This tongue-in-cheek regional Blue Cross Blue Shield spot introduces us to a young man who aspires to ride West and become a Pony Express rider. He needs two things, though–one he gets from his mom, a Blue Cross Blue Shield healthcare card; the other he will have to develop–a better sense of direction.
Wally Pfister of RESET Content directed and shot “Express” for agency HY Connect. Grant Gustafson of Cutters edited the spot.
Credits
Client Blue Cross Blue Shield (regional covering 10 states) Agency HY Connect Kevin Houlihan, EVP, creative and production; Michael Matykiewicz, Colin Quinn, VPs/creative directors; Nathen Grigsby, producer. Production RESET Content Wally Pfister, director/DP; Jeff McDougall, exec producer. Telecine Company 3 Tyler Roth, colorist. Editorial Cutters Grant Gustafson, editor; Billy Montross, assistant editor; Craig Duncan, exec producer; Heather Richardson, producer. VFX/Finishing The Mill Jamie Beckwith, 2D lead artist; Theo Maniatis, Mike Sarabia, 2D artists; Jeff Boddy, Anzie Lee, Josh Van Praag, motion graphics; Andrew Sommerville, exec producer; Mike Pulian, producer. Music HUM Audio Post Chicago Recording Company Eric Cauwels, mixer.
The Ad Council, partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and AdoptUSKids, launched a public service campaign, created pro bono by Edelman, which aims to inspire prospective parents to consider adopting a teen from foster care.
This centerpiece PSA titled โThe Rewardsโ--directed by The Hudson Dusters (Michael Kuhn and Niles Roth) via Greenpoint Pictures--spotlights real adoptive families who have personally experienced the mutual benefits of adoption. This longer form PSA (and cutdown versions) begins with a touching display of openness and vulnerability as adoptive parents reflect on their adoption journeys and their initial questions and hesitations about adopting a teen. Then, in a deeply emotional turn, the adoptive parents witness their children recounting the profound rewards of adoption in their lives. The teens speak of the love they share with their parents and how the decision to become a family is reciprocal. The campaign directs viewers to the AdoptUSKids website to learn more about adopting a teen from foster care.