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St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” 2014

St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” (2014) is a St John Ambulance commercial directed by Dougal Wilson for BBH, produced by Blink. It won 5 awards, including Clio 2014 Bronze — Film / Commercials (under one [1] minute), British Arrows 2014 Silver — Best Over 30 & Up To & Including 60 Second Commercial and Creative Circle 2014 Silver Best TV, single.

A father's distraction leads to his son's fall from a tree, highlighting the critical need for immediate first aid when a trained volunteer isn't present.

Video: St John Ambulance on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A woman with her hair tied back, wearing a light blue dress, washes dishes at a sink in a sunlit kitchen.© St John Ambulance0:00
  2. A father and son play soccer in their backyard on a sunny day, with the father wearing a light blue shirt and shorts, and the son in a yellow shirt and shorts.© St John Ambulance0:03
  3. A father and son play soccer in a sunny backyard, but the father gets distracted by his phone, leaving the boy to kick the ball alone.© St John Ambulance0:06
  4. A woman with curly hair, wearing a light blue shirt, is seen in profile, looking down while doing dishes in a kitchen.© St John Ambulance0:14
  5. A young boy with blonde hair, wearing a yellow t-shirt, climbs a large tree, looking around with a curious expression.© St John Ambulance0:18
  6. A child's foot in a grey sneaker steps on a tree branch, then slips off, revealing their bare leg as they fall.© St John Ambulance0:22
  7. A man in his 30s talks on the phone, looking concerned, while a boy swings in the background of a sunny backyard.© St John Ambulance0:23
  8. A woman with curly blonde hair and a blue shirt looks out a window with a worried expression.© St John Ambulance0:25
  9. A woman with curly hair rushes through a home, grabbing a green and black St John Ambulance jacket from a door, preparing to help.© St John Ambulance0:27
  10. St John Ambulance “Save The Boy”, shot 21© St John Ambulance0:32
  11. A man in a light blue shirt kneels over a young boy in a yellow shirt and blue shorts, who is lying on the grass in a backyard.© St John Ambulance0:45
  12. A wide shot shows a boy in a white shirt and blue shorts sitting under a large tree in a grassy park, with houses and fences in the background.© St John Ambulance0:49

Stills © St John Ambulance. Made by BBH, Blink and Dougal Wilson.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

A split-narrative showing a child's accident and the absence of a first aid responder.

Tagline: “You can be the difference between life and death.”

distracted parentchild in dangerheroic volunteerparallel narrativescall to actioneveryday setting

The cut

Length
62 s
Shots
26
Average shot
2.4 s

What creatives use St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of St John Ambulance “Save The Boy”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A woman with her hair tied back, wearing a light blue dress, washes dishes at a sink in a sunlit kitchen.© St John AmbulanceA father and son play soccer in their backyard on a sunny day, with the father wearing a light blue shirt and shorts, and the son in a yellow shirt and shorts.© St John AmbulanceA father and son play soccer in a sunny backyard, but the father gets distracted by his phone, leaving the boy to kick the ball alone.© St John AmbulanceA woman with curly hair, wearing a light blue shirt, is seen in profile, looking down while doing dishes in a kitchen.© St John Ambulance
    Frames from St John Ambulance “Save The Boy”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A woman with her hair tied back, wearing a light blue dress, washes dishes at a sink in a sunlit kitchen.© St John AmbulanceA father and son play soccer in their backyard on a sunny day, with the father wearing a light blue shirt and shorts, and the son in a yellow shirt and shorts.© St John AmbulanceA father and son play soccer in a sunny backyard, but the father gets distracted by his phone, leaving the boy to kick the ball alone.© St John AmbulanceA woman with curly hair, wearing a light blue shirt, is seen in profile, looking down while doing dishes in a kitchen.© St John AmbulanceA young boy with blonde hair, wearing a yellow t-shirt, climbs a large tree, looking around with a curious expression.© St John AmbulanceA child's foot in a grey sneaker steps on a tree branch, then slips off, revealing their bare leg as they fall.© St John Ambulance
    Length: 62 s · Shots: 26 · Average shot: 2.4 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a child in danger

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” is built on a child in danger. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    WWF “In Hot Water”© WWFNSPCC “Cartoon”© NSPCCYo Quiero, Yo Puedo “Girls Not Brides: I’m a Criminal”© Yo Quiero, Yo PuedoSt John Ambulance WA “Break the Barrier”© St John Ambulance WA
    WWF · NSPCC · Yo Quiero, Yo Puedo · St John Ambulance WA

More commercials by Dougal Wilson

  • John Lewis Financial Services "Tiny Dancer" (2015) commercial still© John Lewis Financial ServicesJohn Lewis Financial Services “Tiny Dancer” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWALondon International Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • John Lewis "Monty's Christmas" (2015) commercial still© John LewisJohn Lewis “Monty's Christmas” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWACannes Lions Grand Prix 2015
  • Channel 4 "Educating Yorkshire - School's Back" (2026) commercial still© Channel 4Channel 4 “Educating Yorkshire - School's Back” 2026Dir. Dougal Wilson · 4creativeCreative Circle Gold 2026
  • AT&T "Train" (2019) commercial still© AT&TAT&T “Train” 2019Dir. Dougal Wilson · BBDOKinsale Sharks Gold 2019
  • Apple "Unlock" (2019) commercial still© AppleApple “Unlock” 2019Dir. Dougal Wilson · AppleCiclope Gold 2018
  • adam&eve\TBWA/John Lewis & Parters, Waitrose & Partners "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018) commercial still© adam&eve\TBWA/John Lewis & Parters, Waitrose & Partnersadam&eve\TBWA/John Lewis & Parters, Waitrose & Partners “Bohemian Rhapsody” 2018Dir. Dougal WilsonEpica Gold 2018

More from BBH

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Questions

Who directed the St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” commercial?

Dougal Wilson directed it, produced by Blink, for the agency BBH.

Which agency made St John Ambulance “Save The Boy”?

BBH created it for St John Ambulance (2014).

What awards did St John Ambulance “Save The Boy” win?

5 awards, including Clio 2014 Bronze — Film / Commercials (under one [1] minute), British Arrows 2014 Silver — Best Over 30 & Up To & Including 60 Second Commercial, British Arrows 2014 Silver — Charity and British Arrows 2014 Silver — Integrated.

What is the tagline of St John Ambulance “Save The Boy”?

“You can be the difference between life and death.”

Sources for the credits and awards

britisharrows.comweb.archive.orgclios.com