Director Jake Zalutsky of production house Picture North profiles professional female boxer Jessica McCaskill in this spec piece for Under Armour.
Titled “Respect the Sport,” the film captures McCaskill’s dedication to the sport in terms of both physical intensity and emotional commitment. A prime challenge, said Zalutsky, was “creating a space in which Jessica felt comfortable opening up about some of the challenges and pressures she’s faced as a female athlete, which became the focus of the piece.”
Credits
Client Under Armour (spec piece) Production Picture North Jake Zalutsky, director; Jason Chiu, DP; Carley Mostar, producer; Neha Datt Schultz, Martin Rodahl, exec producers; Matt Miele, assistant cameraman; Mike Cho, gaffer; Max Skelton, key grip; Scott Palmer, Nicholas Fanelli, location sound. Editorial Whitehouse Steve Kroodsma, editor. Color Company 3 Tyler Roth, colorist. Audio Noise Floor Cory Coken, sound mixer; AJ Olstad, foley. Music Ryan Taubert, Blake Ewing, score.
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
