The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council have launched public service spots that encourage prospective parents to adopt teens from foster care. Created by agency Edelman and directed by the Riess/Hill duo (Chris Riess and Amy Hill), the PSAs build on the campaign’s “You Can’t Imagine the Reward” message and feature real adoptive families sharing their adoption from foster care stories and how rewarding the journey has been for both parents and teens.
Hill and Riess–known for work spanning real people, humanity and authentic emotions–directed the spots, including this longer form PSA, produced by Yard Dog TV. Riess and Hill are currently directing as freelancers.
“Edelman has long admired and supported the powerful campaigns produced by the Ad Council. The work is always meaningful, always provoking. It is an honor to join the stable of agencies that have lent their creative talent and intuition to these very important initiatives. ‘Parents Adopted’ flips the script on the typical adoption narrative. It’s about empowering our youth, and the amazing feeling that comes when your kid loves you back,” said Judy John, global chief creative officer, Edelman.
Credits
Client Ad Council, AdoptUSKids, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Agency Edelman Judy John, global chief creative officer; Cindy Chapman, group executive producer; Isidoro Debellis, executive creative director; Andres Landivar, Zack Swyers, associate creative directors; Natasha Correa, sr. producer. Production Company Yard Dog TV Amy Hill and Chris Riess, directors; Chris Riess, DP; Brian Etting, line producer. Editorial Final Cut Ashley Kreamer, editor.
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More