Directed by Jakob Ström for Energy BBDO, this ad opens on Celia, a 14-year old girl chewing gum and scrolling through her phone. The older sister, Lena, is filming herself learning a dance and tries to ask Celia for a piece of EXTRA® gum but, her gestures go unnoticed. Later, Lena grabs a pen and writes: NEW FRIEND: LENA [ ] CONFIRM [ ] DENY on an EXTRA® wrapper. Celia then looks up at her, smiles and puts down her phone reminding us that sometimes the smallest gestures can be the most refreshing.
Titled “Real Friend Request,” the spot is running across multiple platforms and channels, including television and full episode players such as Hulu, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The :30 is also available on YouTube.
Credits
Client Mars Wrigley/Extra Gum Agency Energy BBDO Joss Gross, Pedro Perez, co-chief creative officers; Kenny Blumenschein, executive creative director; Elaine Kalvelage, Cassidy Buzin, associate creative director; John Pratt, head of integrated production; Annie Burger, producer; Dan Kuypers, executive directo rof music; Karolina Barej, music business coordinator. Production Company Drama Svecia (Stockholm) Jakob Ström, director; Mikael Flodeell, producer. Editorial Flare Chicago Casey Cobler, editor; Geoff Cronin, assistant editor; Jenny McDonald, exec producer; Allison Hemingway, associate design producer; Steven Aguilar, sr. audio engineer; Jason Kerman, finish artist. Color Nice Shoes Ron Sudul, colorist; Serena Bove, producer.
Following World AIDS Day, which was celebrated on December 1, co-production companies Central Films and Freelance For track one man’s existential, and potentially career-altering, decision to “come out” as living with HIV in Spain in this public service spot titled “The HInVisible Celebrity.”
Out of agency Señora Rushmore for ViiV Healthcare Spain, in collaboration with GESIDA, SEISIDA, and Apoyo Positivo, the PSA--directed by Rodrigo García Sáiz via Central Films Spain--addresses the stigma against publicly living with HIV in Spanish society. In the more than 40 years since the first case of HIV appeared in Spain, no public figure in Spain has claimed to have HIV. Viiv Healthcare Spain asks, if there are 150,000 people with HIV in Spain (or approximately 1 in 300), why don’t we know anyone with HIV?
The central character, who dons a mask of television-pixelated anonymity, gives himself an introspective pep-talk ahead of announcing his status to the Spanish public. Along the way, he wonders what will become of his career, and reputation in general, even as he recognizes that his declaration could change Spain’s cultural landscape for the better and for all of those in Spain who live with HIV every day. As no public figure in Spain has ever announced living with HIV--due to fear of public rejection--this character realizes that such a role model could change that.
The character has already begun building social media awareness with his Instagram profile, @famosoinvihsible, which began cataloging his life as a public figure earlier this fall. Still, though, the figure either leaves himself out of the picture, faces away from the camera, or dons the pixelated mask associated with anonymous admission. “The HInVisible... Read More
