• by Fern Siegel , August 1, 2022

Blood donations are down, especially during the summer when schools are out. The Covid pandemic has also impacted supply.

To remind Americans to donate, BBDO NY has created a clever campaign for The American Red Cross to highlight the shortage.

The PSA “A Bloody Nightmare,” starring horror movie queen Neve Campbell, sends up all the genre’s tropes. As Campbell says in the ad: “Fifty percent of Americans like watching blood spilled in movies. What’s scary is that only 3% actually donate it.”

Paid media starts August 1 for about eight weeks on Roku and NBCU streaming.

On social media, BBDO NY created static posts and an Instagram filter that predicts the cliché horror movie death that awaits you. It suggests not wasting your blood dying in a predicable horror-movie fashion, but donating it instead.

“We wanted to keep everyone entertained by creating something fun and unexpected from the American Red Cross, all while encouraging them to donate blood and save lives,” says Roberto Danino, SVP-creative director, BBDO New York. 

And although the ad is humorous, it carries a critical message.

The American Red Cross said: “We have seen a concerning drop in donations by nearly 20% in recent weeks. More donors are needed now to prevent a serious shortage and to ensure enough blood is available for patients.”