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Watch The Five Finalists For New York's "Wear A Mask" PSA Contest
By
Jen Chung
Published May 24, 2020
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 24, 2020
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Almost a month ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state was looking for submissions for a "Wear A Mask" public service announcement campaign. Now there are five finalists, and the last day of voting is Monday, May 25th. The winner will be announced Tuesday.
The finalists were selected from over 600 submissions, and the contest was actually suggested by Cuomo's daughter, Mariah Kennedy Cuomo. MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow remarked how it was notable that New Yorkers—and not the government—was creating a public service campaign about mask wearing and commented these finalists were "really, really, really New York." As they should be:
"You Can Still Smile" by Natalia Bougadellis and Emory Parker, who said, "We asked New Yorkers why they put on a mask everyday. Through the struggle, there is hope—in their eyes and in their words. Produced by Blue Slate Films, a female-run production company."
**"We Are Compassion. We Are New York" by Skyline99 Studios, who said, "**We created this short PSA for New York out of Love and Compassion for others. Watch as an unlikely stranger helps another less fortunate in need."
"Do The Right Thing" by Ian Bell, who said, "**New Yorkers Do What's Right. They know that the best thing they can do to stop the spread of Covid-19 is to wear a mask when they're around others. That's why New Yorkers of every color, creed, sexual orientation and gender identity are practicing social distancing and wearing masks in public. They know that our individual strength is our collective inheritance. They Know What's Right."
**"We ❤ NY" by Bunny Lake Films, who said, "**Bunny Lake Films, a female-founded NY production co., teamed with directors Celine Danhier & Aliya Naumoff & animator Mike Perry (Broad City), capturing the diverse voices and pulse of New York."
**"That Guy" by Plastic Tree Productions, who said, "**We all know "That Guy." The blissful unmasked foe who no one wants to be near and who the people of New York will avoid at all costs. The moral? Don't be That Guy. Cover your nose and mouth."
You can vote for your favorite at WearAMask.ny.gov. Republican governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgham, emotionally explained why mask-wearing shouldn't be considered a political move:
"The mask can make a difference between life and death," Cuomo said on Friday. He pointed out how frontline medical workers, members of the NYPD and FDNY, and transit workers have lower infection rates than the general population. "I know it's a small thing... it doesn't look like much, but if [transmission of COVID-19 is] now primarily airborne, you know the mask works."
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COVID-19
governor cuomo
coronavirus
mask
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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