The Detroit-based Doner ad agency has made a powerful statement on coronavirus safety measures that portrays staying at home in terms of strength.

Titled "When the Motor Stops," the 1-minute spot posted on Doner's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts shows black-and-white images of the Motor City at a standstill.

Empty city streets, Comerica Park, marquees of closed theaters, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit's distinctive "Everything Is Going to Be Alright" neon sign and more flash by as a female narrator explains the context of our current situation.

"It feels unnatural to not be in motion, for the city built on four wheels to stand still. But these vacant streets, empty stadiums are not signs of our retreat, but of our resolve. This is not us sitting out the fight. This is us winning it," she says.

For the ending, Doner borrows from a lyric from a timeless Motown hit by the Supremes: "Because here we don't stop in the name of fear. Here, we stop in the name of love."

The overall message is the last thing seen as the screen goes to black: "Stay safe, Detroit."

The video had 4,500 shares as of Wednesday morning.

Doner executive vice president for business development and communications Jimmy Kollin gave the Free Press an inside look via email at the making of the spot.

What was the inspiration for the ad? Kollin says the idea came from a young brand strategist, Alex DeMuth. "He said, 'Our agency can’t make ventilators or masks, but we can make content.' So that’s what we did."

Kollin noted that strong, powerful statements are central to both advertising and Detroit.

"They’re emblazoned across buildings. And the people of Detroit need to see those words and feel their power, as they’re staying home and staying safe. Like the video dramatizes, we are a city built on motion and to see those streets motionless is truly haunting."

Was the footage already shot? "Not at all," said Kollin, explaining that filming was done Friday by one employee, Zeke Anders, Doner's director of content production.

"He built a camera rig to fit his car and shot all of the film as he drove through the deserted streets of the city," said Kollin.

How long did it take to put the spot together? A super-fast 48 hours. "Zeke shot on Friday, edited from home — safely," said Kollin.

One of Doner's executive creative directors, Michael Stelmaszek, wrote the eloquent script, while a Doner copywriter, Olivia Hill, did the narration. She recorded it in her closet, according to Kollin, who added "there’s no better sounding or safer place to record audio than standing amid your jackets and sweaters."

Like all of Doner, the agency's in-house studio, The Underground, "has gone 100% remote," said Kollin, which allows the agency's staff to continue creating content from home for clients like FCA, Tylenol, the UPS Store, Nature’s Bounty and more.

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.