Ad of the Day: Game of Thrones couple spoofs banking’s love affair with fossil fuels
Game of Thrones actors Kit Harington and Rose Leslie reunite for a Make My Money Matter campaign that’ll upset the banks.
To put pressure on UK banks to stop financing fossil fuel ventures, this ad uses humor to highlight what’s really going on. In the spot, titled ‘The Hidden Relationship,’ viewers see Harrington and Leslie take on the role of bank and client in a fake therapy session where they hash out their toxic relationship.
Famed director Richard Curtis, also the founder of Make My Money Matter, said: “Our largest high-street banks are in a dangerous relationship with the fossil fuel industry – and it’s time we all knew about it. In 2022 alone, household names like Barclays and HSBC poured billions into the fossil fuel sector, ignoring clear warnings that new oil and gas fields risk causing catastrophic climate change. Such activity is not only bad for people and the planet, but it also runs against the wishes of millions of UK citizens who want their money tackling the climate crisis, not fuelling the fire.
“That’s why we’ve made this new film – to highlight the toxic relationship between our banks and the fossil fuel industry and help UK bank account holders to make sure their money matters. The climate crisis is worsening, getting more urgent every day, and it’s time for banks to use their enormous power to build a better world. To do this HSBC, Barclays, Santander, Lloyds and NatWest must follow the science, listen to their customers, and immediately stop financing fossil fuel expansion.”
Curtis is referencing the latest Banking on Climate Chaos Report which revealed that HSBC, Barclays, Santander, NatWest and Lloyds collectively financed $37b towards the fossil fuel sector in 2022.
Kit Harington and Rose Leslie, commented: “When Richard contacted us to be part of this, we thought he was offering us free couples therapy. Alas, no such luck, he was bringing to our attention something we could agree on.
“This is an incredibly important awareness campaign about the dangerous relationship between our banks and the fossil fuel industry. But it is more than just awareness… People really care about this – and it’s time for banks to listen and act.”
Credits
Brand: Make My Money Matter
Creative agency: Mother
Strategy: Mother
Creative: Mother
Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks UK
Director: Ben Strebel
Producer: Daniel Linnik-Zhuravliov
Executive producer: Polly Du Plessis
Managing director: Rupert Reynolds-Maclean
Production manager: Yuri Galitsky
Director of photographer: Ben Todd
Production designer: Morgan Kennedy
Wardrobe stylist: Selina Wong
Hair and makeup: Bev Pond-Jones
Photographer: Imogen Forte
BTS videographer: Ollie Watts
Editors: The Quarry
Editors: Ben Cowan and Paul Watts
Post house: BlackKite
Colourist: Richard Fearon
Post producer: Phil Whalley
2d Lead: Jonny Freeman
Sound house: No8
Sound engineer: Sam Robson
Sound executive producer: Karen Noden
Sound producer: Chaz Mcelhinney