Andreas Nilsson via Biscuit Filmworks directed this :60, “Emily’s Oz,” for Comcast/XFINITY out of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, New York, which debuts during the 2015 Academy Awards on Sunday (2/22). This spot illustrates what a person who is blind sees in their head when they watch their favorite movie.
“Emily’s Oz” brings to life The Wizard of Oz according to Emily, a seven-year-old girl who was born blind. We see her vision of what such iconic characters as the Tin Man looks like, the Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy herself.
The spot promotes Comcast/XFINITY’s accessibility services for its viewers, including a talking guide created in the Comcast Accessibility Lab. In addition to voice guidance and one-touch access to closed captioning, Comcast created an online help and support resource for XFINITY customers looking for information about accessibility-related topics.
“We want to create opportunities for people who love film and television but who might not have the opportunity to experience it to its fullest,” said Tom Wlodkowski, who was hired as Comcast’s vice president of audience in 2012 to focus on the usability of the company’s products and services for people with disabilities. “By bringing the talking guide to as many people as possible, we can help to bridge that gap and make entertainment just as compelling, captivating and fun for people with a visual disability as it is for anyone else.”
“It’s not often you get to do something that feels meaningful on a level far beyond advertising,” said Paul Caiozzo, executive creative director of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, New York. “It definitely shows how entertainment truly is for everyone.”
The spot features a voice-over by two-time Academy Award winner Robert Redford.
