Being alone onstage in a deserted nightclub can be a nightmare for a performer–but especially if that performer is a puppeteered dummy (Lenny) without his ventriloquist (Benny). Lenny, though, has a voice and he calls out for Benny who’s nowhere to be found. Dragging himself out of the theater into a back alley and crawling along city streets at night, Lenny searches for Benny–and then finally finds him getting his hair cut and styled at Great Clips.
The new look Benny no longer bears quite the same resemblance to Lenny, which leaves the latter inconsolable. But the great price cut sale at Great Clips was too much for the now sharp looking Benny to resist.
The Perlorian Brothers of MJZ directed this spot, titled “Benny & Lenny,” for Minneapolis-based ad agency Periscope.
Credits
Client Great Clips Agency Periscope, Minneapolis Charlie Callahan, executive creative director; Chris Wareham, creative director/copywriter; Jen Neis,sr. art director; Patty Hofstad, head of production; Tammy Auel, freelance producer. Production MJZ The Perlorian Brothers, director; Bobby Shore, DP; Eriks Krumins, exec producer; Merrie Wasson (Soft Citizen, Toronto), line producer. Editorial HutchCo, Los Angeles Jim Hutchins, editor. VFX/Animation Jamie Shannon, puppetmaster. hutchco/serious electronics, Los Angeles Austin Hickman-Fain, VFX artist.
Toolbox: Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Mocha Pro
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The filmโs protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a childโs life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
