Director Rodrigo Garcia Saiz of L.A.-based Central Films North captures the unwavering pride and devotion of a father in this touching spot “I Am Your Fan” for Special Olympics out of Young & Rubicam Mexico.
The spot depicts a footballer anxiously and gleefully awaiting the arrival of his first child—a boy. When the birth finally arrives, we see that though the child brings an unexpected surprise with her arrival, his love continues as strong as ever. And rather than teach his child about football, the youngster teaches him about life.
Credits
Client: Special Olympics Agency: Young & Rubicam Mexico Chief Executive Officer, Héctor Fernández; Chief Creative Officer, Saúl Escobar; Executive Creative Director, Karla Santa Anna; Creative Director / Copywriter, Manuel Guillén; Creative Director / Copywriter, Mario Vivanco; Associate Creative Director / Copywriter, Marco de León; Regional Creative Director, Martin Goldberg; Global Proyect Manager, Paul Schulman; VP Account Managing Director, Britta Dahl; VP Account Managing Director, Lorena Ramos; Account Director, Daniela Toledo; Account Supervisor, Maricela Magaña; Global Strategic Planning Director, Sandy Thompson; Agency Producer, Bernardo Salúm Production Company: Central Films Director, Rodrigo García Saiz; Executive Producer, Mauricio Francini; Cinematographer, Mateo Londono; Vivi López, Wardrobe; Art Director, Oscar Carnicero; Editor, Leonel Pérez; Post Production, Patricia Guerra Post Production: Cluster Studio Music and sound house: Apollo Studios Audio Production, Benedicte Leclere; Production / Creative Direction / Sound Design / Mix, Gabriel Gagnon; Sound Design, Pierre-Hugues Rondeau; Music, Jesse Gnaedinger Voice Over: Sam McGovern
Peter Thwaites of The Corner Shop directed this film for healthcare company Abbott that shows what it’s really like to live with diabetes--including the constant judgment, shame and guilt.
The film is the cornerstone of Abbott’s new global initiative called “Above The Bias” out of agency VML Chicago, which is driving awareness about the health impact common misconceptions and bias about diabetes can have on people living with the condition.
Thwaites said, “What initially drew me to this project was the chance to create a visual metaphor for the weight of other people’s opinions--something we all carry, whether we realize it or not. The suit we built to physically weigh down our actor became more than just a prop; it shaped his performance, making the emotional burden feel tangible. Tonally, I wanted to ensure the message felt earned without becoming overly sentimental, allowing the actor to start from a grounded place and gradually reveal the impact of that weight.”
Healthcare company Abbott--known for its medical technology, nutritional products and pharmaceuticals--surveyed more than 2,600 people living with diabetes across eight countries, including the U.S., to help inform the campaign and bring to life the realities of living with the condition. Research found that nearly 70% believe there is stigma associated with their condition; almost 25% have avoided sharing their diagnosis with family or friends out of embarrassment or concern; and 40% have skipped or missed a doctor’s appointment due to shame or stigma.