Ten years later, this little gem still brings a smile to our faces. Probably one of the most original and creative pieces Ad Monkeys ever produced, this short film for LifeCare Medical Center has it all — great visual storytelling, perfectly orchestrated shots, likable characters, hand-drawn cartoon animation, period style effects, and a poignant message for student athletes.

Always a good sport, the medical center's CEO kindly agreed to star in the leading role, performing several of his own stunts along the way! Supporting cast consisted of high school student volunteers from communities throughout the LifeCare service area. Embracing their chance to truly perform, these eager young talents went all in, even donning each other’s team uniforms to dress for a sport other than their own.

Concussions are serious business, yet not easily discussed. To add emphasis to this fact, we intentionally avoided taking a heavy tone, and instead went silent — with an old-fashioned “silent” movie. Working closely with their head of marketing, we shot on location near LifeCare’s headquarters in Roseau, Minnesota. There, we were introduced to our actors, scoped out the location, and set up for our first shot. With cameras rolling, everything unraveled (beautifully). The result was a chaotic, old-time slapstick scramble. Over-the-top reactions, silent-film-era title cards, and an action-matching piano track all came together in presenting LifeCare's critical message... “Concussion: It’s No Laughing Matter.”