Because it is the season of giving and the season of hope (it’s both, we checked), we thought we’d take the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of our favorite ways the power of video has and is being used to raise awareness of important issues and garner funds for worthwhile causes and charities.
Let’s begin by getting nostalgic and stepping back in time to holidays past…
Just around this time, in 1984, a groundbreaking music video featuring a dream lineup of George Michael, Duran Duran, Bono, Sting, an orange-haired Boy George, and so many other rockers of the time, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by the collective, Band Aid, tapped into our MTV-loving souls, inspired millions in donations for Africa, and represented a new direction for spreading important messaging. After all, if a young, slightly balding Phil Collins in a sweater vest doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, nothing will.
History was made, and celebrity-stoked videos quickly became one of the most effective ways to impact an audience—“We Are the World” ring a bell?
Fast-forward to 2018, AKA, holidays present, and we can clearly see a continuation of the phenomenon in Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars in support of Autism, and in Sarah McLachlan’s face as she croons for dogs and cats in those really sad commercials—don’t deny it, you’ve cried a little.
Yet, one of the things we at Bottle Rocket Media LOVE about today’s video landscape is that you don’t need to have a ton of money or celebrity friends to spread your vital message and make an impact!
Thanks to digital, we are now seeing organizations – large and small – put out the highest possible quality AV examples in order to wake up its audiences to specific issues or causes. And with so many accessible social media outlets, such as Youtube and Vimeo, it has never been easier to reach the masses.
Here are some of our current faves:
The Girl Effect: A cool video on ending poverty through empowering girls and young women. No need for real people, just good graphics and a well-written script.
Third World Problems Anthem: A single camera, and the honest faces of those living in third world nations are all that’s needed to prove the point.
Be a Whistleblower for Peace: Mixed media, accompanied by a crisp soundtrack, shows how inventive digital video can get—even when conveying the simplest of messages.
How to Grow a Mustache with Nick Offerman–Movember: ok, so this one does use the celebrity prowess of Nick Offerman, but we love its simplicity and great writing.
Bottom line? As we can clearly see, video has, is, and will continue helping the world heal, learn, and grow, well into holidays future.
So, do you have a message the world needs to hear? Learn how video can help, here.
And we couldn’t leave you hangin’! Enjoy and happy holidays!!!!