Rising 600 Volt musical artist Whitney Woerz, releases the single “Ghost Story” along with this accompanying music video. Directed by two-time Best Feature Documentary Oscar nominee Liz Garbus (director/producer for What Happened Miss Simone? this year and The Farm: Angola in 1999) via RadicalMedia and in connection with Glenn Close’s organization Bring Change 2 Mind, the single and music video were created to help de-stigmatize mental health issues and will be used as the organization’s anthem.
Written by Woerz to help a friend through her struggle with severe depression and potential suicide, the song—and its music video—come during a time when mental health issues are in epidemic proportions in America.
“I tell stories through music and this one was as real as it gets,” said Woerz. “As a 16-year-old high school student and artist, I see the pressures we are under and how we don’t feel like it’s OK to discuss them. We sweep them under the rug and we can suffer. I am beyond hopeful that the release of ‘Ghost Story’ will impact audiences around the world. Supporting Glenn Close’s Bring Change 2 Mind has been an incredible journey; we are all affected by mental health issues and need to end its negative stigma. ‘Ghost Story’ aims to start the conversation towards the first steps to productive and positive change. I could not have been more thrilled with the video and the opportunity to work with the amazing Liz Garbus as my director.”
Garbus stated, “I heard ‘Ghost Story’ and felt it was a great opportunity to work with Whitney and teen survivors. The song itself is breathtaking and our ability to create the video to speak to the issues in a new way and to a younger audience was empowering. We hope to impact and enlighten with ‘Ghost Story.’”
Client Bring Change 2 Mind Production RadicalMedia LLC Liz Garbus, director; Jennifer Heath, Frank Scherma, exec producers; Igor Martinovic, DP; Glenn Rosenstein, producer; Andrew Krasniak, production manager; Tommaso Ortino, production designer; Carisa Kelly, styling. Music & Lyrics Whitney Woerz Editorial Outpost Digital Tim Ziegler, editor. Casting Real Casting Outreach Liz Lewis
Open Swim’s Director Marc André Debruyne Captures Essence of Filipino Cultural Tradition In Holiday Spot For Coca-Cola
Director Marc André Debruyne--who’s handled by production house Open Swim for U.S. representation--brings Coca-Cola’s legacy of celebrating holiday traditions to life in this campaign spotlighting Filipino Balikbayan boxes. The spot--out of Toronto agencies Taxi and VML--features Tita Rosita, owner of the oldest Filipino-Canadian grocery store in Toronto, whose much-adored shop was wrapped like a massive Coca-Cola-themed Balikbayan box as she prepared hundreds of boxes for customers to send their loved ones, with Coca-Cola paying for the boxes and the cost of shipping them to the Philippines. The spot is a testament to the brand’s prevailing facilitation of cultural and generational connectivity, especially during the holiday season.
The collaborative project--produced by Toronto production company MOWAD--was particularly special for Debruyne, who’s Filipino, because of the large presence of Filipino crew members on set. “It’s a totally surreal feeling when a work project crosses over into your personal life. It’s not too often that happens,” shares Debruyne. “The number of Balikbayan boxes I’ve sent home since I was a child, being surrounded by so many Filipinos on set – both crew and cast, and even being served pancit by Tita Rosita for lunch (and getting yelled at after because I didn’t have seconds) brought back so many wonderful memories of my mom. It was such a fun vibe on set. This wasn’t even a job, it was truly something special.”
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