There are circumstances in life to which the expression “one size fits all” applies to everyone’s benefit, but in-school learning is not one of them. That’s the belief of pre-k-12 technology company Renaissance as reflected in its first brand film, “Dopplelearners,” directed by Clay Weiner of Biscuit Filmworks for Goodby Silverstein & Partners.
“Dopplelearners” tells the story of one student’s journey through a typical school day, where he struggles to simply be seen for the unique person he is.
“I think we can all remember moments from our school days when we felt a bit at sea and the one teacher who really helped us feel seen in those moments,” said GS&P creative director Jon Wyville. “As we worked with Clay to develop the script, we talked a lot about John Hughes and all his funny yet deeply emotional films. We wanted to create a kind of day-in-the-life story of highs and lows in which you empathized not only with the student but ultimately with the teacher as well.”
The film, which will run internationally beginning in late spring, is the first piece of creative in Renaissance’s “See Every Student” campaign. It is part of a new brand identity that embraces the company’s almost 40-year history as a leader in K–12 education technology while taking a fresh and forward-looking approach to the future of Renaissance.
Credits
Client Blackstone Brand Renaissance Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Margaret Johnson, partner, chief creative officer; Jon Wyville, Jon Wolanske, creative directors; Paul Rice, art director; Collin Smith, copywriter; Johann Vernizzi, designer; Bonnie Wan, partner, head of brad strategy; Christine Chen, partner, head of communication strategy; Stephanie Phillips, group brand strategy director; Chelsea Bruzzone, sr. brand strategist; Nick Reggars, group content strategy director; Jim Haight, digital production; Danielle Riccardi, executive producer; Tiffany Yeh, producer. Production Biscuit Filmworks Clay Weiner, director; Shawn Lacy, partner/managing director; Adam Marsden, DP; Holly Vega, exec producer; Biz Bottomley, producer; Sean Moody, head of production; Francois Jordaan, production designer; Angela Koszuta, wardrobe stylist; Raquel Atienza, hair & makeup artist. Editorial Cabin Editing Company Andrew Ratzlaff, editor; Doug Scott, assistant editor; Adam Becht, exec producer; Marta Navarrete, post producer. Audio & Sound Design Lime Studios Adam Primack, sound designer, audio engineer; Meg Ochs, assistant mixer; Susan Boyajan, exec producer; Cassie Underwood, producer. Music Songs for Film and T.V. K.S. Rhoads, audio engineer; David Fisher, exec producer; K.S. Rhoads, producer; Music–”Renaissance v8” by K.S. Rhoads Identity Design Pentagram Luke Hayman, partner/creative director; Shigeto Akiyama, associate partner; Antonio Nogueira, Rob Hewitt, designers; Avery George, project manager. VFX KEVIN Gareth Parr, shoot supervisor, VFX lead Flame artist; Sue Troyan, sr. exec producer; Jami Schakel, sr. VFX producer; Connor Van Der Linde, VFX coordinator; Steve Gibbons, Susanne Scharping, Flame artists; Dag Ivarsoy, Luke Yalva, Nuke artists. Color TRAFIK Daniel De Vue, colorist; Julia King, color producer.
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 film’s 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 child’s 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 – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
