A real Hyundai i35 car wreckage took centre stage.
Victoria's Transport Accident Commission's (TAC) Split Second Competition competition, for the sixth year, has given filmmakers and content creators aged between 18-30 the chance to submit ideas for a short film, focusing on two themes: driving tired and seatbelt usage.
Led by TABOO, the creators were guided through the filmmaking process, collaborating with TRUCE, MonkeyStack, Manimal and Rumble to help realise their winning ideas.
A real Hyundai i35 car wreckage (from the TAC’s current Fatigue TVC) took centre stage projecting the winning films to a live audience of friends, family and industry. The wreckage served as a stark reminder to young filmmakers of the realities of unsafe driving.
This year’s competition expanded with a prize for young multicultural content creators, fostering fresh perspectives, and providing a platform for more inclusive storytelling.
This resulted in the competition's first foray into animation, which featured comedian Zach Ruane from Aunty Donna as the voice of ‘Captain Buckle’.
Almost 140 applicants submitted concepts with Rhys Delios Callanan and Olivia Hartanto taking home the competition and receiving a $5,000 cash prize and a $35,000 production budget to bring their story to life.
Competition winner Rhys Delios Callanan said he was inspired by the quote ‘fashionably late’ which was first documented at around 1840 and wanted to attach it to the road safety message about driving tired.
"Hopefully it comes to life in an unexpected setting that is still very much relevant to the modern day,” Delios Callanan said.
Competition winner Olivia Hartanto said in some countries like mine (Indonesia), the law does not require backseat passengers to wear a seatbelt.
"So I wanted to target this issue and I hope my peers will treat seatbelt usage and safe driving more seriously here in Australia," Hartanto said.
TAC head of community Jacqui Sampson said the company is constantly looking for new, innovative ways to get the road safety message through.
"Both Rhys and Olivia’s films were so different in their creative approach but equally as powerful in their message," Sampson said.
"Their creativity has the power to influence the attitudes and behaviours among their peers and make a change in road safety awareness in Victoria.”
TABOO managing director and partner James Mackinnon said the future of innovation lies in the hands of the next generation of creators.
"Giving them the platform to express their ideas isn’t just about fresh perspectives - it’s about empowering them to drive change," Mackinnon said.
The Split Second Competition 2024 campaign was launched through owned, earned and paid media and the winning films will serve as an important peer-led campaign to drive behavior change.
Credits
Client: TAC Victoria
Head of Community: Jacqui Sampson
Acting Manager / Road
User Safety: Helen Reddan
Partnership Advisor / Partnerships, Community & Communications: Lynne Murray
Project Coordinator / Road User Safety: Merna Alqas-Elyas
Trainee: Mirlinda Jerliu
Trainee: Nathan Mwangi
Winners: Rhys Delios Callanan & Olivia Hartanto
Creative Agency: TABOO
Executive Creative Director: Charlotte Adorjan
Creative Director: Ryan Clayton
Senior Designer: Trent Bucknell
Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Mackinnon
Managing Director: James Mackinnon
General Manager: Kate Prowse
Account Director: Tatum Ambler
Content Manager: Josh Stuart
Agency Producer: Hannah Cleary
Production Company: TRUCE
Executive Producers: Michael Ciccone & Elise Trenorden
Producer: Carla McConnell
Director: Nicholas Clifford
Production Manager: Logan Davies
DoP: Liam Gilmour
Post Production: Manimal
Sound: RUMBLE
Animation: Monkey Stack
Voice Talent: Zach Ruane
Casting: Studio P
