Net#work BBDO in Johannesburg, South Africa, launched a short film about a man in a Mercedes-Benz who took a 30 story plunge off the side of Chapman’s Peak in Cape Town and lived to tell the tale.
The short also hearkens back to the original commercial in 1990 which introduced audiences to this survivor, Christopher White. That spot from nearly 30 years ago yielded South Africa’s first Cannes Gold Lion in film.
Lorens van Rensburg of 7Films directed and shot this new short which now places White behind the wheel of a self-driving Mercedes to traverse the same mountain road, re-living his incredible tale of survival.
Credits
Client Mercedes-Benz Agency Net#work BBDO, Johannesburg, South Africa Mike Schalit, chief creative officer; Tim Beckerling, creative director; Brad Reilly, executive creative director; Steven Tyler, art director; Lee-Ann Jacobs, producer; Ryan Paikin, animator. Production 7Films Lorens van Rensburg, director/DP; Nina van Rensburg, producer. Editorial James O’Sullivan, editor. Postproduction Ludus Music & Sound Audio Militia
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
