For 3 years I volunteered as Head of Copy at ADCAN.
https://adcan.com/
What is ADCAN?
ADCAN is a free-to-enter film competition that encourages unsigned filmmakers to submit a 30" second ad inspired by one of ADCAN’s charity briefs. The awards are supported and judged by top industry professionals, directors and production companies who hold special workshops for winners. It's a deal that works for everyone: filmmakers get a foot in the door of a hard to crack industry, production houses get to see new talent and charities get a free promotional film that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford.
As Head of Copy I wrote everything for ADCAN: Posters, emails, social media posts, web copy, press releases - you name it!
3 years - 3 new websites with all new copy
Press Ads
Christmas Campaigns
For our Christmas card ADCAN wanted to do something personal for all our partners and media channels who might support us. So we created a digital advent calendar that would be sent out a door at a time via Twitter and our Facebook page. Tweets dedicated each door to someone we'd worked with in the last year with a clue to what was behind the door. The Christmas images behind the doors were related to the organisation or person we dedicated it to and were lovingly hand painted by myself and company partner Deborah Casswell.
Press Releases
GAME-CHANGING INITIATIVE ADCAN AWARDS RETURNS FOR ITS THIRD YEAR
Not-for-profit, creative platform ADCAN today announces the launch of the 2016 ADCAN Awards. The annual competition, returns for its third year to champion yet more unsigned creative talent, give emerging filmmakers access to industry leaders and provide four charities with original films to help promote their cause.
ADCAN is a collective of top film and advertising industry execs and companies, all volunteering their time and expertise to #makegood. It was founded by creative and production veterans, Dan Heighes, Brydon Gerus and Deborah Casswell, who recognised the need to help more emerging talent get their foot in the door and mobilise the film and advertising industry to make a real difference.
"Quite simply, ADCAN is the award scheme for people who want to make a difference to their career and the world at the same time,” says Deborah Casswell, Founding Partner, ADCAN.
Their hard work saw the ADCAN team receive a Points of Light Award last year from Prime Minister David Cameron, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a significant change in their community.
“ADCAN is a brilliant initiative to help both smaller charities and the next generation of talented filmmakers,” says David Cameron.
Returning after two successful years, the free-to-enter competition invites unsigned creatives from across the UK to select a brief from one of four charities and create a 30 second film, which helps to spread the charities’ messages in a unique and vibrant way. The shortlisted filmmakers and winners will then be given the opportunity to attend two days of exclusive industry access workshops with ADCAN partners Partizan, Rattling Stick and Nexus, and other industry leaders such as Work, Wave, ARRI Media and The Mill. The competition culminates in an awards ceremony hosted at The Mill – the renowned post-production house in central London, which will also see other leading creatives in attendance to talk about how they #madeit in the industry. Previous speakers include Mark Denton, Nexus directors Smith & Foulkes and Crispin Porter’s CCO Dave Buonaguidi.
2016’s awards return with a diverse slate of charitable causes including; The GirlHood, an initiative that supports and encourages young women to succeed in the creative industries; Streetbank, a charity that fosters sharing to create better communities; Nordoff Robbins, the specialist music therapy charity dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and adults across the UK, and finally CALM, a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, supported by Topman and UK rapper Professor Green, who is one of many ambassadors.
Kati Russell, Co-Founder, The GirlHood, says, “It’s great to be a part of the ADCAN initiative, we really admire the aim of the awards and are thrilled to shed some light on the GirlHood, which we hope will encourage female creatives to submit content!”
Sam Stephens, Founder, Streetbank, says, “Streetbank is thrilled to be one of the “chosen” for the ADCAN Awards and have the chance to work with the very best up-and-coming creative talents. Their genius to create short films with emotional punch will help inspire neighbourhood generosity and so change for good the places where we live.”
To mark the launch of this year’s competition Directors Austen Humphries from Rattling Stick, Jack Cunningham and Fx Goby from Nexus, and Ozzie Pullin from Partizan have created their own ads emphasising the importance of ADCAN’s #makegood ethos, which are available to view [here].
Previous winners of the ADCAN Awards have gone on to make everything from music videos to short films, some have even secured full time employment with leading production companies Rattling Stick and Partizan. All of ADCAN’s alumni also receive ongoing help and career advice.
Budding filmmakers that want to get involved in this year’s competition should visit: www.adcanawards.com for more information and to download the briefs, which are now live.
ENDS
For more information please visit www.adcanawards.com or contact info@adcanawards.com.
For press enquiries please contact Sherene Witter, Franklin Rae PR shereene@franklinrae.com.
Recognition from the Prime Minister - Winning a Points of Light Award
