Client JP Morgan Chase / Agency Droga5, NY / Film Direction The Glue Society / Production Company Biscuit Filmworks x Revolver
Around 77 million Americans have a criminal record (a third of the adult population) often for innocuous misdemeanours (J-walking, cannabis possession). As a result many people face barriers to education, employment and tenancy. The paperwork involved in trying to clear their name can prove financially and logistically impossible.
This issue has been resolved in some states by the passing of the Clean Slate act, a bi-partisan initiative to allow people to withhold their criminal records once they have served their penalty. But, 38 states have yet to pass the initiative creating a Waiting Workforce with the potential to add $87 billion annually back into the US economy.
To communicate the issue, we were asked to create a sculpture and film for JPMorgan Chase’s Second Chance Initiative via creative agency Droga5 New York. We created 38 human-shaped sculptures – one for each state that hasn’t passed the Clean Slate legislation – made with over a million pages of real/redacted expungement documents. The sculpture was installed outside the National Constitution Center, part of Philadelphia’s Independence Plaza – and in conjunction with an accompanying film highlighting the stories of many people affected.
Workshop instructions
Wrapped figures waiting for the rain to clear before shoot day
The first prototype was made in Australia before being translated into plans for the construction crew in Philadelphia.
The first gallery pod finding its footings.
Credits
Client: JPMorgan Chase
Agency: Droga5 New York
Creative Chairman: David Droga
Chief Creative Officer: Scott Bell
Executive Creative Director: Kevin Brady
Group Creative Director: Haywood Watkins III
Creative Directors: Tom Coleman, Derek Lui, Ben Kay
Art Directors: Ross Weaver, Mollie Bond
Copywriters: Aaron Araya, Kevin Kearse, Jacques Wortsman
Group Design Director: Mark Yoon
Designer: Andrew Diemer, Catarina Sterlacci
Art & Directing Collective: The Glue Society
Production: Biscuit Filmworks x Revolver
Production Designer: Damien Drew
DOP: Luke McCoubrey
© Paul Bruty