CP+B Miami just launched the first TV commercial for home security device Canary. Titled “While You Were Out,” the spot explores the irrational places our minds go when we’re away from home. Will someone break in? Is the pet okay? Is the babysitter paying attention? Canary keeps us connected so that we know what’s going on at the home front at all times.
Produced by Gifted Youth, the spot was directed by Peter Atencio who won an Emmy for Key & Peele and directed the feature film Keanu this year.
CreditsClient Canary Connect Agency CP+B Miami Jay Gelardi, executive creative director; Graham McCann, creative director; Andrea Novo, designer; Ethel Jones, project manager; Kate Hildebrandt, VP/director of video production; Sam Alonso, director, strategy; Katie Perez, content supervisor. Production Gifted Youth, Los Angeles Peter Atencio, director; Dal Wolf, managing partner/EP; Anthony Ficalora, EP of production; Michele Robb, producer; Jas Shelton, DP. Editorial Arcade Edit, Santa Monica, Calif. Sean Lagrange, editor; Crissy DeSimone, exec producer; Alexa Atkin, producer. Music Beacon Street Studios, Venice, Calif. John Nau, Andrew Feltenstein, composers; Leslie DiLullo, exec producer. Sound Design/Audio Post Lime Studios, Santa Monica Rohan Young, sound designer; Mark Meyuhas, mixer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer, mix and sound design. Postproduction Company 3, Santa Monica Stefan Sonnenfeld, colorist; Rhubie Jovanov, exec producer. VFX Method Studios, Santa Monica Michael Kennedy, VFX supervisor; Robert Owens, sr. exec producer; Cara Lehr, producer; Kelly Bumbarger, lead compositor.
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