Created by BBDO New York, this trailer titled “The Epidemic” follows Hailey, an average American teenager, as she shows symptoms of a mysterious illness. But there’s more than meets the eye. After watching the film, viewers will be prompted to enter their phone number. They will then watch the film again, but this time they’ll receive the same bullying text messages as Hailey receives them throughout the story. Mixing the mediums of video and text, the spot illuminates how digital transgressions like cyberbullying can have very dire, real life consequences.
Cole Webley of production house Sanctuary directed “The Epidemic,” the latest entry in social activist Monica Lewinsky’s anti-bullying campaign–the previous pieces of work being “#DefyTheName” and the Emmy-nominated “In Real Life.”
It’s apropos that “The Epidemic” breaks in October which is National Bullying Prevention Month.
Credits
Client Monica Lewinsky Agency BBDO New York David Lubars, chief creative officer, worldwide; Greg Hahn, chief creative officer, NY; Bianca Guimaraes, VP, creative director; Roberto Danino, creative director; Gary du Toit, Lance Vining, VPs, creative directors; Jim Connolly, associate creative director; David Rolfe, director of integrated production; Jessica Coccaro, executive producer; James Young, executive producer, digital; Alex Massicott, Nick Russo, developers; Jimmy McGee, digital resource manager; Dexter Blumenthal, sr. brand strategist; Crystal Lin, marketing science project lead. Production Sanctuary Cole Webley, director; Paul Meyers, DP; Preston Lee, Kristen Bedard-Johnson, exec producers; Noah Thomason, line producer. Editorial Arcade Edit Paul Martinez, editor; Chris Angel, Jeff Lopus, assistant editors; Sila Soyer, exec producer; Fanny Cruz, producer. Telecine Company 3 Tom Poole, sr. colorist; Ashley McKim, exec producer; Alexandra Lubrano, producer. Conform/Finish Arcade Edit Tristian Wake, Mark Popham, Flame artists; Riccardo Sinti, After Effects artist. Music Human Sloan Alexander, composer/creative director; James Dean Wells, exec producer. Audio Post Post Human Sloan Alexander, chief engineer.
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
