Us The Duo, a folk pop music act consisting of husband and wife Michael and Carissa Alvarado, is launching a series, Public Record, as part of the AT&T Hello Lab initiative, which is in collaboration with agency Fullscreen. For Public Record, Us The Duo crowdsourced the inspiration for its next album from their fans, asking them to submit their real life stories of live, life, struggles and happiness for the chance to be featured in the music act’s new EP (extended play record). The project generated hundreds of submissions and Us The Duo chose five stories of everyday people who were placed in extraordinary circumstances.
Ellis Bahl, who joined production house Wondros this past summer, directed the series, helping to translate these stories to film.
One such story is told in the film I’m me which introduces us to Camden Emery, 24 whose lifelong love of music led him to join the band on the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. The fact that he’s gay wasn’t a barrier for him at all. He has never felt more “normal” than as a Marine. Us The Duo surprised him with a performance on his Marine base along with the help of his bandmates.
Credits
Client AT&T Hello Lab Agency Fullscreen Bill Parks, Bryan Thoensen, sr. VPs; Maude Standish, director creative strategy; Rory Forrest, Ben Beale, creative directors; Georgi Goldman, showrunner; Lori Coburn, line producer; Jane Krull, director creative services; Michael Pogarian, coordinator; Kya Koplin, production coordinator; Warren Lentz, talent manager; Jason Mollina, engagement strategy. Production Wondros Ellis Bahl, director; Dilly Gent, exec producer; Josiah Bultema, line producer; Vern Moen, Justin Gaar, second unit directors; Morgan Susser, Kevin Phillips, Justin Gaar, DPs; Susie Francis, production designer. Editorial Jasmine Fan, editor. Finish House Ntropic Simon Mowbray, creative director/lead Flame; Michael Bennett, exec producer/director of business development; Michelle Hammond, exec producer; Kirsten Collabolletta, producer; Nick Saunders, colorist; Kevin Miller, color producer; Jerome Knight, Flame assistant/conform; Kristy Navarro, color assistant.
When dozens of Klick Health team members said they wouldn’t be able to hug loved ones over the festive season, the agency turned to AI and other magic to orchestrate a series of sentimental, surprise reunions captured in its “Holiday Hugs” video. The heartwarming four-minute video, benefitting the D.C.-based Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), parallels recent findings from a Maru/Blue Public Opinion survey commissioned by Klick.
The poll found 74 percent of Americans and Canadians won’t be able to hug at least one person they wish they could over the holidays. And like those in the video, survey participants cited geographical distance and loved ones having passed away as the leading factors preventing their hugs.
“I just wish I could really squeeze her right now,” says teary-eyed New York Klickster Kari Bocassi watching her AI-generated hug with her sister Marlene, moments before she bursts onto the set for a long in-person embrace. The siblings have spent the past 14 years caring for their mother since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but haven’t been together for the holidays since Marlene moved to Virginia. Similarly, Toronto’s Fred Duarte gets the bear hug of his life when his brother Rico, who lives in Brazil, walks into Klick’s production studio for their first holiday reunion in seven years.
Directed by James Cooper via Cooper Films, “Holiday Hugs” also taps into the fact that hugs don’t just make people feel better emotionally, they also have numerous health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, hugs can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
“There’s nothing quite like the warmth and reassurance of a heartfelt hug,” said Klick’s chief creative officer Rich Levy. “With ‘Holiday... Read More
