AARP Promotes Male Caregiving by Whipping Out the Big Guns: Danny Trejo

You know what's tough? Having the crazy strength to lift the man who raised you up, that's what's tough. In a fun ad from AARP, Danny Trejo—badass star of Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Breaking Bad and a popular Snickers commercial—conducts various acts of mind-bending toughness. He puts out a fire on his arm just by growling at it, shaves with a machete (natch), lifts cars and knits chain mail. But none of that is tougher than the male caregiver he compares himself to. This guy's got two jobs (but only gets paid for one). And alongside Trejo's Herculean acts of might, he's also shown shaving, lifting and feeding his father. Here's the 60-second version of the spot: [kickout id="1"] "This guy—no, this warrior—will always be by his father's side. Even if his dad will hardly remember," Trejo says in the ad. The work is brought to us by DDB New York and is the fruit of a partnership between AARP and the Ad Council, an effort to both support, and raise awareness for, men who care for their elderly loved ones. Per the AARP, the typical unpaid family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman, but men are growing in the ranks. Today they represent 4 in 10 such caregivers in the U.S., counting about 16 million. And if Trejo's out here demonstrating how tough it is to be tender, that's because many male caregivers don't feel comfortable talking about this part of their lives ... or its challenges. Here's the 30-second version of the ad. [kickout id="2"] While "Tougher Than Tough" is playfully macho, it never overshadows or outdoes the everyday acts of aid performed by a normal-looking guy who seems like Trejo's opposite. For this, we can thank both actors for not playing their roles into caricature. Trejo's effortless brawn comes across as so easy for him, it's hardly comparable. And our caregiving hero, wordless throughout, rings unfailingly patient, dutiful and attentive—nothing to smirk at when caring for an elderly parent, an emotionally and physically trying full-time job. On top of all the heavy lifting, over half of male caregivers perform medical and nursing tasks, including injections, tube feedings and wound care. And caregivers spend nearly 20 percent of their own income on out-of-pocket costs related to their efforts. The ad is touted as the first-ever PSA campaign designed to address this unrecognized population. Slated to launch Tuesday, all variants point to aarp.org/caregiving for helpful resources and guides. Here's the 15-second version: [kickout id="3"] Trejo himself wasn't chosen by accident. In a behind-the-scenes video, he talks about his own experience caring for a family friend, and his sadness at not having been able care for his own father, who died in an accident. "When you think of just one person, like somebody's son, taking care of their dad, that's kind of like when God sends angels on earth," Trejo says. "The dedication, the absolute love that's generated ... I wish I could've took care of my dad." [kickout id="4"] "It takes a certain kind of dedication, a certain kind of love and a toughness that's unbelievable," Trejo adds. If the toughest guy on planet Hollywood can cede to love, male caregivers can rest assured there's plenty of testosterone to be found in the grueling work of tenderness (if that were ever in question). Below are some brawny behind-the-scenes shots of Trejo on-set. [kickout id="5"] [kickout id="6"] CREDITS Creative Agency: DDB NY CCO: Icaro Doria ECD: Lucas Panizza Senior Copywriter: Turan Tuluy Senior Art Director: Mina Mikhael Chief Production Officer: Madison Wharton Head of Production: Ed Zazzera Executive Producer: Chris Klein Manager Art Buying: Jane Piampiano Print Producer: Joan Elsesser Account Director: Lauren Neuman Account Supervisor: Caroline Uffelman Associate Planning Director: Neil Simpson Production Company: Bullitt Director: Tim K CEO/Executive Producer: Todd Makurath Executive Producer: Luke Ricci Head of Production: Jenni Sprunger Line Producer: Vincent Oster Editorial Company: Cut & Run Editor: Joel Miller Assistant Editor: David Belizario Executive Producer: Lauren Hertzberg Senior Producer: Joanna Hall Executive Producer: Lauren Hertzberg Producer: Johanna Hall Color: The Mill Producer: Natalie Westerfield Colorist: Mikey Rossiter VFX/Conform: Jogger Flame Artist: Joseph Grosso Assistant Flame Artist: Matthew Dolvin Producer: Wendy Gardner Music: Felt Music Music Director: Natalie Dickens Audio: Duotone Audio Group Audio Engineer: Andy Green Executive Producer: Greg Tiefenbrun

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AARP Promotes Male Caregiving by Whipping Out the Big Guns: Danny Trejo

Tougher than tough

Angela Natividad

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Angela Natividad