This new branded short for Ray-Ban centers on the comedically surreal story of a young man named Jerome. As a result of societal pressure to suppress his feelings, Jerome repeatedly blurts out “I love you” far too soon in every romantic encounter. After being “cured” by a hypnotherapist, he must fight to reconnect with his sensitive nature to save a budding relationship with featured musician Natalie Prass and express his true feelings.
Titled Oh Jerome, No, this short was directed by Spielbergs (Alex Karpovsky, a co-star from HBO’s Girls, and Teddy Blanks, graphic designer for Lena Dunham + Kim Gordon) and features a cast which include Mamoudou Athie (from the forthcoming Netflix series The Get Down), Arturo Castro (Broad City) and features a score, created and performed specially for Ray-Ban by Prass.
The short is the third chapter in Ray-Ban’s #ITTAKESCOURAGE campaign.
Credits
Client Ray-Ban Creative/Production Teddy Blanks, Alex Karpovsky, a.k.a. Spielbergs, writers/directors. Production Yours Truly Creative Melodie Sisk, producer; Zachary Galler, DP, Tom McMillan, production designer; David Withrow, costume designer; Ash Cristian, line producer. Editorial PS260 Adam Epstein, editor; Colin Reilly, assistant editor; Evann Borgman, post producer. Sound Design Gene Park, sound designer. Postproduction Andrew Francis, colorist. Performers Mamoudou Athie, Natalia Prass, Arturo Castro, Debra Winger, Krystal Joy Brown, Jennifer Kim, Karley Sciortino
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 filmโs 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 childโs 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 โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
