Havas’ traffic stopping Breast Cancer Awareness site

HAVAS CHICAGO’S OFFICE at busy Grand and Wabash is stopping traffic (in a good way) with its street level, experiential window display of flashing pink and purple neon lights and a sign reading “TOPLESS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS” to show its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Once curious viewers look inside the peepholes, they see three pink wigged, glossy black mannequins with sobering facts painted across them, such as “Every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.”

We didn’t want to just paint our windows pink,” says CEO Paul Marobella. “We wanted to really break through the clutter and do something that stopped people in their tracks.”

 

The installation was unveiled last Saturday and will run through Nov. 10, beyond the end of the October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

GCD Ecole Weinstein, who oversaw the installation, says everybody who worked on the project had personal ties to the cause, including Weinstein, who lost her grandmother to the disease.

Havas will donate $1 to breast cancer research for every social media post containing a picture of the display and the hashtag #HavasPeepShow.

WHO’S NEWS. Downtown Partners was one out of of 152 entrants from 26 countries to make the shortlist on the Global Awards for the World’s Best Healthcare & Wellness Advertising, for its “The Luck Plan” for Get Covered Illinois – Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace.

Hillary Herbst and Sonia Blum’s firm, Hilly Repswas signed by bicoastal integrated production company, The Famous Group, for Chicago and Midwest representation.  On The Famous Group’s directorial roster are Giovanni MessnerBrett FallentineKip HewittAdam Patch, Petros PapahadjopoulosHemu Karadkar and Jesse Austin “and we’ll leverage that talent to deliver great work for agencies and brands,” says Herbst.

Roy Skillicorn’s Seed Media Arts has added Corey Rich of California for Midwest representation.  The director, who works some of the biggest stars in the adventure sports world is known for extreme sports, action and documentary storytelling.

ACTOR MUSICIAN COMMON, who was EP on his first scripted pilot for Showtime that filmed recently in Chicago, has signed a two-year, first-look deal with HBO. The pact calls for him to produce projects for the cable network through his Freedom Road Productions.  Hopefully, that could mean more projects in Chicago from Common, a Chicago native.

His untitled “Chicago Project” pilot, written by writer/producer/actress Lena Waithe (“Dear White People”) is described as “a relevant and timely coming-of-age story of a young African-American male in which growing up can be a matter of life and death.” 

AT CHICPUG’S OCT 28 MEETING, editor Steve Hellish will talk about his latest film, “War Room,” Billy Sheahan will discuss on music licensing and Fred Pheifer’s topic will be drones.  At Future Media Concepts, 200 S. Michigan, 6:15-9 p.m. RSVP here.  

PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS’ annual fall benefit, “Simply Sensational,” headlined by trans actress/producer and caberet singer Alexandra Billings, takes place Nov. 2 at Stage 773.

Others in the all-star line-up include trans performers Honey West and Skylar Kergil, musical performers Michelle Lauto, James Nedrud, Jordan Phelps, Robert Ollis and Donterrio Johnson.   

A varied program includes performance artists, scenes from Pep’s current and upcoming productions and a fashion show by PFP artistic associate John Nasca’s 30 years as a costume designer.

Purchase tickets here.