Revolver/Will O’Rourke’s Richard Bullock directs ‘What would Jesus Do?’ film for organ donation
There’s really never a good time to talk about organ donation. That’s the insight that inspired Revolver/Will O’Rourke writer/director Richard Bullock to go all in and cast Jesus Christ as the lead for his latest short film. No doubt this will create some heated discussion. And that’s exactly the point of it all. To get people to talk about organ donation.
Despite having very successful outcomes for Organ transplant, Australia has relatively low levels of donor registration compared to other countries. This phenomenon has nothing to do with a willingness to donate and more to do with a unique set of issues found in Australia. In fact 80% of Australians say they will donate but only 34% are on the registry.
The complexity of this needed to be explained as well as a need for people to talk about the issue with their loved ones. One of the key requirements for becoming a donor is in fact talking to your family about becoming a donor. If people do not know the wishes of their loved ones 50% of families will say no.
Says Bullock: ” I wanted to deliberately provoke a conversation in homes around the subject. This is really difficult as nobody wants to bring up issues around death and organ donation over the dinner table.”
The film has been cut into a variety of lengths for use online. It’s hoped it stimulates discussion and gets people to register to become donors. The short film is also strategically designed to promote a feature length documentary about organ donation called ‘Dying to Live’. It’s an innovative way to both advertise the film and push the cause simultaneously. Directed by Richard Todd (the filmmaker behind the award winning Frackman) the feature documentary and the trailer are supported by Goodpitch. Goodpitch brings together filmmakers with philanthropists to tackle important social issues.
Says Bullock: “The feature film and short film while completely separate in their approach are both targeting the exact same issue. They work together, one coming from a very sensitive and emotional place and the other one using a comedic style.”
More than 40 volunteers from the Sydney film industry collaborated to produce the short.
Says Bullock: “I thought it would be amusing and relevant to find that the nicest and kindest man who ever lived-Jesus, wasn’t aware that his organ donor status was no longer on his license. Once I started writing I realised that the complexity of the Australian Organ donation could be explained. In the end Jesus donating his organs is exactly what I think Jesus WOULD do.”
If you want to watch the documentary – click here.
If you want to sign up – click here.
Client: dyingtolive.com.au
Writer/Director: Richard Bullock
DOP: Peter Eastgate
Producer: Phoebe Marks
Editor: Philip Horn
Production Company: Revolver/Will O’Rourke
Managing Director/Executive Producer: Michael Ritchie
Post production Company: The Editors
Sound Design: Rumble Studios
Casting: Citizen Jane
14 Comments
Jesus.
yes The Meaning of Life was a movie…anything else?!
Bad taste
Might need to go back to Sunday School – gotta be dead to donate your organs…
but writing comedy is harder.
Love it. #blessed
Blasphemous cowardice. He wouldn’t dare mock Mohammed to advertise organ donation.
This is cheap and tacky and not intelligent.
Reminds me of a DVD I used to have – Monty Python’s Meaning of Life.
Love it. Super funny. Looks like some prudes are getting shirty, but just the vocal minority I’m guessing.
Dare you guys to follow this up with Mohammed.
Go on. I double dare you.
Love it. Super funny. Looks like some prudes are getting shirty, but just the vocal minority I’m guessing.
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool atheist but even I find this in extremely poor taste.
Not only badly crafted, It’s going to offend a shit load of people (some of whom might have been considering organ donation). Why go there?
I know it’s a hard subject to crack and I can kinda see why they went down the *cough* comedy*cough route but c’mon.
This is laaaaame.
Oh and yeah, see comments below about doing a Mohammed version.
Go on, it’ll be fun!!!
I will spread the word “do not donate organs”. All who contributed to the making of this ad had better ask Jesus for forgiveness. One day in the near future (we are in the end times now) you will need to bow your knees to the King of Kings (Jesus). Will you be laughing then? You are all sick individuals to mock Jesus for money. Read the book of Revelation
and you will understand who you have mocked and what will happen to the wicked. It is best to read the King James Bible.