Publicis New York created this short titled “Not Like Us” for Doctors of the World (DOTW), the international human-rights organization that provides long-term medical assistance to refugees in Europe and the Middle East. Directed by Cano Rojas, the video appears on DOTW’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
In mid-December, Publicis accompanied a team of filmmakers to the Syrian border near Aleppo to spend a week documenting the frontlines. While visiting DOTW clinics and hospitals, and meeting the patients there, the team discovered a powerful reason to feel fear in the face of this crisis—not fear of the refugees themselves but, fear of the world’s indifference towards them. This film, the first in a series, was born of that visit and shows us the human face of Syrian refugees and, more importantly, how familiar that face is to our own.
Andy Bird, chief creative officer, Publicis New York, said, “While traveling with the Doctors of the World team to the Syrian border our creatives unveiled a dangerous contagion: indifference. Indifference can be as poisonous and invasive as any plague. We immediately knew we needed to spark awareness. This film is the result, and a sensitive, thoughtful, creative articulation of a serious issue. We hope people will pay attention.”
Client Doctors of the World Agency Publicis NY Andy Bird, chief creative officer; Joe Johnson, EVP, executive creative director; Lisa Bifulco, EVP, chief production officer; Jeremy Filgate, Einav Jacubovich, Josh Horn, VP, creative directors; Patrick Merritt, sr. copywriter; Hadleigh Arnst, sr. producer; Erica Herman, SVP, strategy director; Beth Beckmamn, strategist; Evan Finkelstein, search analyst; Jason Bailey, integrated producer. Production Cano Rojas, director. Prodigious Worldwide Lisa Sadek, producer. Editorial Prodigious Jason Schneider, editor.
Vanish, BETC Havas and LOBO Reveal The Invisible Stains Of Bullying
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 film’s 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 child’s 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 – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More