BBH Dublin has rolled out a touching campaign for children’s charity Barnaros. Called ‘Because childhood lasts a lifetimeʼ, the campaign highlights the challenges some children in Ireland face and the fact that the solution does not necessarily revolve around a quick and immediate fix.
The TV film follows the story of a young boy recounting a childhood birthday. It begins with him telling a story of a perfect day, surrounded by friends, family, presents and a huge cake topped with candles. The story is then retold again and again. With each blow of the candle, more of the facade is chipped away to get to the truth; that his birthdays were not very special. The story ends with the boy, now in his teens, opening up about his real childhood experience to a Barnardos keyworker.
BBH Dublin worked closely with Barnardos to capture the reality of the healing process on film – how itʼs an ongoing journey that requires continued support. With support systems stretched and children facing unprecedented challenges post-pandemic, from mental health struggles to enforced deprivation, early intervention is more important than ever. Without those interventions, a child may never move past the first scene.
According to Sean Bergin, fundraising manager, Barnardos Ireland: “Birthdays are a universal experience which generally, connote feelings of joy and happiness. This is a stark contrast to the reality of childhood for many children in Ireland. BBH Dublin nailed the storytelling to highlight the positive impact Barnardos is able to make when able to intervene early.ˮ
The film was directed by David Leon with Iconoclast. According to Evonne OʼRourke, production lead, BBH Dublin: “We felt a real responsibility to produce a piece of work that had impact and the power to support the brilliant work that Barnardos does. We knew we had a great script on our hands, but it was crucial that the idea was underpinned by craft that protected the authenticity of the story. It was a fine balance to strike – the production design, edit, sound design and colour grade all had key parts to play in shaping and enhancing the narrative but not in a way that would overpower or become the focal point of the film.Ë®
Credits:
Client: Barnardos
Agency: BBH Dublin
CEO: Karen Martin
Executive Creative Director: Felipe Serradourada Guimaraes
Creative Leads: Sam Caren and Aubrey OʼConnell
Creatives: Â Simran Sidhu and Katy David
Strategy Lead: Simon Gregory / Darius Pasalar / Bethan Wotton
Business Lead: Â Amy Crowe
Account Director: Ciara Burke
Production Lead:  Evonne OʼRourke
Director: David Leon
Production Company: Iconoclast
Producer: Sorcha Bacon
Managing Director & Executive Producer:Jean Mougin
Managing Director & Executive Producer: Guy Rolfe
Head of Production: Beatrice Warren
Production Manager: Chanel Parkinson
Director of Photography: Nick Morris
Production Designer: Shaun Fenn
Costume Designer: Florence Jones
Make Up Artist: Billie McKenzie
Editor: Matt Gabzdyl
Edit Producer: Nikki Porter Final Cut
Sound: Factory Studios
Sound Design & Mix: Jon Clarke
Audio Producer: Ciara Wakley
Colour: Matt Turner
Colour EP: Ollie Ireland No.8
Online: Gabha Studios
2D Lead: Daniel Morris
VFX Producer:Dafydd Upsdell
