The “Good Things Come To Those Who Don’t Wait” campaign for The Wall Street Journal kicks off with “The Runner,” a film airing nationwide on TV, cinema, social and online, that depicts a woman who from birth has never stopped moving, driven by her ambition. It’s this ambition that WSJ readers possess which is fueled by the business news and insights they receive from the Journal every day. The film is designed to inspire a new generation of WSJ readers and future leaders.
The spot was directed by Ellen Kuras of The Corner Shop for agency The&Partnership.
A Journal reader herself, Kuras was keen to ensure that the female protagonist felt authentic, likable, relatable and inspiring.
Credits
Client The Wall Street Journal Suzy Watford, CMO; Paul Plumeri, marketing director. Agency The&Partnership Wilfred Boudreau, chief creative officer; Natasha Maasri, creative director; Arrie Hurd, art director; Mike Lin, copywriter; Shobha Sairam, chief strategy officer; Kevin Wilson, head of production. Production The Corner Shop Ellen Kuras, director; Ryley Brown, DP; Anna Hashmi, exec producer; Adam Wilson, art director; Suzie Greene Tedesco, line producer. Editorial Work Editorial NY Bill Smedley, editor; Winter Brihn, assistant editor; Erica Thompson, exec producer; Chris Delarenal, producer. Postproduction MPC NY Adrian Seery, colorist; Dani Zeitlin, exec producer; Catherine Fischer, associate producer. Music MAS, Music and Strategy.
After losing part of his right leg due to cancer, Terry Fox campaigned to raise national awareness and funding for cancer research by running his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada 42-km daily run, on his prosthetic leg. Fox, who died in 1981, is a national hero. His image will be on Canada’s new $5 bill.
In this two-minute video titled “Finish It,” the Marathon of Hope is recreated. It’s all done in one take, and it features an actor/marathon runner who uses a prosthesis on the same leg as Fox. CGI was deployed to make him look more like Fox. To further ensure the actor represented Fox accurately, not only did the actor and team watch and study many videos of Terry, but Terry’s brothers, Fred and Darrel, coached the actor on Terry’s running style and mannerisms. They also created a copy of Terry’s prosthesis for the actor to use for the shoot.
The message is clear. As the Marathon of Hope now marks its 45th anniversary, we now have the opportunity to “Finish It” for Fox, raising money and awareness to get a cure for cancer over the finish line, completing the work that Fox started. The public service film starts with Fox on the marathon run, eventually joined by a crowd of other dedicated runners from all walks of life who take over the race.
Mark Zibert directed via production company Scouts Honour for Toronto agency Diamond. The video features a never-before-heard version of the song “Courage” from Canadian band The Tragically Hip.
“We wanted to create a campaign that captures the magnitude of Terry Fox’s legacy while driving meaningful action,” said Peter Ignazi, chief creative officer at Diamond. “By revisiting the Marathon of Hope with such care and reverence, we aimed to reignite Terry’s mission and... Read More
