With the aim to promote improved street safety in the busy business district, North Sydney Council has launched a public safety social media awareness campaign.

Created by Engine Room Productions, the brief from North Sydney Council was to maximise cut-through and craft a memorable message in an effort to reduce accidents and injuries in the bustling area, using humour and music to convey a serious message with lasting impact.

To deliver on the brief, Engine Room was able to draw on the Red Engine Group, which also includes agency Red Engine SCC and sound house Red Note.

The creative seed originated around the form of a tongue-in-cheek power ballad. The campaign took shape as an original composition merging the genres of kitschy pop ballad and cautionary urban rap.

Engine Room Productions’ own Damien Cassar penned the lyrics, with verses crooned by Red Note’s Steve Peach.

Shot in and around North Sydney, the film features comedienne Fran Middleton’s rap stylings and the acting talents of Jon Vontolken as ‘power ballad guy’.

A playful song with a serious message, the creative theme centres on the idea of ‘Take a Look Around’, encouraging people to be more aware of their surroundings and the hazards inherent in the modern urban landscape.

Cassar said: “Respect to North Sydney Council for daring to be different in the communication of an important message.

“The Red Engine Group was located in North Sydney for four years and witness to dangerous pedestrian behaviour on its streets. This is an important campaign, and although we’ve used music, nostalgia and laughter as a vehicle, we hope the message cuts through.

“This campaign is a great example of what the Red Engine Group does best – working together in a harmonised collaboration between production, music, strategy and creative.”

CREDITS

Client: North Sydney Council

Production company: Engine Room Productions

Lead creative and director: Damien Cassar

Executive producer: Adrian Hyde

Senior producer: Georgia Mappin

Director of production: Dan Freene

Second unit camera: Patrick Mazzolo

Camera assistant: Pim Kulk

Hair and make-up: Jamilla Hall

Editor: Tristan Beacroft

Special effects: Rob Peters

Actors: Jon Vontolken and Fran Middleton

Creative agency: Red Engine SCC

Senior creative: Rob Peters

Strategy and social media director: Paul Isbell

Senior social media manager: Clare Moyna

Sound production: Red Note

Music and vocals: Steve Peach

Rapper: Fran Middleton

Creative and production group: Red Engine Group

Group creative directors: Daniel Saunders and Duncan Shields