In 2008, amid a successful snowmobiling career, Mike Schultz was involved in a crash that led to the amputation of his left leg below the knee. A standard prosthetic leg helped Schultz get back on his feet, but it wasn’t built for the action sports he loved. So Schultz designed and built his own prosthetic leg from scratch, not only getting himself back into competition but also eventually transforming the high-tech idea into a successful business. Today Schultz is a U.S. Paralympic Gold Medalist, and more than 20 Paralympians have used Schultz’s prosthetics to compete in the Paralympic Games.
Goodby Silverstein & Partners teamed with director M. Blash of The Directors Bureau to tell Schultz’s story in this spot, "Ready for Anything," which will launch during the Winter Olympic Games. It’s a tale of perseverance and resilience that appeals to business owners and viewers of the Olympics and Paralympics alike.
Jim Elliott, executive creative director of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, said, “Every athlete has a story. But not all of them have one like this–an inventor and entrepreneur, running his own business while competing in the games against people using his own products. Mike’s tenacity and mindset are exactly what Comcast Business stands for. It’s an honor for us to share his story with the world.”
Credits
Client Comcast Business Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Jim Elliott, executive creative director; Tristan Graham, Felipe Lima, creative directors; Jennifer Fisher, art director; Anthony Pagaza, copywriter; John Thorpe, director of brand strategy; Katie Coane, group brand strategy director; Shaza Elsheshtawy, sr. brand strategist; Jane Warren, deputy director of research strategy; Nick Reggars, group content stratgy director; James Horner, executive producer; Cindy Epps, DP Odishoo, producers. Production The Directors Bureau M. Blash, director; Karina Silva, DP; Sloane Skala, Jenni Sprunger, exec producers; Stephanie Bruni, producer. Editorial Rock Paper Scissors Haines Hall, editor; Jack Kanner, assistant editor; Kevin Gottlieb, producer; Shada Shariatzadeh, exec producer. Color Primary Gregory Reese, colorist; Jenny Bright, color producer; Thatcher Peterson, exec producer. Design Studio Elastic Duncan Elms, creative director; Jean Hwang, designer; Jordan Booker, Steven Do, Brian Hayes, Cindy SooHoo, Eugene Hyun, animators; Gabriel Caste, graphics editor; Kevin Daly, producer; Hannah Rowswell, production coordinator; Luke Colson, exec producer. VFX a52 Dan Ellis, lead Flame artist; Adam Flynn, Michael Vaglienty, Rod Basham, Sam Kolber, Chris Riley, Flame artists; Everett Cross, producer; Patrick Nugent, Kim Christensen, exec producers. Sound Lime Studios Joel Waters, sound designer/mixer; Collin Thomas, assistant mixer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer. Music “Dusk” by Carly Comando
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
