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Verizon “Answering the Call” 2018

Verizon “Answering the Call” (2018) is a Verizon commercial directed by Amir Bar-Lev for McCann, produced by Chelsea Pictures. It won 3 awards, including Cannes Lions 2018 Film Bronze, ANDY Awards 2018 Gold — IDEA and LIA 2018 Bronze — TV/Cinema/Online Film / Corporate Image.

This ad highlights the critical role of first responders in various emergencies, emphasizing how Verizon's reliable network enables them to save lives and connect with those in need.

Video: Chelsea Pictures on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A black and white newspaper headline reads "Two rescued in apartment building fire" with a blurry image of a firefighter spraying water.© Verizon0:00
  2. A firefighter in full gear climbs a ladder against a white brick building, with smoke emanating from a window, in a vintage-style shot.© Verizon0:05
  3. A male firefighter in full gear sprays water into a smoky window of a building, with a focused and determined expression.© Verizon0:10
  4. An aerial view shows a suburban neighborhood with houses and cars partially submerged in floodwaters, with swirling patterns visible in the murky water.© Verizon0:15
  5. A stop sign and street signs are visible above floodwaters in a suburban neighborhood, with houses and submerged cars in the background.© Verizon0:17
  6. A man in a bright yellow vest carries two young children through a flooded street, with buildings and trees in the background.© Verizon0:19
  7. A helicopter shadow is cast on a rocky cliff face with a small waterfall, as the camera looks down from above.© Verizon0:22
  8. A group of rescue workers in helmets and safety gear attend to an injured person lying on the ground near a waterfall in a rocky canyon.© Verizon0:25
  9. An aerial view shows a rescue worker in a white helmet and red backpack helping a person in a life vest in a rocky river with a waterfall.© Verizon0:27
  10. A black and white archival footage shows a man hanging from a building, with a street and cars visible below, framed within a film strip.© Verizon0:31
  11. Two men embrace while one hangs from a rope, with a city street and buildings in the background, in a black and white archival photo.© Verizon0:34
  12. A woman in a purple shirt and black beanie embraces a man in a dark uniform, looking at him with a pained expression in a building opening.© Verizon0:37

Stills © Verizon. Made by McCann, Chelsea Pictures and Amir Bar-Lev.

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

The idea

Real-life testimonials from rescued individuals thanking first responders.

Tagline: “America's most reliable network.”

real people, real storiesheroic first respondersemotional testimonialsflashback to rescuegratitude and appreciationnetwork as enabler

The cut

Length
60 s
Shots
17
Average shot
3.5 s

What creatives use Verizon “Answering the Call” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Verizon “Answering the Call”? 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 black and white newspaper headline reads "Two rescued in apartment building fire" with a blurry image of a firefighter spraying water.© VerizonA firefighter in full gear climbs a ladder against a white brick building, with smoke emanating from a window, in a vintage-style shot.© VerizonA male firefighter in full gear sprays water into a smoky window of a building, with a focused and determined expression.© VerizonAn aerial view shows a suburban neighborhood with houses and cars partially submerged in floodwaters, with swirling patterns visible in the murky water.© Verizon
    Frames from Verizon “Answering the Call”

  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 Verizon “Answering the Call” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A black and white newspaper headline reads "Two rescued in apartment building fire" with a blurry image of a firefighter spraying water.© VerizonA firefighter in full gear climbs a ladder against a white brick building, with smoke emanating from a window, in a vintage-style shot.© VerizonA male firefighter in full gear sprays water into a smoky window of a building, with a focused and determined expression.© VerizonAn aerial view shows a suburban neighborhood with houses and cars partially submerged in floodwaters, with swirling patterns visible in the murky water.© VerizonA stop sign and street signs are visible above floodwaters in a suburban neighborhood, with houses and submerged cars in the background.© VerizonA man in a bright yellow vest carries two young children through a flooded street, with buildings and trees in the background.© Verizon
    Length: 60 s · Shots: 17 · Average shot: 3.5 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a real people, real stories

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

    Verizon “Answering the Call” is built on a real people, real stories. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Burger King “Bundles of Joy”© Burger KingBuick “Human Traffic Sign”© BuickPFLAG Canada “Stories to inspire change”© PFLAG CanadaTransport Accident Commission “Everybody Hurts”© Transport Accident Commission
    Burger King · Buick · PFLAG Canada · Transport Accident Commission

More from McCann

Award-winning telecom commercials

  • KPN "A Piece of Me" (2024) commercial still© KPNKPN “A Piece of Me” 2024Dir. Emma Branderhorst · Dentsu CreativeEffie Awards Grand Prix 2024
  • Skinny "Friendvertising" (2022) commercial still© SkinnySkinny “Friendvertising” 2022Dir. Dave Wood · Colenso BBDOEffie Awards Grand Prix 2022
  • Hutchison Three "Three 5G: The Future" (2020) commercial still© Hutchison ThreeHutchison Three “Three 5G: The Future” 2020Dir. Ian Pons Jewell · Wieden+KennedyCiclope Grand Prix 2020
  • STC "What Are We Allowing" (2019) commercial still© STCSTC “What Are We Allowing” 2019J. Walter ThompsonDubai Lynx Grand Prix 2019
  • BT "It's Good to Talk" (1996) commercial still© BTBT “It's Good to Talk” 1996AMV BBDOIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 1996
  • Spark New Zealand "It's Better With Spark" (2026) commercial still© Spark New ZealandSpark New Zealand “It's Better With Spark” 2026Dir. Damien Shatford · Colenso BBDOCiclope Gold 2026

Questions

Who directed the Verizon “Answering the Call” commercial?

Amir Bar-Lev directed it, produced by Chelsea Pictures, for the agency McCann.

Which agency made Verizon “Answering the Call”?

McCann created it for Verizon (2018).

What awards did Verizon “Answering the Call” win?

3 awards, including Cannes Lions 2018 Film Bronze, ANDY Awards 2018 Gold — IDEA and LIA 2018 Bronze — TV/Cinema/Online Film / Corporate Image.

What is the tagline of Verizon “Answering the Call”?

“America's most reliable network.”

Sources for the credits and awards

superbowl-ads.comAds of the Worlden.wikipedia.orgThe WorkThe WorkAdForumliaawards.comLBBLBBLBB