Finding Truth in Advertising: A Look at Health

05 19 2016

Triumph over adversity is the most universally resonant theme in storytelling. Authenticity is the hardest element to achieve when creating stories like this. Our imaginations almost always fall short when compared with what actual, everyday people are able to overcome. So much of what we hear in the news of the health care industry is about statistics, costs and insurance policies. But what stands behind all those numbers are real people fighting heroic battles against disease and injury both as patients and providers.

STALKR has worked with Dignity Health multiple times on their “Hello, Humankindness” campaign. These spots feature unexpected moments of shared humanity, and relate them to the philosophy behind Dignity Health’s service organization. Athletic competitors helping each other up from a fall, around the bases, or to cross the finish line, these real moments show that our true selves want to help each other more than we want to win. Clips of first responders and aid workers in disaster and epidemic areas remind us that we are at our best when we are serving each other.

Children’s Hospital of Minnesota approached STALKR to find real footage of “the most amazing people on earth”, children. We sourced twenty videos from sources worldwide that highlight the tremendous strength, beauty, determination and optimism of children facing physical obstacles. The realness of these struggles and the true smiles, hugs and tears cuts straight to our hearts in a way that a clean, staged version never could.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota also came to STALKR to spread the word of their passion for keeping people healthy, by mixing original footage of the services they provide in their community with vignettes of real people living their fullest lives. Whether it is dancing at a wedding, playing ping-pong or the accordion in your nineties, skiing without working legs, hula hooping or jumping on pogo stick, caring for your health is the primary component to full participation in life.