Director's Works
Paralympics Int Com, The Paralympic Dream Sam Gainsborough
Listed second in Campaign magazine's top ten directors, Sam Gainsborough's films have been multi-awarded, working with the BBC, Royal Foundation, the Tate and even guest directing a stop motion segment in Becky & Joe’s Channel 4 TV series 'Don't Hug Me I'm Scared'. No matter the medium or technique, Sam's work is visually enchanting and conceptually rich, balancing poignant emotion with charm and humour. He's a true mixed-media artist and a very special storyteller.
This :60 TV spot–a collaborative effort between adam&eveDDB New York and London with Sam Gainsborough of Blinkink directing–cuts through the condescending tropes, showcasing the Paralympic Games for what it truly is: a high-performance sporting event, serving as an arena for preeminent athletes to exhibit their fierce sporting talent and compete against the best. Starting in a dream-like animated world where athletes run, jump, fence, and paddle, we see lovable characters traveling hand-in-hand through a fantastical Paris. They frolic among fluffy clouds, flowers, and bright colors, all set to the sound of Paul McCartney’s anthem, “We All Stand Together.” This saccharine picture of the Paralympics is then suddenly shattered as British Paralympic taekwondo athlete Amy Truesdale is kicked in the chest and crashes to the mat–the message comes across loud and clear, “They’re not playing games.” The animated world is then juxtaposed with the harsh reality of competitive sports as we experience the grunts, clashes, sweat, and triumphs of the true athletes that the Paralympians really are.