Barnardo’s and The Mill Provide Comfort for Families Experiencing Cost of Living Struggles

Barnardo’s Mollusc, a tender film that depicts the emotionally crushing day-to-day experience of a 10-year-old British girl living through the pervasive impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. Her sense of disconnection is captured using the simple, but universally understood visual metaphor of a giant sea-snail shell that cuts her off from the world around her. The intervention of a specialist Barnardo’s support worker, offering her a safe space, allows her to open up and begin to reconnect.

Directed by award-winning duo DOM&NIC, through Outsider films, and creatively led by the Don't Panic team, this campaign hopes to provide comfort for the many children and families who may be experiencing poverty and poor mental health as a result.

When reflecting on the project, DOM&NIC said, "We are eternally grateful to our brilliant crew and post production partners, who so generously gave their time and skills for this special project." The craft of the production was incredibly important. The shell itself was created for real as a 3D-printed physical prop by Millennium FX and The Mill worked closely with the asset to plan, and later execute, the enhancements of its cracks and edges. The team then replicated the shell and comped a whole host of them into the final scene, a vital component in emphasising the shared experience for the young girl. Working closely with the environments also, our talented 2D team were pivotal in emphasising the conditions of the family home, adding elements like mould to the interiors.”