Nowadays, there are very few advertisements that actually leave you stunned. Well, this ad from the BBDO New York does just that. At first glance, this ad seems to be about a romance brewing between a boy and a girl in High School. There’s writing on tables, secret messages, and just hope. But there is so much more than that. Now, before you continue reading, watch the video below.
Did you watch it? Wow. The ending of the ad leaves you completely stunned, with good reason. According to AdWeek, Greg Hahn, chief creative officer of BBDO New York, says that “Through ‘Evan,’ we sought to show how different your perspective can be when you’re aware of the sign. We’ve been fortunate to work with the inspiring people at Sandy Hook Promise to help parents, students and teachers better identify these signs.” But because of the love story between the two kids, we don’t even notice the other student planning a school shooting.
“It is important for us to show youth and adults that they are not helpless in protecting their community from gun violence—these acts are preventable when you know the signs. Everyone has the power to intervene and get help. These actions can save lives,” says Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise. She continues, “When you don’t know what to look for, or can’t recognize what you are seeing, it can be easy to miss warning signs or dismiss them as unimportant. That can lead to tragic consequences.” And that is exactly what you see in the ad.
Now, go back and watch the ad again and see if you can spot all of the warning signs that you might have missed before.