Oreo’s heartwarming film by Alice Wu for Pride continues its LGBTQ+ allyship
The Drum’s Ad of the Day highlights work that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Today’s winner is Oreo’s ‘The Note’ by Alice Wu.
Oreo's 'The Note' by Alice Wu / Oreo
Oreo is continuing its support of the LGBTQ+ community by positioning itself as a ‘lifelong ally’ and encouraging others to do the same in a touching film by famed indie director Alice Wu.
‘The Note’ is an intimated retelling of a young Chinese-American man and his journey of coming out as gay to all of his family members. It opens with a tense scene as the boy seemingly struggles to speak to his parents about his feelings. As the story progresses, the camera focuses on items throughout their home and it’s slowly revealed that they are rehearsing, as a group, for an impending conversation with his grandmother.
Before the elder family member arrives at the house, the young man’s mom hands him a note detailing her support for her son. Viewers see him grow in confidence, safe in the knowledge that he has his mother’s unconditional love. The short spot ends with the message: ‘Coming out doesn’t just happen once. Be a lifelong ally.’
This year Oreo is continuing its partnership with PFLAG (parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays), an organization that was founded in 1973 after Jeanne Manford publicly supported her gay son.
Oreo will be donating $500,000 to advance the company’s mission in providing support, education and advocacy to LGBTQ+ people, their parents and families, and allies.
The cookie company has come under fire in the past for its Gay Pride rainbow biscuits on Facebook, and again after they appeared to forget the lesbian flag in a 2020 Twitter post.
As a member and fierce champion of both the LGBTQ+ and Asian American communities, Wu was a natural choice to bring this coming-out story to life in an authentic and impactful way.
The film’s storyline is loosely based on a personal experience from a member of the extended Oreo team.
