This two-minute online film features Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and his mom, Beverly, along with four charismatic super fans who together embark on an adventure. Beverly and her super fan cohorts do everything in their power, aided by a helicopter, to make sure Super Bowl champion Sherman gets his Chunky soup before the big game.
Created in a campy, tongue-in-cheek style reminiscent of the 1960’s Batman TV series, versions of the film will also air as :30 and :15 TV spots, which will encourage viewers to see the full epic adventure at Chunky.com.
Fatal Farm of production house Gifted Youth directed for Y&R New York.
CreditsClient Campbell’s Chunky Agency Y&R New York Jim Elliott, chief creative officer; James Caporimo, executive creative director; Stephen Hersh, creative director/partner; Eric Glickman, creative director; Letitia Jacobs, executive director of content production; Samantha Bonom, sr. producer. Production Gifted Youth Fatal Farm, director; Ulrik Bentzen Boel, DP; Stephen Mohammed, line producer; Dal Wolf, executivep roducer; Anthony Ficalora, head of production. Editorial Big Sky, NY Chris Franklin, editor; David Madden, Eirinn Disbrow, assistant editors; Cheryl Panek, exec producer; Sarah Van Tassel, producer. Visual Effects Ryan Sears. Post Nice Shoes, NY Chris Ryan, colorist.
Filmmaker Natalie Johns Creates Spec Gun Violence Prevention PSA
Her social media feed is filled with frustration and “prayers” for families torn apart by yet another mass shooting as filmmaker Natalie Johns is engaged in the morning ritual of negotiating school attendance with her 4½-year-old. Between laughing and arguing with their daughter, the Johns think deeply about the prospect of waking up without her--deeply enough to feel an inch of what it might be like to lose her--a feeling profound enough inspire her most personal commitment to date as a filmmaker.
“Gun violence should not be a normalized part of life in America,” she noted. “I felt it was worth putting my whole heart on the line to deliver this message.”
The director invited her long-time collaborator and cinematographer, Bill Kirstein (Mean Girls, Happyend), to capture their family’s experience over several mornings in a spec PSA. She wanted to capture her own joy and truth as a parent with a view to inspiring action from the deepest love she has known.
On the third day of filming, Johns received an email from their daughter’s preschool notifying parents of a lockdown that had occurred due to a gunman outside the school. The children, aged 2-5, were gathered in a small bathroom for an hour, singing songs with their teachers while the man was apprehended by law enforcement. This was the family’s first narrow escape from tragedy.
“The coincidence of filming this PSA and experiencing my family’s first lockdown was both shocking and surreal. I simply could not wrap my head around it,” said director Johns.
Even more terrifying for Johns was discussing the incident with other parents who had already experienced several lockdowns with their older children. This reality is all too common and far too... Read More