Fenn O’Meally directed via production house SMUGGLER a package of surreal films, including this one titled "Josh," as an accompaniment to the outerwear campaign for Burberry.
O’Meally utilizes the absence of light which adds a layer of suspense to the film; the glow surrounding each character creates intimacy in moments of stillness. That is, until we see each character lifted up and suspended in the night sky by an unknown entity, breaking up the stillness and introducing a sense of conflict. Throughout each scene, the city becomes its own character in the film.
Credits
Client Burberry Production SMUGGLER Fenn O’Meally, director; Fergus Brown, managing director; Elizabeth Doonan, exec producer; Cora Rodriguez, producer; Tom Wynborne, 1st AD; Harry Wheeler, DP; Gary Smith, camera car; Josh Brooks, Steadicam. Editorial Toby Heard, editor. Music James Williams Blades, scoring/composing. Postproduction Burberry Post Production Daniel Beddoe, colorist; Samuel Jennings, VFX
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
