This short film is the centerpiece of a campaign created by Publicis New York for CoorDown, Italy’s national organization for people with Down syndrome. Titled Not Special Needs, this digital film was directed by Wayne McClammy of Hungry Man. The work, which deploys well-timed comedy, is designed to help change perspective and perceptions about people with Down syndrome–they don’t have special needs but rather human needs such as friends, jobs, love, respect and so on.
The film stars Lauren Potter, the popular actress with Down syndrome who played the role of Becky Jackson in Glee, and John McGinley, best known for his role as Dr. Perry Cox on Scrubs, and whose 18-year old son Max has Down syndrome.
Andy Bird, chief creative officer, Publicis New York, stated, “The term ‘special needs’ is a euphemistic way to speak about persons with disabilities and their needs. The reality is people with Down syndrome do not have different or special needs, although they may sometimes meet those needs in different ways, they have the same needs as all of us… jobs, friends, love and simply the need to be seen and treated equally.”
Credits
Client The Coordination of Associations of People with Down Syndrome (CoorDown) Agency Publicis New York Andy Bird, chief creative officer; Luca Pannese, Luca Lorenzini, executive creative directors; David Green, copywriter; Jen Wang, art director; Tim Ayers, director of integrated production operations; Jakub Popadium, sr. integrated producer; Scott Jones, lead AD technical developer; Dara Mao, interactive developer; Lisa Bifulco, chief production officer; Chris Muldoon, producer; Marc Legana, editor; Rachel Rauch, music producer. Production Hungry Man Wayne McClammy, director; Kevin Byrne, exec producer/managing partner. VFX/Puppeteering Legacy Effects Editorial Rock Paper Scissors Rana Martin, Eve Kornblum, EPs; Christjan Jordan, editor; Pieter Viljoen, assistant editor; Dani DuHadway, producer. VFX/Post Shed Billy Hobson, colorist; Paul O’Shea, Miles Essmiller, Phil Man, VFX. Music, Sound Design & Mix Beacon Street Studios, Venice, Calif. Andrew Feltenstein, John Nau, composers; Leslie DiLullo, exec producer; Kate Vadnais, sr. producer; Rommel Molina, mixer/sound designer; Vivi Rojas, mix assistant.
This trailer promotes Charge Around The Globe, a new adventure docuseries that follows record-breaking traveler Lexie Limitless on an extraordinary journey to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle--traveling over 30,000 kilometers across six continents, all in pursuit of one world record. The three-part series on Prime Video in the U.K. showcases the capabilities of modern electric vehicles while immersing viewers in the numerous experiences and challenges Lexie encounters throughout her journey. As she navigates various challenges throughout her trip, Charge Around the Globe serves as a testament to the spirit of exploration. Ford, Wieden+Kennedy London and WracK teamed on the series.
The documentary aims to address the primary concern hindering many consumers from transitioning to electric: doubts about the range and capability of electric vehicles. As a 120-year-old brand, Ford looked to its past as inspiration for the switch that’s taking place today. Over a century ago, pioneering explorer Aloha Wanderwell set off from Nice at the age of 16 to become the first woman to drive around the world in a Ford Model T. Now, in 2024, we get to see Lexie, the youngest person to visit every country in the world, take to the wheel of the electric Ford Explorer, reinventing that historic journey for a new generation. Along the way, she meets extraordinary people, navigates difficult terrains, and faces the challenges of a constantly evolving charging infrastructure that puts her to the test.
“Charge Around The Globe has been the ultimate test drive for our new electric Ford Explorer. We took on every kind of weather and road condition and dealt with just about every charging scenario. The journey embodies the true... Read More
