This short film, Above the Waves for Kaiser Permanente, follows Golden State Warriors’ NBA All-Star Klay Thompson on his mental and physical road to recovery from a torn ACL that occurred during the 2019 championship series. Directed by Tool of North America’s Floyd Russ and edited by Cut + Run’s Stacy Peterson for ad agency Translation, the six-minute film is a personal recounting of what it takes to become a champion and the dedication and will it takes to heal.
“Above the Waves has been a labor of love,” said Peterson. “I’ve worked with director Floyd Russ many times, and he always brings a distinct point of view, and an element of surprise to his projects. There is always an idea that catches me off guard in the best possible way. The team from Translation was also a dream to work with and their enthusiasm for the film was contagious. Plus we are all are huge sports fans, which made the edit process one of the most fun experiences I’ve had to date.”
Credits
Client Kaiser Permanente Agency Translation LLC Steve Stoute, CEO & founder; Ann Wool, president; Alex Kaplan, Barry Katz, group creative directors; Dylan Simel, sr. art director; Nickolaus Sugai, sr. copywriter; Matthew Flaherty, executive content producer; Dustin Grant, content producer. Sandy Preston, chief strategy officer; Drew Simel, strategy director; Megan Mundo, strategist. Production Tool of North America Floyd Russ, director; Laura Macauley, exec producer; Andy Coverdale, producer; Jacob Moller, DP; Dean Backer, production designer. Editorial Cut + Run Stacy Peterson, editor; Chris Wronka, assistant editor; Lauren Hertzberg, managing director; Marcia Wigley, head of production; Ellese Shell, exec producer. VFX MPC Alvin Cruz, creative director/VFX supervisor; Tobey Lindback, VFX supervisor, 2D lead; Camila De Biaggi, sr. exec producer; Elissa Norman, sr. producer; Mazyar Sharifian, Renato Carone, Anthony Ricciardi, 2D artists. Finishing Jogger Studios Joey Grosso, Flame artist; Rachel Driver, Flame assistant; Mike Tockman, post producer. Color The Mill NY Mikey Rossiter, colorist. Music, Sound Design & Mix Barking Owl Dan Flosdorf, mixer; Ashley Bento, sr. producer.
When dozens of Klick Health team members said they wouldn’t be able to hug loved ones over the festive season, the agency turned to AI and other magic to orchestrate a series of sentimental, surprise reunions captured in its “Holiday Hugs” video. The heartwarming four-minute video, benefitting the D.C.-based Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), parallels recent findings from a Maru/Blue Public Opinion survey commissioned by Klick.
The poll found 74 percent of Americans and Canadians won’t be able to hug at least one person they wish they could over the holidays. And like those in the video, survey participants cited geographical distance and loved ones having passed away as the leading factors preventing their hugs.
“I just wish I could really squeeze her right now,” says teary-eyed New York Klickster Kari Bocassi watching her AI-generated hug with her sister Marlene, moments before she bursts onto the set for a long in-person embrace. The siblings have spent the past 14 years caring for their mother since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but haven’t been together for the holidays since Marlene moved to Virginia. Similarly, Toronto’s Fred Duarte gets the bear hug of his life when his brother Rico, who lives in Brazil, walks into Klick’s production studio for their first holiday reunion in seven years.
Directed by James Cooper via Cooper Films, “Holiday Hugs” also taps into the fact that hugs don’t just make people feel better emotionally, they also have numerous health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, hugs can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
“There’s nothing quite like the warmth and reassurance of a heartfelt hug,” said Klick’s chief creative officer Rich Levy. “With ‘Holiday... Read More
