Time to Rise - Girl Up | Clapboard Ad Archive

Time to Rise is a 2018 campaign by Girl Up, crafted by Berlin Cameron, that harnesses the power of spoken word and collective defiance to advance the cause of gender equality within the public service sector. This film-based campaign features a compelling recital of William Ernest Henley’s poem Invictus, performed by actress and activist Corinne Foxx alongside model Nigel Barker, his daughter Jasmine, and other Girl Up supporters, creating a resonant chorus that elevates the voices of women with men standing in quiet solidarity. The narrative arc culminates in Foxx’s triumphant declaration I am the captain of my soul, encapsulating the spirit of resilience and empowerment at the heart of Girl Up’s mission. What Clapboard’s taxonomy would classify as FORMAT#5 EXEMPLARY STORY, the campaign places the fight for gender equality not just as a backdrop but as the vital force driving the story’s resolution, effectively transforming the poem into a rallying cry that invites viewers to engage directly via girlup.org/TimeToRise. The campaign’s strategic use of recognizable cultural figures lends authenticity and reach, broadening its appeal beyond traditional advocacy audiences to include young women, girls, and male allies, thus reinforcing the global movement for equality through inclusive storytelling. Girl Up’s partnership with Berlin Cameron results in a tightly woven narrative that aligns emotional resonance with a clear call to action, leveraging the enduring power of poetry to transcend typical public service messaging and inspire tangible participation. Clapboard rates this campaign 68/100 in its global creative archive. Time to Rise matters to the industry because it demonstrates how public interest campaigns can fuse cultural literacy with activist urgency, showing that a well-executed narrative format can mobilize diverse audiences by centering the product—the cause—as the indispensable protagonist in the story.