TheInspection

• (CHALLENGE)
  Drawn from director Elegance Bratton’s real life experiences of navigating life as a Black, queer individual, The Inspection follows the story of Ellis French: a young, gay African American man played by Jeremy Pope, who joins the Marine Corps after being ostracized by his mother after coming out.
  
  French’s journey through boot camp is a journey into acceptance and love in which the only way out is through: wrought with obstacles and breaking points that give way to a relief of clarity and unparalleled strength. Our campaign explored the struggles for solace in self-identity, the richness of American masculinity, and spotlighted the accomplished creators and talent who brought this story to life with complexity, texture and heart.
• (SOLUTION)
  Our art direction was inspired by a zine aesthetic, featuring textural and tangible effects that gave the creative a vibrant, handcrafted feel, while referencing the subversiveness of underground gay culture of that time. Visual elements, like treated photography and typography, contributed to making each piece feel individual and elevated. Our edits kept things more moody and tonal, honing in on the specific emotional impact of different parts of the narrative, and highlighting the themes of masculinity and sexual tension that were pervasive throughout the film.