Save the Survivors

Save the Children and Framestore have come together to deliver the charity’s latest compelling campaign, ‘Save the Survivors’. 

Shot in Lebanon, the film aims to educate viewers on the obstacles that block the road to safety in a war-stricken country, and the trauma victims are forced to endure along the way. To ensure the utmost authenticity when approaching such sensitive subject matter, the narrative is based on survivors’ stories.

Collaborating with director Tomas Jonsgården of B-Reel Films, Framestore supported the film’s messaging with VFX services, and colour from Jean-Clément Soret at sister company, Company 3.

“Our goal was to bring the environment to life and convey a realistic depiction of the situation, without drawing attention away from the refugees - they’re what’s most important,” explains Paul O’Brien, VFX artist at Framestore. “In the opening scenes, we edited out a building blocking the end of the road to allow the path to continue further back. We wanted to emphasise the breadth of the situation, and highlight how small the children are in comparison to the vastness around them.”

“The drama that you see in the campaign is all for a purpose,” says VFX producer Jake Saunders. “The loud, shocking elements are there to make you sit up and listen, and realise the extent of these children’s situation - every time they try to get their lives back together, there’s something there that knocks them down.”

Reflecting on the project, Paul comments, “It’s been really worthwhile and rewarding to work on something with a positive impact - it’s been one of those amazing occasions where a job comes along and makes you feel like you’ve contributed to a real change. The director and producer were a dream to work with too, sending us all the resources we needed since we couldn’t be there on set. And of course, the kids were incredible, and we are so grateful to them.”

Jake adds, “It was truly emotional when we showcased the work to the Save the Children team - who hadn’t seen anything since the rough cut. There was just silence at the end. That’s the goal: we need people to feel the gravity of the situation and donate.”

If you’d like to support the cause, please find Save the Children’s donation form here.