Venables Bell + Partners’ “Always On” campaign for Audi of America includes this spot, “Previous Owner,” directed by Sam Pilling of Pulse Films.
“Previous Owner” offers up a distinct Audi take on the current pandemic-fueled luxury housing boom, with a twist on the haunted house genre. A young couple shopping for a new home are willing to overlook some serious red flags when they discover the impressive RS Q8 parked in the garage and learn that the house “comes with everything you see.”
This campaign additionally marks the launch of the new voice of Audi for all marketing efforts in the U.S., actress Nkeki Obi-Melekwe.
Credits
Client Audi of America Agency Venables Bell + Partners Paul Venables, founder, chairman; Will McGinness, partner, executive creative director; Matt Miller, Matt Keats, creative directors; Allie Nordstrom, Elliot Nordstrom, associate creative directors; Lachlan Palmer Hubbard, sr. art director; Jake Reilly, sr. copywriter; Hilary Coate, director of integrated production; Melanie Fedunok, executive producer; Zach Zutler, producer; Mike Riley, group strategy director; Cody Levin, strategy director; Gabi Levi, sr. strategist. Production Pulse Films Sam Pilling, director; Davud Karbassioun, global president of commercials; Hillary Rogers, managing director/exec producer; Nick Fuller, head of production; Adriana Debada Mora, producer; Pat Scola, DP; Chris Jones, production designer; Jennifer Johnson, costume designer. Editorial Exile Shane Reid, editor; Ersin Dogruer, assistant editor; CL Kumpata, exec producer; Jennifer Locke, head of production; Michael Miller, sr. producer. VFX, Color Grade & Finish Blacksmith Gavin Miljkovich, shoot supervisor; Iwan Zwarts, lead compositor; Mikey Pehanich, colorist; Ashley Goodwin, VFX producer; Charlotte Arnold, exec producer. Sound Design Gus Koven, sound designer. Audio Post Matt Keith, mixer; Brad Beasley, assistant mixer.
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
