As we honor the 20-year remembrance of the September 11th tragedy, this film for 9/11 Day–directed by Amber Grace Johnson of production house Object & Animal for agency Wunderman Thompson–reminds us that what we have in common as human beings–our love and concern for each other–far outweighs in importance the differences and disagreements that separate us from time to time.
This #911Day, help out a friend, colleague, or stranger with an act of kindness. Any good deed, big or small, can have an enormous impact. #ShineALight
Titled “Our State of Unitedness: A Tribute for the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, the film featured the Bruce Springsteen song “The Rising,” with Yessian serving as the music house.
Credits
Client 9/11 Day Agency Wunderman Thompson, New York Taras Wayner, chief creative officer, North America; Jill Applebaum, chief creative officer, NY; Peepo David, creative director; Saedi Burke, associate creative director; Angela Barber, SVP content production, North America; Ilene Kramer, sr. content producer; Paul Greco, executive director of music & audio. Production Object & Animal, Marina del Rey, Calif. Amber Grace Johnson, director; Arseni Khachaturan, DP; Justin Beoliel, James Cunningham, Emi Stewart, exec producers. Editorial Whitehouse Post Oliver Best, editor; Jordan McAfee-Hahn, assistant editor; Lucia Villalta, producer. VFX Carbon VFX Mike Roy, lead Flame; Carmen Maxcy, Flame operator; Tara Burgoyne Elliot, producer; Matthew McManus, exec producer. Music “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen (Universal Music Publishing) Music Yessian Music, New York Dan Zank, arranger, Gerard Smerek, creative director/engineer/mixer; Marlene Bartos, exec producer; Brian Yessian, chief creative officer; Michael Yessian, head of production. Audio Post Sound Lounge Peter Holcomb, partner/audio mixer; Rob Sayers, sr. audio mixer; Dana Villarreal, sr. producer.
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.