Dove Men+Care’s “Calls for Dad” is a one-minute docu-style short film meant to spark a conversation about how dads are being misrepresented in television, film and advertising. With our film, we wanted to show real dads responding to the real calls of fatherhood. We spent five days capturing authentic moments of children calling for their actual fathers and documented how their dads responded with care, concern and love. These moments were as varied as fatherhood itself: a nervous toddler reaching out to his daddy in a swimming pool, a scared little boy hanging perilously from a set monkey bars in the park, a glowing bride sharing her first dance. The resulting footage was edited into a montage of moments we could all relate to – as a parent, as a father, or long ago as the child in need. Far from the inept, goofy dad often portrayed in the media, we saw caring, strong, emotionally present men whose love was real, and whose dedication to their children was beyond question. The type of father we believed in was the type of father our filmmakers truly found.

The intent of this film was to challenge perceptions and portrayals of today’s dad, so the cultural context regarding modern dads was everything. We knew we were dealing with perceptions on two levels: First, men are often shown in film and television as bumbling buffoons with no real ability to express their emotions; and second, there is a deep cultural perception that men place their careers ahead of their families, further distancing them from the role of a caring, involved parent.

But we spent some time talking with real men and gathering insights on what was truly important to them. We conducted a study with real dads across the country and found that 94% of dads prioritize their families over their careers. Furthermore, 75% of dads say they are responsible for their child’s emotional well-being, while only 20% of dads see this role reflected in the media. We felt that it was time to acknowledge the caring moments of fatherhood that often go overlooked. We felt that using the media – especially social media – to present this side of the story would be the most effective way to challenge the portrayal of today’s dad in the media.