5B is named after the San Francisco General Hospital’s ward which opened in 1983 as the first full-fledged hospital unit dedicated to treating people with AIDS, the documentary shows the positive power of nursing, continuing a theme which Johnson & Johnson has championed over the years.
5B tells the stories of caretakers, patients and others impacted by the pioneering hospital ward, introducing us to the likes of Mary Magee, a nurse who came out from New York with the hope of landing a job at 5B so that she could care for, comfort and protect AIDS patients who at that time were given a death sentence. Then there was Dr. Paul Volberding, an oncologist who committed to patient care at 5B even though he acknowledged fear for his health and that of his family since the extent of AIDS’ contagious nature wasn’t known at the time. He related that he and his wife had a hard time talking about the potential perils.
Saville worked with agency UM on 5B which was acquired by Verizon Media for distribution, including a theatrical run.
Watch the trailer and continue reading on Shoot Online.