NHS (National Health Service) England has launched a major multichannel campaign to drive more people to complete the bowel cancer screening test when sent one. The push was developed in partnership with creative agency M&C Saatchi London.
The campaign features this TV spot, “Ribbon Dancer,” directed by Si&Ad of Academy Films. In the film, we see a man in his 50s getting up in the morning. He grabs a roll of toilet paper when inspiration strikes. He begins to unravel the paper before bursting into a graceful dance. Like a rhythmic gymnast, he uses the toilet paper as his ribbon. The display is a joyous celebration of life, choreographed to the tune of “I’ve got to be me” by Sammy Davis Jr.
The man’s dance takes him around the house and out into the garden before eventually leading him to the privacy of his bathroom. A series of quick cuts depict the completion of the bowel cancer screening kit, before a voiceover instructs the audience, “If you’re sent a bowel cancer screening kit, put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.”
Phil Bastable, deputy director, head of marketing and social media team, NHS England, said: “Diagnosing bowel cancer at an early stage greatly improves a person’s chances of survival, which is why we want to ensure that as many people as possible complete the bowel cancer screening test when they’re sent one. This campaign by M&C Saatchi London addresses a serious, sensitive issue in an engaging and memorable way, showing how taking this quick, easy-to-use test really does have the power to save your life.”
Guy Bradbury, creative partner, M&C Saatchi London, added: “To remind people who have been invited to take the bowel cancer test next time they go to the loo, we wanted to create a campaign that was distinctive, memorable and joyous, reminding people–through ribbon dance–that a simple screening test could save their lives. Or in the words of Sammy Davis Jr, “Live, not merely survive.”
CreditsClient National Health Service (NHS) England Phil Bastable, deputy director, head of marketing and social media team; Ben King, lead campaigns manager; Imelda McAloon, sr. campaigns manager. Agency M&C Saatchi London Guy Bradbury, creative partner; Tom Kennedy, creative director; Amy Parkhill, copywriter; Ed East, art director; Ashley Williams, producer; Gareth Williams, exec producer; Hannah Thomson, sr. strategist; Richard Storey, head of behavior change. Production Academy Films Si&Ad, directors; Medb Riordan, exec producer; Georgina Smith, producer; Sebastian Wintero, DP; Supple Nam, choreographer; Mikey Hollywood, production designer; Clara Paris, 1st Ad; Lucy Hagan, costume designer. Editorial The Assembly Rooms Sam Rice-Edwards, editor. Postproduction nineteen twenty Kai van Beers, colorist. Sound Design James Saunders, sound designer. Music Sammy Davis Jr.'s rendition of "I've Got To Be Me" Music Supervision DLMDD Lizz Harmon, music supervisor
The Best Work You May Never See: United Sense of America, Directing Duo rubberband. Hunt Down Assault Weapons In “The Fawn”
This PSA titled “The Fawn” is from United Sense of America, a bipartisan coalition whose mission is to turn common sense and common ground into public policy. “The Fawn” was concepted and created by production company SMUGGLER in partnership with New York-based agency American Haiku and Austin-based agency Preacher. Written by American Haiku ECD Thom Glover and directed by the SMUGGLER duo rubberband., the film was designed as a common sense rallying cry aimed at the hunting community, questioning the need for assault weapons--in hunting and beyond that in our society generally. In light of the recent tragic high school shooting in Georgia, this message takes on a poignant urgency and underscores the need to craft progressive reform policy. The film, painful and seemingly unavoidable, forces the viewer to imagine someone else’s finger on the trigger and something else as its target. A voiceover initially seems to be talking about a fawn who is in plain view. But instead the VO turns out to be referring to the weapon which will claim the animal’s life. While the scene itself is graphic, the messaging is matter of fact. United Sense of America contends there simply is no defensible reason or excuse for assault weapons being necessary for sports hunting--and certainly not in mainstream society which includes our children’s schools. Glover said, “Every line in the film came from online discussions and conversations. Hunters are no different from the rest of us; the way people buy assault weapons is the same as the way they buy a refrigerator. We have to find a way to challenge this situation that doesn’t paint all gun owners as monsters, because they’re not.” [video width="1920" height="1080"... Read More