Director Martin Rodahl, inspired by the moving story of Special Olympics Illinois athlete Susie Doyens, brought an idea for a public service announcement to life at the Bartlett Hills Golf Club in Bartlett, Illinois. Born with Down syndrome, Susie remained practically mute for most of her childhood due to social pressure and anxiety. In “Speechless,” Susie literally shatters those fears and attributes her transformation to the confidence gained through Special Olympics.nnHaving maintained a professional relationship with Special Olympics Illinois for several years, Rodahl immediately accepted the opportunity to direct, produce and edit the PSA: “It’s an honor to work with Special Olympics and the individuals that this wonderful organization touches, whether it’s an athlete, volunteer or staff member. I have a sister with special needs so the subject is very close to home.”nn
nnAccording to Barbara DiGuido, director of communications for Special Olympics Illinois, “In a short PSA, Martin was able to capture the essence of Susie’s powerful story in a dramatic and compelling way that leaves a lasting impression about the power of Special Olympics to change lives.”nnTom, Dick & Harry Creative of Chicago, Illinois, provided support for the concept, spearheaded by creative director Amy Markley and art director Taylor LeCroy. The PSA relied heavily on its post-production team, including visual effects by Chris Ryan of Chaos Studios, color by Tyler Roth of Optimus, sound design and mix by Cory Coken of NoiseFloor and music composition by Shawn Sutta of Audiocastle.nnSaid Rodahl, “I am so grateful to everyone who dedicated their time and effort to this project. This was one of those rare moments in advertising where everyone recognized the value of the product and its importance to our community as a whole.”nn”Speechless” is posted on theBarbara DiGuido Special Olympics Illinois (630) 942-5610 Contact Barbara via email
Contact:Martin Rodahl 71 Degrees North (402) 880-9492 Contact Martin via email
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More