ALS Society of Canada: Head and Shoulders

The ALS Society of Canada has launched a new public service advertising campaign created by Lowe Roche, Toronto to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the ALS Society's efforts to fund research towards a cure for the disease.

Created by Lowe Roche on a pro bono basis, the 60-second television public service announcement, Head and Shoulders is composed of a montage of clips, each one focusing on a man with ALS in emotionally charged moments as his disease advances to different parts of his body. Set to the childrens song, Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes, as the spot progresses, and his conditions worsen, the cheerful singing becomes a sad whisper.

We chose to create a spot that was musically and emotionally driven to raise awareness for ALS, said Christina Yu, Vice President, Creative Director, Lowe Roche. This song is one which everybody can relate to and we wanted to use it unconventionally to illustrate how this disease eventually affects every body part.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As the nerve cells die, people with ALS lose control of their muscles, which makes breathing, eating and even smiling almost impossible. Eighty per cent of those diagnosed will die within two to five years. There is no known cure or effective treatment of ALS.

"Lowe Roche has created a very powerful commercial that we think will help the public better understand what ALS is all about," explains Bobbi Greenberg, Director of Communications, ALS Society of Canada. "We're very appreciative of their dedication to this project and of those who donated their time and services during the production process. Were certain that their efforts will help us raise the funds we desperately need to proceed with research initiatives that will ultimately help us find effective therapies and a cure for this devastating disease."


Credits:
Title: Head and Shoulders
Client: ALS Society of Canada
Creative Agency: Lowe Roche, Toronto
VP/Creative Director: Christina Yu
Chief Creative Officer: Geoffrey Roche
Copywriter: Rob Sturch
Art Director: Ryan McNeil
Agency Producer: Brie Gowans
Business Director: Amanda Gaspard

Production Company: Untitled Films, Toronto
Director: John Mastromonaco
Executive Producer: James Davis
Producer: Tom Evelyn
Director of Photography: John Houtman

Post Production: Rooster, Toronto
Editor: Richard Unruh
Executive Producer: Melissa Kahn
On-line Editor: Ernie Mordak, Rooster
Colorist: Gary Chuntz, Notch, Toronto
Sound Design: Chris Tait, Pirate, Toronto

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• public
• interest
• awareness
• als
• non-profit
• help
• donation
• donate
• ong
• gritodascinco
• sagarana
• cip
• público

[BanjoBoy123]

Omg... this is quite possibly the most depressing, heartbreaking, saddest commercials I have ever seen in my life.

Hope a cure is found.

[youngjamal]

this is the saddest commercial i've ever seen

[TheNickelDimeQuarter]

I cried, not gonna lie.

[makeuptalkmore1615]

@rainbowfishbowl Im really sorry to hear about you're mother and i hope the find a cure and help her out best of luck

[rainbowfishbowl]

My mother has been fighting ALS for 3 years. I pray they find a cure, or even a viable treatment. :(

[lovagurrl123]

This commercial makes me cry when ever i see it . It makes me think :/

[Mitosynergy]

Thanks for sharing, How is he doing now?

[Alicat244]

This commercial made me cry. It's the only one ever to do so

[MakeupMeLove]

this is scary, and sad

[skyarsalan]

.........I have seen allot of commercials in my life time, and this.......with all the horrible ones......no, even if they were all great, this has got to be the best made commercial I have ever seen.

[MissIckey]

@VibeHarmonics your fucked. although your probably not at all educated about this topic. (i can tell because of your fucked comment) your body shuts down you lose the ability to move your muscles you loose the ability to swallow you lose the ability to breath and then you lose the ability to keep your heart beating, all the while your stay completely psychically sane. you litterly have to watch yourself die. watch your comments.. because i would not wish this disease on ANYONE.