We’ve all said it before, often while grinning through less-than-ideal life circumstances that could have been avoided if we’d known that there was a better option and that we didn’t have to settle.
The phrase serves as inspiration for the latest comedic campaign, “Not That Bad,” for Xfinity from agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), Directed by Spencer Riviera of O Positive Films, the spots in the campaign, including this one titled “Bear Trap,” depict the lives of people burdened by not just comical physical setbacks but also technological setbacks–namely, no home internet.
In this commercial, a father soldiers through life with a bear trap clamped to his leg, inadvertently ruining matters for himself, his family and even their dog.
“We wanted to capture comedic situations where the takeaway is ‘Oh, there’s an obvious, easy choice to be made here,’” said GS&P creative director Jon Wolanske. “We’ve all said ‘It’s not that bad’ about a life choice we know could have been improved upon. But when it comes to the protagonists you see in this campaign, no, it really is that bad. In more ways than one.”
Credits
Client Xfinity Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer; Jim Elliott, executive creative director; Jon Wolanske, Jon Wyville, creative directors; Matt Bottkol, copywriter; Grant Piper, art director; Jim Haight, director of production; Stephanie DeNatale, executive producer; Cindy Epps, sr. producer; Kelly Evans-Pfeiffer, deputy brand strategy director; Lyniece Hill, jr. brand strategist; Jane Warren, deputy director of research strategy; Maren Severtson, communications strategy director; Shneur Silverstein, communications strategist. Production Company O Positive Spencer Riviera, director; Kristian Kachikis, DP; Jason Reda, producer; Ralph Laucella, Marc Grill, exec producers. Editorial Hutchco Jim Hutchins, editor; Jimmy Hutchins, assistant editor; Jane Hutchins, exec producer. Telecine Company 3 Dave Hussey, colorist; Mario Castro, color producer. VFX/Finishing House of Parliament Lexi Stern, exec producer; Michael Novo, sr. VFX producer; Keith Sullivan, shoot supervisor/creative director; Philip Ineno, shoot supervisor. Music The Musicbed (licensed track). Sound Design Lime Studios Joel Waters, sound designer, creative director; Susie Boyajan, head of production. Audio Post Lime Studios Joel Waters, mixer; Collin Thomas, assistant mixer; Cassie Underwood, producer; Susie Boyajan, exec 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
