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.
CreditsClient 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
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More