The Ad Council "Love Has No Labels," (2015) 3:19 (USA)

Did you know that love transcends gender, race, age, special needs, ethnicity and more? If you didn't, then you do now, thanks to this installation-turned-video. Shot in Santa Monica's Thurd Street Promenade over Valentine's Day. Couples from all walks of life walked behind a screen while motion capture skeletons "displayed," them.

You won't guess what happened when they stepped out from behind the curtain.

Sorry. couldn't help myself. This ad is so Upworthy-ready it's kind of scary. And by "Upworthy-ready" I mean all surface, and simplistic and as canned as the audience responses. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice message that we're all the same on the inside. And one we've heard many times before. But you know what? Seeing two people emerge from behind the screen is not the same thing as having those two people over for dinner or taking them with you to church or becoming friends with them.

If nothing else there's a disconnect. If we're all the same, then why are you putting people who are considered "different" on display?

What's more, I have news for those who don't live in L.A. Santa Monica isn't exactly the hotbed of intolerance the same way that Iraq is, with their killing Christians by the thousands, or Iran which has been systematically punishing/executing gays for a while.

As clever this ad is in execution, it's not much more than that, and it's hardly taking a controversial stand.

But pat yourself on the back for making a feel-good ad, and in the meantime, let's all have a slow clap for humanity.

Ad Agency: R/GA/Los Angeles
Executive Creative Directors: Eric Jannon, Chris Northam
Senior Producer: Diego de la Maza
Head of Production: Kat Friis
Managing Director: Matthew Alland
Senior Digital Producer: Jon Hingston
Account Manager: Becky Smith
Group Account Director: Shawn Zupp
Global Chief Creative Officer: Nick Law
Production Company: Persuade + Influence/Los Angeles
Director: Danielle Levitt
Executive Producers: Edward Grann, Jerry Solomon
DP: Mike Berlucchi
Line Producer: Caleb Omens
Production Supervisor: Cat Sampson
Commercial Coordinator Kika Davis
Experientialist/Technologist: Mind Ride
Editorial & Postproduction Company: Brewster Parsons/Venice, CA
Editor: Pedram Torbati
Assistant Editor: DJ Cosgrove
VFX Supervisor/Colorist: Louis Mackall
Producer: Zack Whitley
Executive Producers: Darcy Parsons, Jason Cohon
Music: “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert
Audio Post Company: LIME Studios/Santa Monica, CA
Mixer: Tom Paolantonio
Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan

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