A long form online video, directed by Craig Gillespie of MJZ, kicks off this “Promote Yourself” campaign for Audi and agency Venables Bell & Partners.
With this piece, like most automotive brands, Audi is launching its summer sales event. Unlike most brands, however, Audi is using an emotional message to recruit new owners this summer. This Freedom short centers on a woman who has just been named employee of the year but that’s not enough as the inner drive to progress leads her to pack up her things, exit the office, and embark on a journey to start her own company. Her aspirations coincide with the Audi owner's constant drive and mindset for progress. For Audi drivers, a promotion isn’t just about a salary bump or a fancy corner office. It’s bypassing a raise for a better opportunity elsewhere, or trading in that corner office to start a business in their living room. A promotion is about making yourself a little better, backing yourself, and conquering your own Everest. In this case, she’s promoted herself with a new Audi as she embarks on the next chapter in her career.
Credits
Client Audi of America Agency Venables Bell & Partners Paul Venables, founder, chairman; Will McGinness, executive creative director; Erich Pfeifer, creative director; Joash Tham, art director; Carlos Savage, sr. copywriter; Craig Allen, director of integrated production; Gabby Gardner, producer; Jenna Van Deventer, associate producer; Uli Kurtenbach, group strategy director; Cody Levin, sr. strategist; Raquel Bedard, director of Lumberyard (Venables Bell & Partners’ in-house production & post unit) Production MJZ Craig Gillespie, director; Emma Wilcockson, exec producer; Ed Callaghan, line producer; Gyula Pados, DP; Peter Kirkegaard, production designer. Editorial Final Cut Rick Russell, editor; Suzy Ramirez, exec producer; Barbara Healy, producer; Zoe Schack, assistant editor. Sound Design & Mix 740 Sound Chris Pinkston, sound designer/mixer; Scott Ganary, exec producer; Jeff Martin, producer. VFX/Finishing EightVFX Shira Boardman, exec producer; Ryan Dahlman, producer; Julien Forest, shoot supervisor, 3D lead artist; Jean-Marc Demmer, creative director, shoot supervisor; Roxy Zuckerman, 2D lead artist; Philip Ineno, Flame lead; Alex Kolasinski, Flame artist; Alex Taylor, Shaun Tsou, Keigo Tanaka, Nuke compositors; Jaguar Lee, matte painting; Nathan Lee, Yann Mallard, design/motion graphics; Thomas Lopez, rigger; Leticia Saldana, modeler; Nyamekye Morgan, data management administration. Telecine Company 3 Tom Poole, colorist; Alexandra Lubrano, color producer.
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 film’s 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 child’s 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 – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
