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

Published On
Jan 19, 2018

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 Mačka
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

Need a credit fix? Contact the Creativity Editors

Project Type
Tags