The transformative power of youth athletic programs is celebrated in the latest installment of DICK’S Sporting Goods’ “Sports Change Lives” campaign. Directed by the Hudson Dusters of Greenpoint Pictures, this short film charts the inspirational story of football coach Donta Green and the Westinghouse Academy Bulldogs, the first recipients of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s 75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program.
Inspirational and heartwarming, the film reflects the triumph that can come out of adversity, and each person’s power to make a positive difference in the world. The film opens on a shot of the rusted steel underbelly of a bridge, giving the viewer a sense of life in the Homewood neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which experienced a profound economic downturn after the closing of the local steel mills in the 1980s. The unvarnished look of the town is juxtaposed with the impassioned and galvanizing spirit of Green, who holds the reins of the football team at Westinghouse Academy. Last year, the coach led the Bulldogs in an astonishing run to the state championship after an undefeated season. Aware of the hardship players face in the community, the coach and his staff provide belief, support, mental toughness, and structure to the youngsters on the team. The coach is building more than just a team. He’s building a family and a path of opportunity for the underserved youth of Homewood.
“We love making pieces that celebrate people like coach Donta Green–everyday heroes who genuinely change kids’ lives daily and the whole community in the process. We wanted to do him justice with a film that he, his kids, and his community could be proud of forever. Something that lasts,” said Michael Kuhn who teamed with Niles Roth to form the Hudson Dusters.
Launching in honor of DICK’S 75th anniversary, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation 75for75 Sports Matter Grant Program will select 75 deserving youth sports organizations nationwide in 2023. As the first recipient of a $75,000 grant from the program, Westinghouse will use the funds to continue changing their players’ futures. Among the benefits is a new weight room so that the players can properly train. Previously, some 50-plus team members had to share just a couple of barbells in a school hallway.
Client DICK’S Sporting Goods Production Greenpoint Pictures The Hudson Dusters, director; Tatiana Rudzinski, exec producer, partner; Leah Donnenberg, exec producer; Karen Berkowitz, head of production; Lexy Leeds, sr. producer, post producer; Amalia Bradstreet, producer; Nate Corbin, DP; Mason Cash, DP, B unit. Editorial Ben Schwaeber, editor. Sound Design Bobb Barito, sound designer. Color Company 3 Nick Metcalf, colorist.
Vanish, BETC Havas and LOBO Reveal The Invisible Stains Of Bullying
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 filmโs 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 childโs 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 โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More