Feature filmmaker David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) has directed his first major ad assignment, this mini-film for Ubisoft’s new Ghost Recon: Breakpoint game (available Oct. 4) out of San Francisco ad agency Argonaut.
Titled "Warring with Weezy," the trailer tells a story through characters both in and outside of the game. On the latter score, featured is Grammy Award-winning artist Lil’ Wayne. The campaign focuses not only on the amazing gameplay itself, but the true enjoyment it brings to the gaming experience.
“More than anything, the key point of all action is to tell a story, and in this spot we’re telling a story with these characters in the world of the game and also the characters in their worlds at home,” said Leitch. “We wanted to make sure we have these distinct characters that jump off the page and that the action defines them in a real particular way. We have this fun juxtaposition with the different characters and their voices too, which is a great conceit.”
This is the first work that Ubisoft and Argonaut have teamed on together. Minted Content, which produced the piece, handles Leitch for spots and branded content.
Eight VFX served as visual effects studio with Barking Owl handling music and sound design.
Credits
Client Ubisoft/Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint Agency Argonaut, San Francisco Hunter Hindman, chief creative officer/founder; Alan Stout, Brian Olsen, co-heads of strategy; Jeremy Arth, executive producer; Matt Kelsen, Ali Esterly, creative directors. Production Minted Content, Santa Monica, Calif. David Leitch, director; Lance O’Connor, managing director/founder; John McGarty, exec producer; Edina Sallay, head of production; Jonathan Sela, DP. Production Services Circle Productions, Vancouver Tom Murray, exec producer; Blake Bowell, bidding producer. Editorial 1606 Studio Brian Lagerhausen, editor; Cameron Maidenberg, assistant editor; Vickie Sornsilp, head of production; Jon Ettinger, exec producer. Music/Sound Barking Owl, West Los Angeles Morgan Johnson, sound design; Houston Fry, music editing (of licensed work from Lil Wayne and libraries); Kelly Bayett, creative director. Audio Post Barking Owl, West L.A. Matt Keith, mixer. Visual Effects/Animation Eight VFX, Santa Monica, Calif. Shira Boardman, Baptiste Andrieux, exec producers; Ryan Dahlman, producer; Aryel Melek-Shalom, VFX supervisor; Joe Chiao, Flame lead (Toolbox: Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Flame)
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The filmโs protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a childโs life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
