University Health Network (UHN), a leading publicly funded hospital, maintains the UHN Foundation which raises funds for Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehab and The Michener Institute of Education.
In partnership with creative agency Zulu Alpha Kilo, the UHNITED platform was launched in January 2024 to spotlight the world-renowned institutions and people working together under the UHN umbrella to achieve never-been-done advancements in healthcare. Phase two of the campaign continues to showcase UHN’s global impact and emphasizes the crucial role of donations in supporting this work.
Directed by Brent Foster and produced via production house BOLDLY, this spot features real UHN employees, donors, and some of the patients whose lives were positively impacted at UHN. These inspiring and life-changing moments trigger literal impact waves that spread across the hospital, the city, and beyond–a metaphor for UHN’s impact on healthcare around the world. The deeper story behind each scene can be read online.
“UHN is always redefining the status quo of healthcare, but it all starts with donations. This campaign aims to show donors that it takes a city to change to the world,” said Brian Murray, chief creative officer at Zulu Alpha Kilo.
CreditsClient University Health Network (UHN)/UHN Foundation Agency Zulu Alpha Kilo Brian Murray, Jenny Glover, chief creative officers; Stephanie Yung, chief design officer; Dejan Djuric, design director; Juan Torres, creative director/art director; Dane Boaz, creative director/copywriter; Maxine Thomas, chief strategy officer; Meredith Ferguson, strategy director; Kiana Ohori, digital strategist; Ola Stodulska, director of integrated production; Kasia Zaniuk, sr. producer; Ian McCartney, integrated producer. Production Brent Foster, director. Production Company BOLDLY Sebastien Galina, exec producer. Postproduction Zulubot Alain Elliott, Max Lawlor, editors; Adrian Gluvakovich, assistant editor; Sarah Dayus, exec producer; Katie Oliver, post producer. VFX The Embassy VFX Winston Helgason, president; Kenny Solomon, VFX exec producer; Sami Oms, VFX supervisor; Gina McCoubrey, VFX producer. Color Grade AlterEgo Wade Odlum, colorist. Music House Oso Audio Hannah Graham, exec producer; Jane Heath, producer; Dylan Groff, engineer; Daenen Bramburger, music director/creative director; Katie Corbridge, voice director; Brandon Oakes, voiceover talent. Studio Production Company Zulubot Bravo henry Eugenio, studio production director; Pavel Petrycki, Ashleigh O’Brien, artists; Kenneth Haz, digital production director; Kelly Sun, digital production interactive producer.
Pediatric Cancer Survivors Tell Their Stories In Public Service Film Directed By Vanessa Diaz
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) and Tampa Bay-based creative video agency Diamond View turn the spotlight on the youngest of pediatric cancer warriors in this heartfelt brand film “Hopes and Dreams”.
Directed by Diamond View’s Vanessa Diaz, the three-and-a-half minute public service film interviews superstars Eli (6), Ever (8) and Audrey (10)--now cancer survivors--on their difficult childhood cancer experiences and other lasting effects from harsh treatments; procedures that Dr. Trisha Larkin, who’s featured in the film, points out were tried and tested for adults, rather than the fragile bodies of infants and children.
Diaz cultivated a supportive set environment where each child could openly share their cancer stories. They delivered frank, surprisingly deep responses—like Eli, who described his brain cancer as “something you’re not supposed to have in your head” and pointed to the spot on his scalp where surgeons removed his tumor. Audrey, who was diagnosed with stage 3 liver cancer at just five months old, described the lasting effects she faces today, including GI tract issues and substantial hearing loss unfortunately caused by the chemotherapy treatment that saved her life.
“The way that a lot of the medications and therapies we’re using currently have been developed are really for adult cancers,” stated Dr. Larkin. “So we’re also constantly looking at ways to reduce the toxicities of the treatments we’re giving.” Dr. Larkin is an investigator for the Sunshine Project Consortium, which heads research for such treatments. She was treated for pediatric leukemia at age three.
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