Around two weeks ago, we covered Freedom For All‘s “Stop the Nightmare” campaign featuring a series of surreal videos directed by Blank Productions’ Kim Dempster in collaboration with creative colleagues and without the aid of an agency. Now Freedom For All has extended their campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking with video footage from a staging of three human auctions held on Wall Street, Times Square and Washington Square Park on March 5th.
The auctions were written and directed by Kim Dempster, who considers the campaign “the most important project [she’s] ever worked on,” with editing by Ntropic, led by creative director Steve Zourntos. Dempster’s 3:15 video of the auctions provides a powerful look into the PSA stunt, including the outrage and disbelief it engendered in onlookers. The nature of the staged auctions was not revealed until the auction was completed, and clearly many in the audience believed it to be real. Freedom For All succeeded then at shocking people into the realization of a problem many don’t realize exists.
“I was excited to be part of this powerful project,” said Zourntos. “I found myself in this surreal and disturbing world that is a terrifying reality for over 27 million people. It was a project that put us through an emotional roller coaster of disbelief, shock, sorrow and outrage. We were honored just to be part of it.”
Stick around for credits after the jump.
CREDITS
Freedom For All Foundation CEO
Katie Ford
Director
Kim Dempster
Editorial
Ntropic
Steve Zourntos, Creative Director
Kathrin Lausch, Executive Producer
Kara Holmstrom, Head of Production
Casting
Beth Melsky
Cameras
Greg Ramsey
Dave Carol
Michelle McCabe
Jimi Jones
Kevin Tadge
Sound
Jake Magher
DIT
Anthony Hechanova
Martin Romero-Clark
Stills Photographer
Wendy Nadler
Production
Tim Hawkings
Production Assistants
Carly Robinson
Rachel Goldman