From this five-minute film directed by Joshua Kissi of division7 for Commonwealth//McCann was culled a :60 holiday spot for Chevrolet.
The Christmas film for Chevrolet is a heartwarming and nostalgic ode to the simpler times. “The Holidays With Mrs. Hayes” tells a fictional 65 year-old story of love, loss and the importance of family, chosen and blood alike. The film begins with an elderly woman sitting in a turquoise-colored 1957 Chevy Bel Air station wagon, seemingly unable to get the car to start. We are then transported to the 1960’s where a younger version of the woman is sitting in the same car beside who we come to know as her husband, who sadly loses his life in the Vietnam War. After the tragedy, the woman grows to cherish the car and the memories associated with it. Washing it while the neighborhood kids play in the background, here is where we are introduced to ‘Billy’, one of Mrs. Hayes’s neighbors. Billy grows up helping Mrs. Hayes with odd jobs and in turn Mrs. Hayes helps out all the neighborhood, giving out rides in her Chevrolet, turning the interior into a space station for the kids to play in, much like her, Billy and the children grow older having fond memories of the Bel Air.
From beginning to end, we not only grow to love the characters, but also the car itself. The film ends with Mrs. Hayes in the present, sitting in her Chevy, turning the key to no avail, until a middle-aged man appears in the parking lot, Billy. All grown up and with his own family, he offers Mrs. Hayes a ride. It’s Christmas day and Billy and his family pull up to Mrs. Hayes’s house in, you guessed it, her 1957 Bel Air. That is the joy of the holidays; it is the memories we keep alive, and the appreciation of those we love.
“We have all heard the phrase, ‘It takes a village,’” said Kissi. “Those of us fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood filled with children and families know the value of the relationships that form within those neighborhoods. These friendships born out of convenience or proximity have taken root to form something deeper. That was the core goal of the film: to remind viewers about the power of these connections. During a time of year when it is easy to feel isolated or distant from others, these moments help to remind us of the beauty of who we surround ourselves with. The story of ‘Mrs. Hayes’ may be fictional but the core theme of intentional community rings true throughout the entire film. Mrs. Hayes experiences immense loss, but that doesn’t hold her back from gaining the love of her chosen family, namely her motherly relationship with a young boy named Billy.
“We can all attest to having someone in our life who has inspired us to be the individuals we are today. This film is a love letter to the universality of that experience. On top of that, for this to be my first car commercial, and having the opportunity to honor the story of Mrs. Hayes, it will always be a memorable experience. Thank you to everyone involved; it was a special project to be a part of.”
CreditsClient Chevrolet Agency Commonwealth//McCann Matt Canzano, chief creative officer, global; Mike Olk, sr. producer. Production division7 Joshua Kissi, director; Kamila Prokop, David Richards, managing directors; Patrick Milling-Smith, Brian Carmody, founders; Alex Hughes, head of production; Gillian Altman, bidding producer; Sara D’Alessio, producer; Katie Murphy, production manager; Mikayla Causey, production coordinator; Patrick Golan, DP; Arle Bordas, 1st AD; Alessandro Marvelli, production designer; Callan Stokes, wardrobe stylist; Lisa Pope, hair; Donna Premick, makeup. Casting Mel & Liz (LA); Smith & Stilwell (Atlanta). Editorial Cabin Edit Nathan Rodgers, editor; Brittany Carson, editorial producer.
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