Michael Marantz, who earned a slot in SHOOT’s 2015 New Directors Showcase, directed, served as a writer and created the music for this film for the Robin Hood Foundation via production company Already Alive.
Robin Hood Foundation, which partners with 200-plus organizations, helps some 400,000 New Yorkers a year living in poverty, affording opportunities to people who would otherwise normally fall through the cracks. Titled We All Stumble, this short depicts the plight of the impoverished, ultimately offering a ray of hope as we see how a helping hand can make a world of difference. The film makes a stirring case for contributing to Robin Hood; 100% of donations go toward the partner organizations that are on the front lines of the fight against poverty in NYC.
Credits
Client Robin Hood Foundation Production/Creative Already Alive Michael Marantz, director; Tim Sessler, DP; Noah Meisner, Michael Marantz, exec producers; Tay McEvers, Carlee Briglia, producers; Michael Marantz, Jason Oppliger, Jenny Weiner, writers; Billy Gerard Frank, production designer; Hannah Rothfield, art director; Julie Molo, wardrobe; Filipp Penson, assistant camera; Sandy SooHoo, 2nd assistant camera; Cedric Vara, assistant director; Sussan Cordero, 2nd assistant director; Christine Pfister, set dresser; Brittany Romney, Elvira Gonzalez, hair/makeup; Phil Bradley, DIT. Music Michael Marantz, Soundcloud Casting Jamie Carroll, casting director. Editorial Joint Editorial Nicholas Davis, editor. Color Lenny Mastrandrea, colorist; Matt Hubert, finishing producer. Sound Mixing Taylor Bradshaw, Drew English. Performers Soleidy Mendez; Tyler Matos; Jamej Lawton; James Trenton; Brianna Moore; Vanessa Thorpe; Erik McKey; McKale Gray, Michael Coppola, Darlene Dues, Andre Nieves, Marbel Melendez, Nate Gray, Matt Nagin, Kim Akia. Locations Pentwater Productions, location manager.
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
