Directed by Sam Coleman of Giant Films in Cape Town, South Africa, this 90-second drone-shot film lyrically uses collective nouns to romance the beauty of animal groups across Africa – but at the same time highlighting their vulnerability and imminent extinction.
Titled “A Guardian,” the film for U.S.. charity Over&AboveAfrica was conceived by veteran ECD Andy Fackrell, known for his body of work over the years at 180 Amsterdam, and Wieden+Kennedy in Portland, Ore. (such as director Frank Budgen’s Nike “Tag” spot). Fackrell has moved back to Amsterdam and among his output is “A Guardian” which shows how drone technology is proving to be a surprising beacon of hope in Africa’s war against animal poaching. Drone surveillance is proving to be a savior for Africa’s endangered animal groups, increasing their survival chances by up to 80%, according to a pioneering group of conservationists, entrepreneurs and researchers called Air Shepherd.
Credits
Client Over&Above Africa Creative Andrew Fackrell; Mariya Munsey, art director; Shannon Worley, producer (Nice Kitty Films). Production Giant Films, Cape Town Sam Coleman, director; Cindy Gabriel, exec producer; Devin Tosselli, DP; Boris Vossgatter, producer; Nella Coetzer, production manager; Izolina de Vasconcelos, wardrobe; Carl Nicholl, drone pilot; Wayne van Rooyen, RC plane pilot; Bobby Kamnga, production assistant; Simeon Hamman, drone camera operator. Color Grading Nic Apostoli, colorist; Charmaine Greyling, online. Editorial Rock Paper Scissors, Los Angeles Adam Pertofsky, editor; Marjorie Sacks, assistant editor. Postproduction a52 Music Licensing Wool & Tusk Aaron Mercer. Music “Under The Trees’ Voices” Ezio Bosso, Sony Music Italy.
Continuing their partnership to combat the mental health crisis among America’s youth, the Ad Council and McCann New York have released the latest installment of the “Sound It Out” campaign which focuses on helping parents and caregivers have meaningful conversations with their kids about emotional wellbeing.
The new work, “Listening is a Form of Love,” focuses on the important role parents and caregivers play in supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing and is supported by new data from Surgo Health’s Youth Mental Health Tracker. The survey highlights that: 55% of youth (ages 10-24) report mental health struggles; and one in five youth report symptoms of depression, and one in four report symptoms of anxiety.
The film includes an interactive digital experience that invites parents to practice “holding space” by pressing the space bar to listen to kids sharing what they wish their parents could hear, in their own words. Along with this literal interpretation of the active listening the campaign encourages, the website also gives valuable tools to help parents and caregivers be better listeners, and in turn, better support their kids.
There is also this 60-second PSA--directed by Alex Fischman Cardenas via Greenpoint Pictures--which underscores the power and importance of listening to your loved ones.
