Titled “Happy Father’s Day, Mr. Rayos,” this video introduces us to a long-distance dad working three jobs in the U.S. to support his nine children, eight of whom are still in the Philippines. He’s a widower who immigrated to the U.S. in order to give his family a better life, sending money back home to provide his children with an education, healthcare and other necessities.
This is the latest installment of the brand’s “Be Soft. Be Strong” campaign and mission to celebrate all types of families that have to be both soft and strong to handle life’s challenges.
Deutsch is the agency behind the campaign, with this Father’s Day installment directed by Eric Kaufman of Steelhead.
Credits
Client Georgia Pacific/Angel Soft Agency Deutsch Pete Favat, chief creative officer, North America; Winston Binch, chief digital officer, North America; Jason Bagley, chief creative officer; Karen Costello, executive creative director; Melissa Langston-Wood, creative director; Ashley Milhollin, copywriter; Dan Rosenberg, art director; Vic Palumbo, director of integrated production; Rachel Seitel, executive integrated producer; Justin Polk, integrated producer; Dave Rocco, music creative director; Eryk Rich, music supervisor. Production Steelhead Eric Kaufman, director; Ted Markovic, exec producer; Jim Brattin, associate producer; Chris Fox, line producer. Editorial Steelhead Ian Paxton, editor; Ted Markovic, exec producer; Jim Brattin, associate producer. Postproduction Company 3 Dave Hussey, sr. colorist; Liza Kerlin, sr. producer. Post/VFX Steelhead Ted Markovic, exec producer; Austin Meyers, director of visual effects; Dennis Kang, motion design director. Music Track: “Along The Coastline” Daniel Louis Rosen (ASCAP), composer; Score A Score, publisher, master. Audio Post Steelhead Chase Butters, mixer; Ted Markovic, exec producer.
Director Marc André Debruyne--who’s handled by production house Open Swim for U.S. representation--brings Coca-Cola’s legacy of celebrating holiday traditions to life in this campaign spotlighting Filipino Balikbayan boxes. The spot--out of Toronto agencies Taxi and VML--features Tita Rosita, owner of the oldest Filipino-Canadian grocery store in Toronto, whose much-adored shop was wrapped like a massive Coca-Cola-themed Balikbayan box as she prepared hundreds of boxes for customers to send their loved ones, with Coca-Cola paying for the boxes and the cost of shipping them to the Philippines. The spot is a testament to the brand’s prevailing facilitation of cultural and generational connectivity, especially during the holiday season.
The collaborative project--produced by Toronto production company MOWAD--was particularly special for Debruyne, who’s Filipino, because of the large presence of Filipino crew members on set. “It’s a totally surreal feeling when a work project crosses over into your personal life. It’s not too often that happens,” shares Debruyne. “The number of Balikbayan boxes I’ve sent home since I was a child, being surrounded by so many Filipinos on set – both crew and cast, and even being served pancit by Tita Rosita for lunch (and getting yelled at after because I didn’t have seconds) brought back so many wonderful memories of my mom. It was such a fun vibe on set. This wasn’t even a job, it was truly something special.”
