Broken Heart Love Affair's surreal body horror film makes the case for heart over buzzwords

Toronto-based creative agency Broken Heart Love Affair (BHLA) launched in early 2020 with a love letter about making work that transcends numbers and a mission to inspire everyone to fall in love with brands again. 

Their newly launched “Heart” video is the embodiment of everything they stand for. The heart in the video was created by Toronto animatronics expert Ron Stefaniuk and was manually operated by hydraulics, so the beating is real.

Over its first few years, BHLA has demonstrated its ethos with notable and award-winning work for clients such as Royal Ontario Museum, Kruger (Unapologetically Human and Love is Messy), Toys R Us, Cheestrings, and Simons.

“Broken Heart Love Affair launched to bring the love back to advertising,” says Spencer Ryan, Creative Director at BHLA. “The world needs more heart.”

The video premiered at Toronto’s Strategy Agency of the Year Awards last week.

Title: BHLA - Heart

Agency: Broken Heart Love Affair
Chief Creative Officers: Carlos Moreno, Denise Rossetto, Todd Mackie
Creative Directors: Spencer Ryan, Jordan Hamer
Art Director: Spencer Ryan
Copywriter: Jordan Hamer
SVP, Executive Producer: Erica Metcalfe

Production Company: Scouts Honour
Executive Producers: Rita Popielak, Simon Dragland
Director: Fugitives
Directors Of Photography: Eric Kaskens
Producer: Simon Dragland

Animatronic Heart: Ron Stefaniuk

Casting Company: Mann Casting
Casting Director: Steven Mann

Editorial Company: Saints Editorial
Executive Producer: Mackenzie Goodwin
Editor: Mark Paiva
Assistant Editor: Nick Coleman

CG & VFX Company: Darling
VFX Artist: Steve McGregor
VFX Assistant: Cam De’Andrade
CG Artist: Lev Bravo
Executive Producer: Morgan Campbell

Colour Company: Darling
Colourist: Kassi Bellamy
Executive Producer: Morgan Campbell

Audio House: OSO Audio
Creative Director: Daenen Bramberger
Executive Producer: Hannah Graham