Love Has No Labels Launches Short Film by David Nutter and Lena Waithe

Great Guns worked closely with Ad Council and creative agency, R/GA, to create a powerful new short film, ‘Rising’, for the 2018 Love Has No Labels diversity campaign. 

 

Directed by Emmy-winning David Nutter (Game of Thrones), the short film portrays a diverse but divided neighbourhood struggling to survive rising floodwaters and bias in the heart of America. The hard-hitting film aims to encourage Americans to come together and ultimately inspire people to act inclusively every day. The film features a closing montage showing photos of real disaster survivors helping each other despite their supposed differences.

Fresh from directing three episodes of the final season of Game of Thrones, Great Guns Director David Nutter collaborated with R/GA’s Eric Jannon and Chris Northam - who created and wrote the original story - to send a powerful message to a divided America. Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe (Dear White People, The Chi, Master Of None), together with Azia Squire, crafted a screenplay that delivers an emotionally resonant script that asks why it takes a disaster to bring us together.

Lisa Sherman, president and CEO of Ad Council comments: “‘Rising’ is a poignant and powerful film that takes us back to where we started with Love Has No Labels, reminding everyone to see each other as humans above all else. In moments of disaster, our capacity for good is limitless and we cast our differences aside to support one another. This film will inspire people to bring that innate humanity into their daily actions and create a more inclusive world." 

 

Filming took place in Los Angeles, on location in Eagle Rock and at Warner Bros. Studios. Filming lasted for four days - three of them at night - where a powerful storm was created with all of the technical magic that Hollywood brings. 

 

Great Guns Director, David Nutter, comments: “We live in a time of tribalism. ‘Rising’ is a story about shifting the way we communicate. Through this film we want people to go from being defensive of those who are different to accepting and embracing our differences.”

David assembled the crew, with outstanding key personnel in each department. Peter Menzies Jr. (The Expendables, Clash of the Titans, Peter Rabbit) brought his wealth of experience to the shoot as cinematographer. Award-winning department heads such as world-class stunt co-ordinator, Eddie Perez, and Emmy-nominated sound mixer, Tim Hayes (The Jinx), joined a top-notch crew to create a truly emotional and timely film.

 

Great Guns’ executive producer, Thom Fennessey, brought acclaimed still photographer Myriam Santos - who has photographed stars such as David Bowie, George Clooney - to the project to work with David and R/GA to photograph the actors as their characters on set in the flooded landscape to create iconic posters to help promote the film.

Thom Fennessey, comments: “It was clear to everyone on set that David was creating something uniquely absorbing and special. The night shoots had a palpable sense of passion and camaraderie, and together a transformative film was taking shape with the help and professionalism of all involved.”    

“When the cast were neck deep in the flooded lot over three nights, David was there in the water with them,” said executive producer on the project, Laura Gregory.

Jeff Skutnik, group director at R/GA comments: “This was by far the most complicated yet smooth production I’ve ever been a part of. There’s an astonishing level of calm professionalism that Great Guns brought to this production and we couldn’t be happier with how things went.” 

Ntropic seamlessly created a multitude of visual effects and gave the film its rich colourful look. Warner Bros. Post Production created the extraordinary 5.1 Surround mix at the Clint Eastwood recording stage led by composer Blake Neely and edited by James Demetriou.

‘Rising’ can be viewed on the Love Has No Labels website and social channels. As part of Clear Channel Outdoor’s support of the campaign, ‘Rising’ will be screened on billboards in Times Square on 13th November. CW for Good will be featuring the full film on its website. The integrated campaign will also receive media and digital support from partners including Amazon, Clear Channel, CW for Good, Facebook, Fox, The New York Times, Showtime, and YouTube.