We’re having a baby – new animation for charity, Together for Short Lives

11th December 2014

Real stories add impact to this charity film

We’re having a baby, released today, is a powerful charity marketing animation that focuses on a new mother as she hears the news all parents dread … that her child will die before her. Using inspiration from real stories this video marketing film has an emotional resonance demonstrating why families need specialist support from services like  Together for Short Lives; the leading UK charity for children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.

Watch the film http://youtu.be/6qwndXMfmso

We produced the animation pro bono to help raise the profile and fundraising potential of Together for Short Lives, and connect emotionally with the target end-users – parents, carers and health workers. The video is part of an awareness raising campaign with the hashtag #havingababy.

The animation gains its authenticity from capturing the reality of those who have lived through this heart-breaking situation. The viewer empathises as the narrator’s everyday hopes and dreams for her child disappear.

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Our MD, Jon Mowat nterviewed a number of families about their experiences of receiving their child’s diagnosis and coping with the news that their child has a life-limiting condition. A common thread began to appear – from “being cast adrift” when parents heard this news, to feeling “grounded” and supported by children’s hospice and palliative care services and by calling the Together for Short Lives family helpline.

Creative Director, John Lanyon turned these experiences into a poignant, yet uplifting script vividly delivered by Bristol actor, Jessica Macdonald. Along with illustrator Katy Davis, the Hurricane team set about the task of distilling this into a short hand-drawn film. For John:

“What Together for Short Lives do is incredibly special. In the creative process for this animation we focussed heavily on making sure it would feel as unique as the amazing work they do. We really hope this film helps them to raise awareness and get their message out to more people”

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Jon said:

“We’re proud to be working in partnership with Together for Short Lives to help raise their profile in order that they can continue their valuable work.

“Speaking to parents facing their worst fears really brought home to me the vital role this charity plays. Many of the Hurricane team are parents of young children, and therefore we empathise, and were keen to help by doing what we do best – telling powerful stories. The whole team worked on the video. It was a real labour of love.”

After tackling an abseil down the Avon Gorge in Bristol this summer to raise money for Together for Short Lives, we plan to continue our work with the charity by creating further video content in 2015.

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Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said:

“We are thrilled with the We’re having a baby animation, which was very generously produced for us free of charge by Hurricane Media. We worked very closely with their team, drawing on our experience of working with families and the children’s palliative care sector to create a moving film which tells a difficult story. A story that is often hard to put into words.

It provides a brand new way to raise awareness of the reality many families face when they hear the news that their child may not live to reach adulthood. We want families to know that they are not alone and that there are some fantastic children’s hospice and palliative care services out there.”

If you would like to discuss how video could help you tell your story, please get in touch using the contact details below…

– Call us: 01179 240773

– Send us an email: info@hurricanemedia.co.uk

– Tweet us: @hurricanemedia

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