Electric Zoo was cut short last year when the final day was canceled due to several drug overdoses, two of which tragically resulted in deaths. This year, Electric Zoo has launched ‘Come To Life'. ‘Come to Life' is a micro-campaign encouraging ‘the safe and smart enjoyment of music, lights and crowds.'
The campaign's message is based on the belief that concertgoers don’t need to use narcotics (specially MDMA) to enjoy the music, but can do so organically. The campaign is intended to make fans consider the possible negative consequences of taking ecstasy in hopes that they decide to avoid those risks.
“Our message to concertgoers is simple: The Electric Zoo experience is exceptional and worth being present for,” Made Event founders, Laura De Palma and Mike Bindra, said in a joint statement. “Molly can cause you to not only miss the moment, alienate your friends and have an overall adverse and unpleasant experience…but can also make you sick and can even be fatal. Fans will experience how great it is to ‘Come To Life' at our concerts from lights, sounds and crowds,” the statement continued.
In attempt to get the message across, ‘Come To Life' campaign is centered around a two-minute video called “The Molly”, which all concertgoers must view in order to validate their wristbands to gain entrance into the Electric Zoo festival.
“Emmy Award-winning writer and creator of the TV series Dexter, James Manos, Jr., created, wrote and directed the video alongside his 19-year old daughter, Ellie Manos. “Ellie represents the target audience and she’s been to EDM concerts and seen the behavior of her peers on Molly. She was the perfect partner to help me write the spot,” the elder Manos said. “This is a really interesting and volatile time of life for teens and young adults, and I was up for the challenge of crafting the right tone, manner and overall approach to creating a PSA that would have a net positive influence in their behavior and lives, in an entertaining and authentic way,” Manos added.”
The ‘Come To Life' video can be found below. The video is graphic and really drives home a message of why its worthwhile to stay clean during the festival and enjoy the music without losing yourself to drugs.
