In this year’s holiday film, the main character of Chick-fil-A’s 2019 animated holiday piece, Sam, returns to help restore the missing spark in her town. With a little help from a new friend, she discovers she can be a source of hope and inspiration and light the way for her community. The driving message of the animated film and campaign is that we can all make a difference in the lives of those around us by offering encouragement to each other.
Marie Hyon of Psyop directed the short, titled “The Spark,” for McCann.
The new two-minute film launches digitally on Nov. 17 and on Thanksgiving Day on NBC.
Credits
Client Chick-fil-A Agency McCann Sean Bryan, Tom Murphy, co-chief creative officers, North America; Larry Platt, Danny Rodriguez, EVPs, executive creative directors, NY; Sherrod Melvin, group creative director, NY; Tom Weingard, creative director, NY; Kathy Love, SVP, executive integrated producer; Julianna Katrancha, SVP, group strategy director; Justin Luk, strategy director; Andre Bittar, Estefanio Holtz, creatives; Cali McGovern, jr. copywriter; Ralph Vibar, Jillian Nedd, jr. art directors; Eric Johnson, SVP, executive music producer, integrated production; Dan Gross, integrated music producer; Rachel Aronson, VP, strategy director. Production/Animation Psyop Marie Hyon, director; Adina Sales, Eve Strickman, exec producers; Amy Fahl, Andrew Rindlaub, producers; Briana Franceschini, lead technical director; Pat Porter, lead 3D animator; Zed Bennett, lead rigger; Matthias Bauerle, 2D lead. Audio Decibel Studios Tom Goldblatt, sound design & sound engineer; Adam Zeitlen, sr. producer. Music Squeak E. Clean Studios Jesse Watt, composer; Zac Colwell, creative director; Deb Oh, exec producer.
The Ad Council, partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and AdoptUSKids, launched a public service campaign, created pro bono by Edelman, which aims to inspire prospective parents to consider adopting a teen from foster care.
This centerpiece PSA titled “The Rewards”--directed by The Hudson Dusters (Michael Kuhn and Niles Roth) via Greenpoint Pictures--spotlights real adoptive families who have personally experienced the mutual benefits of adoption. This longer form PSA (and cutdown versions) begins with a touching display of openness and vulnerability as adoptive parents reflect on their adoption journeys and their initial questions and hesitations about adopting a teen. Then, in a deeply emotional turn, the adoptive parents witness their children recounting the profound rewards of adoption in their lives. The teens speak of the love they share with their parents and how the decision to become a family is reciprocal. The campaign directs viewers to the AdoptUSKids website to learn more about adopting a teen from foster care.
