Today, people's attention in the world's more important asset so creating content that people want to watch instead of forcing people to watch is the main reason we've decided on a short film format instead of a TV commercial. We wanted to be a magnet, not a hammer so we've invested a lot of time and effort to be able to create a piece of entertainment that could invite people into the conversation through a short film about mental and animal health inspired by a real life-saving friendship that entertains while educating with music from GRAMMY® Award winner Lou Reed.

Studies have shown that pets provide health benefits linked to our mental and physical well-being, including reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression; and easing loneliness. With COVID-19 triggering a secondary loneliness pandemic, this topic has become increasingly relevant. PAWs NY needed an asset that would stand out from other animal organizations in order to increase donations and volunteers amongst potential donors.

Our film is inspired by a true story about a man who is struggling with his mental health after being left by his wife, and, in parallel, a story about a dog abandoned by his family and left on the streets of NYC. As these two characters experience lives filled with rejection, we see their paths cross and a quiet bond begin to grow. The film explores how this connection ultimately saves both of their lives.

Because “The Bridge” is a film without dialogue, Lou Reed’s music plays a crucial role in setting up the meaning of a “perfect day.” That definition changes as the narrative progresses from the irony of a "perfect day in the beginning of the film–when both of our main characters feel hopeless and rejected–to the transition to a more literal meaning–when their bond leads to the possibility of better days ahead. Art direction was pivotal in depicting the main characters’ internal mental health struggles. The overall art direction of the film was developed to create a hostile world where our characters feel cramped and unwelcomed in the world they inhabit. The New York City we created is distinctly different from a playful PIXAR-like style. Our characters’ surroundings are distorted and feature gothic-inspired angles. Our main character designs are also distinct from the light-hearted style of PIXAR animated characters.

Color plays an important role in the narrative of the film. The blue and gray tones are a metaphor for the inner mental states of both characters, as they struggle with depression and loneliness. Conversely, orange is used to represent hope and the road to healing, and first appears in short flashes triggered by the positive interactions they have with each other. “The Bridge” culminates in a fully transformed, bright, orange world reflecting the characters' now positive and hopeful mental states, following their now unbreakable human-animal bond.

‘The Bridge’ has gotten phenomenal coverage and reviews from film press and beyond i.e.: “A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY" - SHOOT Online’s Top Spot; “TENDER AND BEAUTIFULLY DRAWN" - SHOTS;”A BEAUTIFUL TALE OF CONNECTION" - Animation Magazine; “A HEART-TUGGING SHORT FILM" - AdWeek and lots more. AWN (Animation World Network - the world's most respected animation outlet) one month after interviewing Guillermo Del Toro on his 'Pinocchio' masterpiece interviewed 'The Bridge's' director and producer, becoming one of the first independent films ever featured on a main interview on the website. Because of its two-sided nature (mental+animal health) it was more than natural to think about Partnerships and Collaborations. As The Bridge resonated with a diverse audience we've seen thousands of views and reposts from both mental health influencers and psychologists, as well as popular pet influencers and pet lovers leading to a 34% increase in donations and 71% in awareness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences on mental health, leaving a loneliness pandemic in its wake. It’s well-documented how the human-animal bond can positively impact mental health, and the role of pets in our lives has taken an even more important role.