Uluru Statement Leaders Release Ad Campaign via The Monkeys In Support of First Nations Voice Referendum
The Uluru Statement has released an ad, via The Monkeys, to support its Voice referendum campaign History is Calling, informing the Australian public on how voting “Yes” for a First Nations Voice will change history.
Created by The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song, and Rabbit Content, the ad campaign centres around narrator, proud Pitjantjatjara and Nyungar man Trevor Jamieson, as he tells a story about how First Peoples achieved a Voice to Parliament with the help of Australians everywhere. The story illustrates what a future might be if we all supported the Voice at the upcoming referendum.
The ad, and broader History is Calling campaign, is about raising awareness in the lead up to the referendum and encourages Australians to show their support for the Uluru Statement.
Professor Megan Davis, Cobble Cobble woman, Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law at UNSW and Uluru Dialogue Co-Chair, spoke of the importance of this renewed call for action on the journey to referendum.
“The ad shows Australians from all walks of life that they have an opportunity to play a part in shaping this pivotal moment in our nation’s history. It’s vital in these next few months that we continue this momentum and educate Australians on what the Voice is, why it matters and what it will do for the future.
“We know this will take time, as many Australians are only joining us on this long journey now, but we are closer than ever to real, tangible change. We hope this ad will encourage Australians to learn more and support a First Nations Voice to Parliament.”
Alyawarre woman and Uluru Dialogue Co-Chair Pat Anderson AO, who features in the ad, urged the Australian public to listen to the call to action and talk about Voice with family, friends and work colleagues.
“We are on a journey to nation-building, but we cannot do this alone. This referendum requires all Australians to get behind it,” says Anderson. “Silence never made history and History is Calling. It’s up to all Australians to answer. We call upon the nation to continue walking with us on this final stretch to a better future.”
The ad was directed by Kamilaroi man Jordan Watton, alongside cinematographer, Arrernte and Kalkadoon man Tyson Perkins, and music composer, Yuwaalaraay man James Henry.
History is Calling is a national education campaign from the Uluru Dialogue.
More information on the Uluru Statement from the Heart
Creative Agency: The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
Media Agency: OMD
Public Relations: Porter Novelli
Production Company: Rabbit Content
Director: Jordan Watton
Associate Executive Producer & Producer: Marcus Butler
Executive Producers: Lucas Jenner & Alex Hay
Cinematographer: Tyson Perkins
Production Manager: Lottie Aspinall
Production Designer: Simon Morgan
Wardrobe: Kymm Henson
Gaffer: Matt Willis
Grip: Mark ‘Moose’ Abrahms
Casting: Byrne Creative Casting
Editor: Adam Wills
Colourist: Matt Fezz
Post Production: White Chocolate
Sound House: MassiveMusic
GM/EP: Katrina Aquilla
Senior Music Creative: Ryan Dickinson
Sound Engineer: Abby Sie
Composer: James Henry
19 Comments
Stunning
A really important one to get right. Well done Monkeys.
Nice.
Well done Monkeys. I smell Scotty Nowell all over this.
Tingles all over, what a beautifully scripted and told story. Well done Monkeys best campaign in a long time – and you got it right
That’ll do it.
A difficult brief. Had to communicate an important and complex message and be succinct. I think they’ve cracked it.
Hats off to everyone involved.
Go Aïcha & Rubini! All class.
It’s a very clever strategy to appeal to the emotions and goodness in us all, rather than to clarify what the dangerously ambiguous Voice to Parliament actually means.
Spot on, lovely work
I love this, but fear bigots like Klaus will use the lack of detail around what a Voice to Parliament means to discredit the whole movement. A great ad, needs to be backed up with a solid education campaign imho.
Dear very nice, I like,
You miss the point of Klaus’ comment.
If you, like me, and millions of other Australians, want to see The Voice win the support of the Australian people,
please understand Klaus isn’t The Voice’s enemy in this debate, the ambiguity of the proposal is.
Another ‘great ad’ that dials up the emotion might appeal to the already committed, but it’s that very reliance on
emotion and not much else that increases opposition to the proposal, because the uncommitted are still none the
wiser what The Voice actually is. So, Karl is right – ‘it’s dangerously ambiguous’ – meaning without some meat on
the bone it won’t win any vote — and the ambiguity is the very thing the real bigots will leverage to make sure it
never does; the very point you and Karl both make. You say ‘education’. He says ‘clarify’. So, next time, maybe you
should think twice before calling someone a bigot when all they’ve done is highlight the very thing you’ve called out.
Very powerful stuff.
I’m so glad a beautiful campaign like this exists to further the very important, essential conversations we need to be having right now.
Well done to Scott and the team on this crucial campaign. I reckon this will go a long way in getting us to a better story, together.
Perfect. This will make a difference.
Tricky one to get right, Monkeys nailed it.
I’ve watched this a few times, and I love it all.