music production manager; Jack Perone, chief strategy officer; Lauren Maddox, strategist. Production MJZ Dante Ariola, director; Eriks Krumins, exec producer; Natalie Hill, producer; Laurie Crawley, DP; Quito Cooksey, production manager. Editorial Final Cut Joe Guest, editor; Eric McCasline, Suzy Ramirez, exec producers; Barbara Healy, Frankie Elster (London), producers; Dillon Stoneburner (L.A.), Kit Wells (London), assistant editors. Post MPC Camila De Biaggi, exec producer; Jesse Kurnit, head of production; Barry Gilbert, Sandra Eklund, producers; Jean-Clement Soret, colorist; Matt Tremaglio, lead compositor; Maxyar Sharifian, compositor; Fabian Frank, CG lead artist; Chloe Dawe, CGI modeling/groom; Maximilian Mallmann, CGI, rigging; William Laban, CGI groom/lighting; Matteo La Motta, CGI lighting; Tim Van Hussen, Boris Cailly, CGI animation. Music Agency for Supervision and Licensing Comma Music Bonny Dolan, EP/managing director; Michael Paoletta, EP, A&R + supervision/licensing; Bryan Rheude, creative director; Leigh Salzman, producer. Chainsmokers: “Don’t Let Me Down” as performed by Joy Williams. Audio Post Chicago Recording Company Mark Ruff, mixer; Jason Hoban, assistant
Following World AIDS Day, which was celebrated on December 1, co-production companies Central Films and Freelance For track one man’s existential, and potentially career-altering, decision to “come out” as living with HIV in Spain in this public service spot titled “The HInVisible Celebrity.”
Out of agency Señora Rushmore for ViiV Healthcare Spain, in collaboration with GESIDA, SEISIDA, and Apoyo Positivo, the PSA--directed by Rodrigo García Sáiz via Central Films Spain--addresses the stigma against publicly living with HIV in Spanish society. In the more than 40 years since the first case of HIV appeared in Spain, no public figure in Spain has claimed to have HIV. Viiv Healthcare Spain asks, if there are 150,000 people with HIV in Spain (or approximately 1 in 300), why don’t we know anyone with HIV?
The central character, who dons a mask of television-pixelated anonymity, gives himself an introspective pep-talk ahead of announcing his status to the Spanish public. Along the way, he wonders what will become of his career, and reputation in general, even as he recognizes that his declaration could change Spain’s cultural landscape for the better and for all of those in Spain who live with HIV every day. As no public figure in Spain has ever announced living with HIV--due to fear of public rejection--this character realizes that such a role model could change that.
The character has already begun building social media awareness with his Instagram profile, @famosoinvihsible, which began cataloging his life as a public figure earlier this fall. Still, though, the figure either leaves himself out of the picture, faces away from the camera, or dons the pixelated mask associated with anonymous admission. “The HInVisible... Read More
