The Open Road

1st Source Bank chose commercial production company Explore to produce the latest advertisements in their award-winning “We Can Help” campaign . This 2024-2025 campaign, titled “All Kinds of Help” was led by Chicago-based director Jeremy Pinckert, and features a cast of five characters selected from the Midwest talent pool. Viewers can watch all five of the commercials this fall on broadcast, digital and OTT networks.

Explore and 1st Source collaborated on the spots using their normal direct to brand process. The key internal stakeholders at the bank communicated their necessary communication themes to the in-house marketing department. This brief then was used by Explore’s collaborating creative director, Larry Liss, conceptualized multiple scenarios and commercials for the campaign. Once creative was finalized, Pinckert worked with Michael Murphy, in-house creative director at 1st Source, on casting, the fine details of art department, wardrobe, and performance options. After principal photography, Explore post-produced the entire campaign. Jill Dugan edited and output all 5 commercials, with color provided by Sal Malfitano and audio cleanup, mix, and sound design by Rick Such of Earshot.

"We really loved working directly with the in-house agency and marketing team at 1st Source Bank.” says Jeremy Pinckert, EP & Director at Explore, “They gain the ability to work one on one with the team who are experts in production, instead of involving the costly and time consuming extra of an advertising agency. Brands win when they have more input, and when they can get more value on their investment with a better product. It makes the direct to brand production model a no-brainer.”