Wieden+Kennedy enlisted esteemed actor Sir Anthony Hopkins to NOT sell TurboTax in this Super Bowl spot directed by Steve Rogers of Biscuit Filmworks.
The :60 thrusts us into an interview where Hopkins is asked about actors selling out and insists that he would never do so. We then see and hear several not-so-subtle TurboTax references sprinkled into the conversation visually and verbally by Hopkins who ultimately explains that since TurboTax enables customers to file their tax returns for free, he in fact is peddling nothing. If it’s free, how can you sell it–so in effect he is selling absolutely nothing.
The :60 is titled "Never a Sellout."
Credits
Client Intuit TurboTax Agency Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Max Stinson, Erik Fahrenkopf, creative directors; Matt Skibiak, copywriter; Devin Gillespie, art director; Jennifer Fiske, producer; Christine Sheehan, Nathan Goldberg, strategic planning. Production Biscuit Filmworks Steve Rogers, director; Holly Vega, exec producer; Karen O’Brien, line producer; Jo Willems, DP. Editorial Arcade Edit Geoff Hounsell, editor; Christina Matracia, post producer; Damian Stevens, post executive producer. VFX Method Claus Hansen, Flame lead #1; Jason Frank, Flame lead #2; Karena Ajamian, VFX producer; Robert Owens, exec producer. Post Company 3 Siggy Ferstl, colorist. Audio Post Lime Studios Loren Silber, mixer.
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
