The Ad Council Asks You to 'Seize the Awkward' in Comedic Suicide Prevention PSAs
Campaign by Droga5 Also Stars Influencers Such as Tyler Posey and Remi Cruz
Editor's Pick
The Ad Council takes a daringly comedic approach in its latest campaign of PSAs focusing on suicide prevention; the campaign, by Droga5, is all about "seizing the awkward" moment to talk to a friend about their mental health.
In one spot, seen here, the "awkward" is personified by a guy in a brown turtleneck, who pops up at awkward moments, like between two friends on a couch or two lovers in bed, and urges them to "seize the awkward" and ask someone if they're OK.
Another aspect of the campaign revolves around influencers (seen all together in an anthem video) including Tyler Posey, Remi Cruz, Liza Koshy and Hannah Hart, who also act awkwardly, encouraging people to break an awkward silence with a friend. The videos direct viewers to a campaign website where they can find out more information.
Max Sherman at Anonymous Content directed the ads. The comedic approach seems somewhat at odds with the subject matter, but perhaps that will make them more memorable.
Credits
- Date
- Jan 19, 2018
- Brand :
- Barnardo's
- Client :
- Barnardo's
- Agency :
- Droga5
- Chairperson :
- David Droga
- Chief Creative Officer :
- Ted Royer
- Executive Creative Director :
- Kevin Brady
- Group Creative Director :
- Justin Ruben
- Creative Director :
- Will Lowe
- Creative Director :
- Victor Monclus Gonzalez
- Associate Creative Director :
- Lisa Fedyszyn
- Associate Creative Director :
- Jonathan McMahon
- Senior Copywriter :
- Mietta McFarlane
- Senior Art Director :
- Luke Chard
- Copywriter :
- Sergio Alonso
- Senior Art Director :
- Camilo De Galofre
- Creative Technologist :
- Phil Pastore
- Design Director :
- Michael Kleinman
- Senior Designer :
- Jaymes Barone
- Chief Creative Officer :
- Sally-Ann Dale
- Co-Director, Film Production :
- Jesse Brihn
- Co-Director, Film Production :
- Bryan Litman
- Producer :
- Brandon Chen
- Film Associate Producer :
- Caroline Vassiliades
- Music Supervisor :
- Mike Ladman
- Business Affairs Director :
- Jocelyn Howard
- Business Affairs Manager :
- Abigail Press
- Counsel :
- Sarah Fox
- Associate Counsel :
- Erica Palaia
- Co-Directors of Interactive Production :
- Justin Durazzo
- Co-Directors of Interactive Production :
- Tasha Cronin
- Producer, Interactive :
- Alex Smith
- Director, Art Production :
- Cliff Lewis
- Senior Art Producer :
- Chelsea Gold
- Director, Print Services :
- Rob Lugo
- Print Producer :
- Rose Mahan
- Global Chief Strategy Officer :
- Jonny Bauer
- Co-Head of Strategy :
- Harry Roman-Torres
- Director, Strategy :
- Jennifer Lange
- Senior Strategist :
- Emily Mulvey
- Head of Communications Strategy :
- Colleen Leddy
- Senior Communications Strategist :
- Kevin Wilkerson
- Executive Group Director :
- Brett Edgar
- Group Account Director :
- Lauren LaValle
- Account Director :
- Celeste Pulman
- Account Manager :
- Rosalie Bonner
- Account Manager :
- Yardley Hansen
- Project Manager :
- Kaki White
- Production Company :
- Anonymous Content
- Production Company :
- OPC
- Director :
- Max Sherman
- Director, Photography :
- Chris Mably
- Head of Production :
- Kerry Haynie
- Executive Producer :
- Gina Zapata
- Executive Producer :
- Lori Stonebraker
- Executive Producer :
- Harland Weiss
- Executive Producer :
- Donovan Boden
- Producer :
- Ian Webb
- Managing Director :
- Eric Stern
- Editorial :
- Rock Paper Scissors
- Editor :
- Dan de Winter
- Assistant Editor :
- Michael Shugarman
- Assistant Editor :
- Joseph Tuzzolino
- Executive Producer :
- Eve Kornblum
- Producer :
- Julianne Cort
- Post Production :
- The Mill
- Executive Producer :
- Thomas Gibson
- Associate Producer :
- Sophie Mitchell
- 2D Lead :
- Nicky Picardo
- 2D Artist :
- Krissy Nordella
- Design Animator :
- Jeffrey Buoncristiano
- Music/Mix :
- Human | Post Human
- Composer :
- Gordon Minette
- Creative Lead :
- Andy Bloch
- Mixer :
- Sloan Alexander
- Producer :
- Craig Caniglia
- Sound Design :
- Formosa Group
- Supervising Sound Editor :
- Per Hallberg
- 1st Assistant Sound Editor :
- Philip D. Morrill
- Interactive Production Company :
- Haus
- President :
- Jeremy Moss
- Head of Production :
- Claudine Nichols
- Director, Technology :
- Steve Scavo
- Lead Developer :
- Claus Wahlers
- Developer :
- J Scott Smith
- Senior Producer :
- Kiley Story
- Creative Director :
- Kyle Petersen
- Designer :
- Vanessa Brown
- Artist :
- Patrick Hruby
- Artist :
- Abbey Lossing
- Artist :
- Mel Cerri
- Artist :
- Stina Persson
- Artist :
- Sam Dunn
- Artist :
- Rob Flowers
- Artist :
- Marta Cerda
- Artist :
- Dave Homer
- Artist :
- Ornamental Conifer
- Artist :
- Marina Esmeraldo
- Artist :
- Partners in Crime Studio
- Artist :
- Geo Law
- Artist :
- John Devolle
- Artist :
- Conrad Garner
- Artist :
- Pablo Declan
- Artist :
- Mike Perry
- Artist :
- Jon Burgerman
- Artist :
- Martina Paukova
- Artist :
- Lauren Hom
- Artist :
- Juan Carlos JC Pagan
- Artist :
- Iain Burke
- Artist :
- Rudi de Wet
- Artist :
- Léna Fradier aka MaÄka
- Artist :
- Tommy Doyle
- Artist :
- Ellen Porteus
- Artist :
- Carly Larsson
- Artist :
- Angela Ho
- Artist :
- James Gulliver Hancock
- Artist :
- João Neves
- Artist :
- Eric Nyquist
- Artist :
- Simon Ã…lander
- Artist :
- Tim Singleton
- Artist :
- Baron Von Fancy
- Artist :
- Victor Bregante
- Artist :
- Kenzo Minami
- Artist :
- Cliff Van Thillo
- Artist :
- Saa Ostoja
- Artist :
- Nancy Liang
- Artist :
- Jeffrey Fulvimari
- Artist :
- Sean Tulgetske
- Artist :
- Chris Long
- Artist :
- Franz Lang
- Artist :
- Micah Cohen
- Artist :
- LULU
- Artist :
- Rosemary Kathryn
- Artist :
- Joseph Alessio
- Artist :
- Anna Hrachovec
- Artist :
- Marcus Oakley
- Artist :
- Jeremyville
- Artist :
- Tina Berning
- Artist :
- Julia Walck
- Artist :
- Jess Rotter
- Artist :
- Adrian Clifford
- Artist :
- Meaghan Way
- Artist :
- Jill De Haan
- Artist :
- David J Weissberg
- Artist Rep :
- Friend + Johnson
- Artist Rep :
- Closer & Closer
- Artist Rep :
- KOKO Art Agency
- Artist Rep :
- Blink Art
- Artist Rep :
- Art & Motion
- Artist Rep :
- Bernstein & Andriulli
- Artist Rep :
- Snyder
- Artist Rep :
- Agency Rush
- Artist Rep :
- Levine/Leavitt
- Artist Rep :
- The Garden Party
- Artist Rep :
- Agent Pekka
- Artist Rep :
- Satellite Office
- Artist Rep :
- Sunday Afternoon
- Artist Rep :
- Jacky Winter
- Artist Rep :
- Good Illustration Ltd
- Artist Rep :
- JBC Jigisha Bouverat Collective
- Artist Rep :
- Unit
- School :
- Frank Anselmo and Students at SVA
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