Directed by Sorrel Brae of Native Content for agency David&Goliath LA, this PSA from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance rallies behind this year’s Earth Day theme “Invest in Our Planet.” It begins with two conservationists in the cold-Arctic winter protecting polar bears, and acknowledging their supporters. They do so by singing a familiar song to us all: “Thank You for Being a Friend.” The song continues to be sung by community-led conservationists in different locations–from duos in the rainforest observing a sloth on a tree, another pair tending to a large tortoise, a rock climber checking in on unhatched owl eggs along a cliff, to a safari conservationist recording an endangered rhino on the savanna. The spot ends with the tagline “Thank you for supporting wildlife conservation. Without you, there’s no them.”
It’s not only a show of gratitude but also an invitation for more people to become friends of wildlife around the world by supporting the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
“Often PSAs can take a serious or dire tone,” said Courtney Pulver, executive creative director at David&Goliath. “But we wanted this campaign to feel more celebratory.”
Ben Purcell, chief creative officer at David&Goliath, added, “With this new take on The Golden Girls theme, we’re pretty sure lifelong animal lover Betty White would be smiling.”
Credits
Client San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Agency David&Goliath, LA David Angelo, founder & creative director; Ben Purcell, chief creative officer; Blake Winfree, chief of social impact; Courtney Pulver, executive creative director/copywriter; Robert Casillas, executive creative director/art director; Israel Medeiros, Evan Bross, associate creative directors/art directors; Marcos Botelho, Chris Davis, associate creative directors/copywriters; Paul Albanese, managing director, broadcast production; Jane Krull, sr. producer. Production Company Native Content Sorrel Brae, director; Kai Saul, DP; Teresa Sparky Pomeroy, exec producer; Tomer DeVito, managing partner; Sean Blair, exec producer/head of production. Editorial Spinach Adam Bright, editor; Marshall Thompson, assistant editor; Robby Salisbury, second assistant editor; Cristy Torres, sr. producer; Jonathan Carpio, exec producer. Color JAMM Beau Leon, colorist; Carver Moore, color assist; Jon Lazar, color producer. VFX Spinach Christopher Moore, VFX supervisor/lead Flame artist; Ian Dawson, producer; Adam Bright, exec producer. Additional VFX JAMM Alex Snookes, VFX supervisor/lead compositor; Brady Doyle, Toma Bowen, Kevin Pierce, Nuke artists; Zak DiMaria, CG supervisor; Jaguar Lee, Steven Nelson, Ben Martin, Elyse Resseguie, Yu Fujii, CG artists; Stew Burris, animator; Brandon Kachel, matte painter; Anna Dood, producer; Asher Edwards, exec producer. Audio Margarita Mix Nathan Dubin, sound designer/mixer; Paula Arnett, Whitney Morris, exec producers. Music Song: “Thank You For Being a Friend,” written by Andrew M. Gold (BMI); published by Luckyu Music (BMI); admin by songs of Kobalt Music Publishing. Arrangement Company Mophonics Stephan Altman, creative director; Colette Huemer, exec producer; Shelley Altman, head of production.
When dozens of Klick Health team members said they wouldn’t be able to hug loved ones over the festive season, the agency turned to AI and other magic to orchestrate a series of sentimental, surprise reunions captured in its “Holiday Hugs” video. The heartwarming four-minute video, benefitting the D.C.-based Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), parallels recent findings from a Maru/Blue Public Opinion survey commissioned by Klick.
The poll found 74 percent of Americans and Canadians won’t be able to hug at least one person they wish they could over the holidays. And like those in the video, survey participants cited geographical distance and loved ones having passed away as the leading factors preventing their hugs.
“I just wish I could really squeeze her right now,” says teary-eyed New York Klickster Kari Bocassi watching her AI-generated hug with her sister Marlene, moments before she bursts onto the set for a long in-person embrace. The siblings have spent the past 14 years caring for their mother since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but haven’t been together for the holidays since Marlene moved to Virginia. Similarly, Toronto’s Fred Duarte gets the bear hug of his life when his brother Rico, who lives in Brazil, walks into Klick’s production studio for their first holiday reunion in seven years.
Directed by James Cooper via Cooper Films, “Holiday Hugs” also taps into the fact that hugs don’t just make people feel better emotionally, they also have numerous health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, hugs can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
“There’s nothing quite like the warmth and reassurance of a heartfelt hug,” said Klick’s chief creative officer Rich Levy. “With ‘Holiday... Read More
