Verify You Are Human is a Christmas campaign by US agency, Doner, for courier service, The UPS Store, led by the story of a young man searching online for the right present for his mum. It was designed to connect with Gen Z audiences who are redefining what the holidays and home mean to them. (And to encourage people to use UPS to deliver their gifts.) The campaign also has a much bigger purpose, though. It speaks to everyone living and giving curated by algorithms. Both purposes are enhanced by the directing decisions of The Directors Bureau filmmaker, Gia Coppola.      

The story reminds its audience of the human side of giving – the joy, nostalgia, and connection that come from choosing, packing, and sending something meaningful to the people who matter most. The film’s title, Verify You Are Human, is a clever nod to the ubiquitous CAPTCHA test, reinterpreted as a call to action, to reconnect with what makes us human through tangible acts of care.

Gia Coppola was chosen for her emotionally resonant visual storytelling, to bring the idea to life with cinematic depth. The agency’s creative team saw the moviegoing experience as a natural environment to reach Gen Z, who value shared, real-world moments. The campaign is running in movie theatres across the US and in high-profile placements on network and cable TV.

“Even in a digital-first world, nothing compares to receiving something that a loved one took the time to shop for and send,” stated Michelle Van Slyke, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at The UPS Store. “This branded short film is about inspiring Gen Z to embrace the joy of the holiday season through hand-selecting gifts from local businesses, and shipping them with care.”

“The UPS Store has always played a meaningful role for consumers during the holiday season,” added David DeMuth, CEO of Doner. “With this year’s work, the brand is more than a destination, it’s an inspiration.”

Credits

Client: The UPS Store
SVP, Marketing and Sales: Michelle Van Slyke
Senior Marketing Manager: Rob Connelly 
Ad & Brand Innovation Manager: Marian Anderson

Agency: Doner
EVP, Executive Creative Director: Steve Osterman 
Creative Directors: Angelo Patrona & Liam Soren 
Senior Copywriter: Aaron Cary 
Senior Art Director: Annie Broutman 
EVP, Director of Integrated Production: Jennie Hochthanner
Senior Producer: Domenic Caruso 
EVP, Group Account Director: Paul Van Lewen 
Account Supervisor: Erica Shepler 
EVP, Director of Business Affairs: Sheryll Kollin  
Senior Business Manager: Theresa Bland 
Senior Talent Manager: Jim Jakubiec 
Senior Integrated Studio Producer: Brittany Gietzen
VP, Technology Design: Doug Everhart
Associate Creative Technologist: Ananda Ray
Director of Studio Operations: Stacy Langdon
Editor: Al Sinclair
Senior Finish Editor: Mike McClelland
Senior Assistant Editor: Nick Barone

Production Company: The Directors Bureau
Director: Gia Coppola
President & Executive Producer: Luke Ricci
Director of Photography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Producer: Jason Baum
HOP: Sarah Morrison
Production Designer: Natalie Ziering

Colour: Cathel Color
Colourists: John Cathel & Chuck Klatt 

Sound Design & Audio Mix: The Post Haus
COO, Sound Supervisor: Brock Babcock
Sound Design, Foley & Mix: Connor Birch 
Music: Wim Mertens