Domestic Abuse is Exposed in This Powerful Video Activation

The Assaulted Women’s Helpline (AWHL) in partnership with Giants & Gentlemen (G&G) launched a project designed to raise awareness about violence against women. This project, a video activation and social media campaign, will kick off a general awareness campaign and difficult discussions ahead of Woman Abuse Prevention Month in November. 

“Abuse is that dirty secret that unfortunately touches many lives, but that few want to talk about,” says Alanna Nathanson, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Giants & Gentlemen. “We wanted to help the AWHL shed light on the issue and raise awareness as to its pervasiveness. As an advertising agency, the best way for us to do so was with a creative solution: we found an arresting way to bring attention to the fact that abuse can happen to anyone, anywhere.”

AWHL and G&G want to shift preconceived ideas that this form of violence only happens to certain societal groups. Domestic violence and spousal abuse costs Canada $7.4 billion per year (CCPA) and can have an impact on generations to come. Long-term impacts on families can turn into mental health issues and, commonly, loss of life.

“Every six days we lose one woman to violence in the home,” says Huong Pham, Executive Director of AWHL. “It is important to remind people that violence against women is still on the rise and something that typically happens to the ones we love, behind closed doors.”

Leading up to and throughout the month of November, AWHL will be promoting the services that are available to support women who are in difficult situations at home. While domestic violence is not seasonal, the push for awareness and support is instrumental in raising much needed awareness throughout the year.

“Giants & Gentlemen approached us with this unconventional concept. From start to finish they have been instrumental in carefully developing this pro-bono activation,” says Pham. “Seeking a grassroots charity partner with the challenging task of building awareness for violence against women, Giants and Gentlemen have created an impactful and thought-provoking awareness campaign for us.”

AWHL, Giants & Gentlemen, Brave Productions, Big Digital, Beaux Properties, Mas’oud Salon, SongBird Marketing Communications, and School Editing donated their time to bring this idea to life.

Credits List

AWHL 

• Jennifer Rollo – Manager, Resource Development

• Huong Pham – Executive Director

• Sheila Phillips – Chair, Board of Directors

Giants & Gentlemen

• Alanna Nathanson – Co-Founder and Creative Director

• Gino Cantalini – Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer

• Steve Waugh – Vice President, Head of Client Services

• Catherine Wong – Senior Art Director 

• Steven Kim – Senior Art Director 

• Brandon Tralman-Baker – Senior Writer

• Julie Wierzbicki – Account Director

• Lauren Morrison – Account Coordinator 

Brave Productions

• Rob Tunnicliff – Partner and Executive Producer

• Quinn Vorster – Director 

• Mark Peachey – Cameraman 

Big Digital

• Mike Girgis & Jake Neiman, Principals

• Jeremy Shell, Director of Business Development

• Diego Grimaldi, Director, Engineering

• Adam Smith, Director, Operations

Beaux Properties

• Jason Birnboim

Mas’oud Salon 

• Mas'oud Houshmand

PR - Songbird Marketing Communications

• Candace Huntly

School Editing 

• Lauren Piche - Editor

• Emily Torontow - Executive Producer