Bicoastal production company Park Pictures and director Lisa Rubisch have partnered with HP Inc. and Zac&Adam to nod to the current tense political climate in the topical holiday short film “Togetherness.” In the film, a holiday family gathering has an undercurrent of trepidation and the specter of current events haunting the gathering. The joys of reunion and festivities quickly give way to a common scenario faced by many households today: the heated political debate. While keeping political leanings and details vague, Rubisch communicates that many family members hold opposite viewpoints, causing tempers to flare. The altercation forces the wife and mother from the table after a clash with her sister.
The story ends on a more hopeful note through the wisdom of one of the children. After a daughter posts a collage of family photos on the fridge, both sisters realize that their bonds as siblings and role-models are stronger than any difference of opinion. The camera pans from the house as one sister extends a peace offering of holiday pie to the other, and the tagline, “If we never reach out, we’ll never come together.”
The raw and honest spot serves as a reminder that families should work to come together through social strife, no matter one’s politics or opinions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAYu8Itqqe0&feature=youtu.be
Notes Creative Director Adam Groves, “When we were making the film, everyone in the cast and on the crew kept telling us how much they could relate to the story. That’s how we knew we had something special. It’s honest and real, which makes it stand out amongst a lot of the films you see from brands this time of year.”
Rubisch began her booming directorial career with MTV, where she helmed spots and campaigns for clients including the MTV Movie Awards featuring Samuel L. Jackson, which won a Bronze Pencil from The One Show, and her PSA “Paper Doll”, which garnered multiple awards. Other high-profile commercial and music video clients include Nike, Puma, Ikea, Fidelity, Coors, The Travel Channel, Chobani, Hershey and Wells Fargo, as well as the viral ad “Fish Market” for Foster’s Beer, which won a Gold Pencil from The One Show. Recent commercial spots include campaigns for Wal-Mart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Ikea.
Credits:
AGENCY
Agency: Zac&Adam
Creative Director: Zac Ryder
Creative Director: Adam Groves
Head of Production: Esther Perls
PRODUCTION
Director: Lisa Rubisch
EP : Jackie Kelman Bisbee
EP: Scott Howard
Head of Production: Anne Bobroff
Producer: Nina Shiffman
EDITORIAL
Editor: Rex Lowry
HOP: Jennifer Locke
EP: CL Weaver
COLOR
MPC
Colorist: Mark Gethin
Producer: Rebecca Boorsman
MUSIC SUPERVISION:
The Teenage Diplomat
Music Sup: Buzzy Cohen
About Park Pictures
Founded in 1998 by Executive Producer Jacqueline Kelman Bisbee and acclaimed filmmaker/cinematographer Lance Acord, Bicoastal/London-based Park Pictures has an auspicious track record of discovering and mentoring new talent in both commercials and film.
Park Pictures has earned the highest accolades for their international work, including an Oscar, an Emmy, and 18 Cannes Lions. Lance Acord has earned three DGA nominations for his commercial work and newly-signed directing duo The Mercadantes received a 2015 DGA nomination. Known for their story-driven film work, Park Pictures has been selected for Creativity’s “Production Company A-List” for nearly ten consecutive years. In 2015, co-founder Jacqueline Kelman Bisbee was selected for the 2015 Cannes Lions Film Craft jury and Advertising Age’s prestigious ‘Women to Watch’ honor.
Park Pictures’ feature division, headed by Producer Sam Bisbee, Jacqueline Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord, has produced five feature films, all of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2010, Park Pictures won an Academy Award for the company’s first narrative film, live-action short “The New Tenants,” starring Vincent D’Onofrio. Its most recent feature, Other People, starring Molly Shannon and directed by Chris Kelly, recently sold to Netflix.