BFF

Short List
TitleBFF
BrandOPTUS
Product / ServiceTELECOMMUNICATIONS
CategoryB01. Editing
EntrantSPECIAL GROUP Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Idea Creation SPECIAL GROUP Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Media Placement UM Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Production FINCH Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Post Production RUMBLE STUDIOS Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Post Production 2 BLACKBIRD VFX Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Additional Company RE Redfern, AUSTRALIA
Additional Company 2 YES AGENCY Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Additional Company 3 EMOTIVE Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Additional Company 4 RUMBLE STUDIOS Sydney, AUSTRALIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Kelly Bayer Rosmarin Optus CEO
Matt Williams Optus Managing Director of Marketing & Revenue
Melissa Hopkins Optus Head of Marketing
Michael Sinclair Optus Creative & Communications Strategy Director
Alex Ball Optus Senior Marketing Lead
Danielle Rapley Optus Brand Associate Director
Simone Delaney Yes Agency Project Director
Jen Clarke Optus Brand Manager
Tony Bradbourne Special Group New Zealand CEO/CCO
Michael Redwood Special Group New Zealand Managing Partner
Rory Gallery Special Group New Zealand Head of Strategy
Matt Simpkins Special Group New Zealand Group Creative Director
Lisa Fedyszyn Special Group New Zealand Executive Creative Director
Jonathan McMahon Special Group New Zealand Executive Creative Director
Jack Gravatt Special Group New Zealand Copywriter
Till Dittmers Special Group New Zealand Art Director
Sally Lankshear Special Group New Zealand Senior Producer
Emma Cutfield Special Group New Zealand Producer
Hugo Parcell Special Group New Zealand Group Business Director
Nick O'Donnell Special Group New Zealand Senior Business Director
Hannah Ross Special Group New Zealand Business Manager
Christopher Riggert FINCH Director
Claire Thompson FINCH Producer
Loren Bradley FINCH Executive Producer
Jack Hutchings FINCH Editor
Ben Eagleton FINCH Colourist

Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

In this spot, we follow the story of a teenage girl who makes a heart-warming gesture for her best friend. After each scene, we cut back earlier in time. We start with the two girls enjoying their time together at the beach, then in a bedroom, filming a Tik Tok. As we cut through scenes in the protagonists' life we see that her hair becomes shorter and shorter until we see her in a hospital and she has no hair at all. She walks into a room where her friend is sitting, obviously frail and sick. Her friend can’t believe it as they hug, and we realise that she has shaved her head in solidarity. We then cut earlier still and see our main character ready to shave her head at a salon. The hairdresser asks if she’s ready and she nods as if to say ‘Yes’.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

This is based on a true story. In 2020 an emotional video went viral on Tik Tok of an Australian girl shaving her head for her best friend who was going through cancer treatment.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the edit. Do not name the editor.

As our brand positioning is “It starts with yes” so the technique was to go backwards, working our way back to the start and that “yes” moment. This helps to keep the audience wondering why her hair was getting shorter with the reveal coming at the very end of the ad.