Director Rayka Zehtabchi, who last year won the Best Short Subject Documentary Oscar for Period. End of Sentence, has helmed Ours to Tell, a short film for Planned Parenthood and We Testify, which screens today (1/28) at the Sundance Film Festival as part of a Planned Parenthood: Storytelling as Activism panel discussion.
Produced by Ventureland in association with PRETTYBIRD–the production house which handles Zehtabchi for spots and branded content–Ours to Tell centers on four people who live full and empowered lives because they were free to access abortion. Actor, writer, and comedian Natasha Rothwell narrates the film which showcases what is at stake for many and, importantly, what many more have never had–the capacity to control their own bodies, and thus the power to decide their own futures. Ours to Tell spotlights what it means to a person’s future to have bodily autonomy and urges a call for compassion and self-determination. The full short can be accessed here. Below, as a SHOOT ScreenWork entry, is the trailer.
The film rolls out as the 47th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision is marked this month.
Zehtabchi said, “Film has the power to challenge the conversation around critical social issues, combat stigma, and ultimately shift culture. Ours To Tell disrupts common misconceptions about abortion–who has access, why, and how that access can help people lead rich and strong lives. This film purposefully centers the lived experiences of those that are rarely seen, including Black, Latinx, and transgender people. Through their stories, we learn that when people have access to abortion, they are able to live the lives they dream of for themselves and their families.”
Planned Parenthood is a leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. We Testify is an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who’ve had abortions, increasing the spectrum of abortion storytellers in the public sphere, and shifting the way the media understands the context and complexity of accessing abortion care.
CreditsClient Planned Parenthood Federation of America Elizabeth Bawol, sr. creative director/executive producer; Lauren Garcimonde-Fisher, sr. creative director, brand projects/executive producer; Ylonda Gault, sr. director, editorial/executive producer; Rachel Velasquez, director of video/producer; Nia Martin-Robinson, director of black leadership and engagement; Caren Spruch, sr. director, arts & entertainment; Rachel Moreno, VP, brand & culture strategy/executive producer; Melanie Newman, SVP, communications & culture. Client We Testify Renee Bracey Sherman, founder & executive director/executive producer. Production Ventureland in association with PRETTYBIRD Rayka Zehtabchi, director; Natasha Wellesley, exec producer; Tina Pavlides, Rachel Main, producers; Dana Kurth, field producer; Miles Barfield, postproduction supervisor. Editorial Final Cut LA Zoe Schack, editor; Sabra Stratton, assistant editor; Ana Orrach, head of production; Suzy Ramirez, exec producer; Taylor S. Rousseau, producer. VFX/Finishing Significant Others Betty Cameron, Flame artist Color Apache Digital Arianna Shining Star, digital intermediate colorist; Chris Lam, color assistant; LaRue Anderson, exec producer; Stefanie Schaidenbrand, producer. Sound Design & Mix One Thousand Birds Jackie Zhou, lead sound designer/mixer; Kira MacKnight, exec producer; KT Pipal, producer/additional sound design. Music We Are Walker Sara Matarazzo, music supervisor; Herdis Stefansdottir, music.
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More