In a jarring new documentary-style film, Off the Street Club (OTSC), Chicago’s oldest boys and girls club, reveals the impact that growing up in an urban war zone can have on kids, by juxtaposing children’s real life experiences with those of US veterans of combat. The moving piece aims to raise awareness of the commonalities shared by these two groups of individuals—both heroes in their own right. By bringing children and veterans together, OTSC hopes to illuminate the dire need for support on Chicago’s West Side. The veterans forge a powerful bond with this unexpected Chicago community based on letters written by kids who live in Chicago’s West Garfield Park, one of the country’s most dangerous neighborhoods.
Titled The Toughest Letter, this film is one piece in an overarching “Hope is Tougher” effort being led by ad agency Energy BBDO. The message speaks to the fact that the children of the OTSC are so much tougher than the streets they grow up on. Their hope is stronger than gangs, stronger than guns, stronger than violence—these children are heroes of hope, against some of the worst odds in the country. Funds raised from this campaign provide funding for the Club’s daily operating costs for the entire year. OTSC offers a positive refuge for more than 3,000 children in West Garfield Park.
Client Off the Street Club Agency Energy BBDO, Chicago Andres Ordonez, chief creative officer; Pedro Perez, Josh Gross, creative directors; Fernando Passos, Dan McCormack, associate creative directors; Daniel Kuypers, director of music; Nick Maker, associate music producer; Hung Vinh, lead designer; Mitch Monzon, exec producer; Stefanie Spiegel, producer; Jason Chiu, DP; Garrett Gassensmith, camera operator. Postproduction Kendall Fash, director, postproduction; Becca Sita, postproduction coordinator; Sean Berringer, editor; Geoffrey Neal, Alec Pieper, Austin Andries, assistant editors. Color Company 3 Tyler Roth, colorist. Audio Sarah Krohn, Katy Mindeman
Vanish, BETC Havas and LOBO Reveal The Invisible Stains Of Bullying
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