The Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund announced on May 16 that the not-for-profit organization had released three TV spots urging state lawmakers to pass gun violence prevention legislation this session. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would strengthen Minnesota’s gun laws after polling from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune showed 9 in 10 Minnesotans support requiring criminal background checks on all gun sales.
The group is seeking to persuade legislators to vote for requiring background checks on all Minnesota gun sales and passing Red Flag legislation that would temporarily block a person from having guns if there is evidence that he or she poses a risk of harm to self or others.
“The overwhelming majority of Minnesotans want common-sense gun laws,” said Erin Zamoff, volunteer chapter leader with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “From Florida to Vermont to Kansas, lawmakers in other states have closed deadly gaps in their gun laws this year, and we’ll be safer when our leaders in St. Paul do, too.”
Produced by award-winning shop Olson Engage, each spot, which broke last week, features twin cities’ residents pleading for more gun safety. The first spot, which you can see below, features local law enforcement leaders:
“As creative people in a fast-paced agency world, it’s rare when we get to use our talents for something that could potentially save the lives of thousands of people. Handed an opportunity with an extremely quick turn, our team came together in one of those rare moments when timing, creativity and mission align perfectly,” Olson CD Scott Muskin told Reel360. The next spot focuses on three students:
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The last one, particularly powerful, features a Minnesota mother and gun owner:
CREDITS
Client: The Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
AGENCY:
Creative Director: Scott Muskin
Account Director: Joe Campbell
Group Director, Integrated Production: Ryan O’Hara Theisen
Integrated Producer: MK Smith
Program Manager: Sarah Stilip
Ad Operations Manager: Kasey Weeks
SHOOT:
Director: Ryan O’Hara Theisen
Director of Photography: Steve Speers
1st AC/Data: Ryan Johnson
2nd AC: Rachel Knoll
Audio: Matt Quas
Gaffer: Dave Palm
Telepromter Op:Tessa Gauer
Hair & Makeup: Ashlee Ellert Fearing
Line Producer: MK Smith
POST:
Editor: Cody Brown
Editor: Rachel Knoll
Editor: Chadwick Nelson
Colorist: Michael Sandness
Audio Mix: Sister Boss (Carl White)
The ads ran on social media and on television across Minnesota – it was a regional buy – primarily during local news, primetime and on cable news channels.
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.