Brussels by Webcam
Telenet
Issue 55 | June 2020
Agency
TBWA Belgium
Creative Team
Creative Director Jeremie Goldwasser Creative team Kenn Van Lijsebeth, Greg Van Buggenhout Copy FR Gil Gaunieux Art director FR Thibaut Castaing
Production Team
Art buyer Elly Laureys Photographer Jef Boes Post production MAKE – Katrien Van Den Brande Radio Production MAKE - Lauranne Van Der Heyden
Other Credits
Client Maartje Berben Account Team Nicolas De Bauw, Max Fauconnier, Ellen Van Praet Strategy Günther Van Lany Media Agency PHD – Ofelia Faes, Indra Lenaerts
Date
April 2020
Background
Brussels is a bustling city brimming with passion and culture, yet when coronavirus came the city looked like it was in a coma. Its closed shops, silent cafés and empty restaurants created an atypical impression because, under the surface, lived a strong feeling of connectedness among its inhabitants.
Idea
Brussels may have looked desolate but it was far from down. Behind the imposing facades, the people were dealing with the consequences of the lockdown as creatively as they could. Despite the social constraints, its inhabitants were more connected than ever.
That’s what photographer Jef Boes wanted to capture with a series of online portraits by webcam using FaceTime and Skype.
Each of his six subjects had their own stories to tell about coping.
The portrait of jazz café L’Archiduc was posted up in front of the closed-down bar. The other portraits showed people from different parts of the city, whose stories were told in mini documentaries online.
At Telenet’s website, people could get their own webcam portraits shot and discover creative tips and tricks to help them cope with curfew.
Results
Unknown
Our Thoughts
At the beginning of the crisis, brands were urged to keep spending through it because they would emerge stronger on the other side. Here’s evidence of that. A short piece in the financial section of The Brussels Times for April 30th quotes a Telenet spokesperson saying: “On a rebased basis, our sales remained almost stable with an improved trend in our subscription services almost fully offset by lower revenues from business services.” Advertising is helping Telenet weather the storm. It’s a story others might learn from.