Makiné and Coalition Call on LA’s Underserved Communities for Vaccine Awareness Campaign

Creative studio Makiné recently partnered with LA-based multicultural marketing firm American Entertainment Marketing (AEM) to produce an integrated COVID-19 vaccine awareness and acceptance campaign called 'IT’S TIME LOS ANGELES,' which aims to increase the rate of vaccinations for Los Angeles’s hardest hit communities, including Latino, African American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations.

Commissioned by CORE (Community Organised Relief Effort), the non-profit organisation co-founded by Ann Lee and Sean Penn, the campaign will empower people of colour with information and resources to receive life-saving vaccinations. Presented in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, the multilingual campaign will reach diverse communities with cultural relevance, authenticity, and accuracy. 'IT’S TIME LOS ANGELES' includes a public service announcement, digital/social media, print, microsite, community outreach and public relations.

“It is not every day that agencies of color are afforded the opportunity to directly lead campaigns that speak to their respective communities,” says AEM president and founder Ivette Rodriguez. “We were thrilled that CORE embraced this approach. Linda [DeJesus-Cutler] and I could not have picked a better coalition of multicultural agency partners to deliver IT’S TIME LOS ANGELES.”

Led by Jesus M. Rodriguez, executive creative director, Makiné provided end-to-end creative direction of the fully integrated campaign, including the naming, branding and social assets. In addition, Rodriguez scripted and directed a :30 hero spot for broadcast and digital, presented in five different languages, as well as a series of community-focused cut-downs. 

“The coalition of agencies that Ivette brought together was essential to bringing this campaign to life,” says Jesus M. Rodriguez. “Each partner brought key insights and perspectives that helped shape the message with humanity and authentic cultural relevance. When it all came together, it was beautiful to see the diversity and strength of Los Angeles reflected through this campaign. Our city is a beautiful rainbow of skin tones and cultures and it’s what makes it so special.” 

According to Jesus M. Rodriguez, it was paramount that each targeted group of the campaign felt heard and recognised. Here, Makiné consulted with Latino agency AEM, Asian American communications firm IW Group, and African American-owned agency Red Sea Entertainment in the scripting and casting phase. 

Set to original music by Oscar and Grammy winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Babel’), the PSA features photos of real people and families representing the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Jesus M. Rodriguez directed the photo shoots in collaboration with photographer Aldo Chacon. Makiné’s Alberto Hadyar art-directed the film, adding subtle yet elegant transitions to the story, all under veteran producer Gustavo Garcia. 

The 28-person cast of Angelenos in the PSA represent diversity through individuals and multi-generational families. The featured talent includes El Salvadorian construction workers, a Latina public education advocate, a Korean CORE representative, an African American pastor and veteran, a Chinese nurse, a Mexican roof contractor, a second-generation Vietnamese family business owner, and an African American restaurant owner with his frontline employees.   

Makiné also produced audio content for radio, streaming, and social based on the broadcast script, as well as a social media toolkit consisting of Chacon’s photos, GIFs, and skins. Print deliverables included posters, flyers, and infographics. 

“Makiné was the ultimate creative and production partner,” concludes Ivette Rodriguez. “Their creativity was innovative and hopeful, and their dedication to the united cause of protecting our own was relentless and inspiring.”