Telstra unveils cinematic silent films—as a reminder to silence your phones

There are moments when Ad Nut encounters a campaign and thinks, “Ad Nut has absolutely no idea what’s happening here—but likes it.” Telstra’s latest effort, brought to life with Bear Meets Eagle On Fire and director Dougal Wilson, is one of those moments.

Rather than churn out another stock-standard public service announcement to remind movie-watchers to silence their phones, Telstra has taken a far more cinematic approach—literally. The brand commissioned three original, dialogue-free short films designed to play before feature films in cinemas. It’s a refreshingly creative detour from the usual warning graphics and forgettable prompts—and while the message may be as murky as a soft-drink cup left in the back row, the execution is undeniably entertaining.

The first of the three films, 'Magnetic Boy' [see above], places us in what appears to be a wartime science lab, where a young boy—seated quietly—is hooked up to a mysterious machine by military scientists. Upon activation, the boy becomes magnetically charged, pulling in keys, badges and metal objects from across the room. There’s a beat of confusion, then laughter. The scenario is absurd, charming, and beautifully composed. Does it relate to silencing phones? Not directly. But you’re too busy enjoying the spectacle to mind.

The second film, 'Four-Legged Friend', follows a forlon woman waiting alone in a restaurant for a date who never arrives. As the meal goes cold and hope fades, her table suddenly springs to life—flipping its cutlery, swishing its tablecloth like a ballroom gown, and sweeping her into a strangely moving dance in the middle of the dining room. It’s poetic, odd, and kind of lovely. Again, no phones, no alerts, no disruption. Just a lonely woman dancing with sentient furniture and somehow finding joy.

And then there’s 'Mirror Mirror', the most tonally dramatic of the three. The same woman from the previous film is now sitting before a mirror in a darkened room, as townspeople storm towards her with torches and pitchforks. The tension builds. She meets her gaze in the glass, and slowly transforms into a werewolf? And that’s that. 

According to Telstra CMO Brent Smart: “So much care and craft has gone into these, I can’t wait to see them before some animated film my kids make me watch.” 

Micah Walker, founder and chief creative officer at Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, said: “This is such a simple, fun idea and getting to work with [director] Dougal [Wilson] again has just made that even better.”

Still, Ad Nut finds itself spiralling into a cinematic existential crisis. Is the campaign suggesting that silence itself heightens the filmgoing experience—that the absence of noise, like the absence of dialogue, can draw us deeper into a story? Or is it all just a playful nod to the silent film format, with little intention of being decoded? Is the silence the message...or merely the medium?

This is where the campaign’s charm also becomes its question mark. The films are engaging, yes—but are the individual vignettes long or literal enough to meaningfully shift behaviour? There’s no clear line drawn between action and outcome. No disruption. No glowing phone screen. Just three visually rich scenes that quietly unfold, then end—without a tagline to tether them back to the message. Now if you'll allow Ad Nut to posture as an agency creative, but something along the lines of a 'movies are better in silence' at the end of each film might have brought it all home.

Ad Nut still isn’t entirely sure what a magnetised boy, a romantically inclined table, or a brooding werewolf have to do with cinema etiquette. And perhaps it’s best not to overthink it. After all, the jungle is never silent—there’s always a rustle, a chirp, a distant scream. A few quiet minutes of cinematic oddity? Frankly, it's very much welcome. 

CREDITS

Client: Telstra
Chief Marketing Officer: Brent Smart
Head of Brand and Sponsorship: Alita McMenamin
Head of Creative Excellence: Anna Jackson
Senior Brand Manager: Dene Mackenzie
Media & Marketing Operations Lead: Paula Marreiros
Product Management - Senior Specialist: Olivia Cortes

Creative Agency: Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61

Production Company: FINCH
Director: Dougal Wilson
Executive Producer: Nick Simkins
Producer: Cath Anderson
Director of Photography: Jeremy Rouse
Production Designer: Neville Stevenson
Costume Stylist: Joanna Mae Park
Casting: Byrne Creative and Mackintosh Casting
Special Effects: MEG SFX

Editorial: ARC
Editor: Elise Butt

Post Production: ALT VFX
VFX Supervisor: Dave Edwards
VFX Senior Producer: Celeste Fairlie
Executive Producer: Tyrone Estephan

Media Agency: OMD Australia

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