Vulcan Productions and Show of Force Partner on “We The Voters: 21 Films for The People”
Nonpartisan digital project features 21 short films designed to activate voters across the country in 2016 election
21 films. 200+ million voters. Multiple platforms. One dynamic home.
SEATTLE — July 12, 2016 — Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions and award-winning production company Show of Force, in partnership with FilmBuff, announce today the production of We the Voters: 21 Films for The People, a nonpartisan digital slate of 21 short films designed to inform, inspire and activate voters nationwide with fresh perspectives on the subjects of democracy, elections and governance in the lead up to the 2016 elections. The films will demystify how U.S. elections work, and promote a call to action for Americans to make informed choices and seize the power of their vote.
The collection of films will feature celebrities and digital influencers, soon to be announced, in comedies, documentaries and animated shorts that will be presented in a digital format and distributed across a broad array of platforms on two separate release dates, September 14, in preparation for the presidential debates, and October 12, timed to final get-out-the-vote efforts. The individual films will take on such essential questions as “Does one vote make a difference?” “Does money influence elections?” “How can we find balanced news sources?” and “Does protest make things better?” Each We the Voters film will be connected to a dynamic digital “voter toolkit” that will serve as a definitive resource for understanding the issues at stake in this election.
Why now? The 2014 midterm elections saw the lowest voter turnout in 72 years1. With only about a third of Americans currently able to name the three branches of government and fewer than fifty percent of us knowing which political party controls Congress2, We the Voters will provide easy access to information to serve and motivate people in our vast and diverse nation to exercise their vote.
“Any presidential election season invigorates the political landscape, but the 2016 election could be one of the most interesting and polarizing elections in our history,” said Carole Tomko, General Manager and Creative Director of Vulcan Productions. “Our goal is to create sharable, digestible and entertaining content that delivers the substance to educate voters around key issues surrounding the election so voters feel equipped to make informed decisions at the polls.”
This project comes on the heels of Vulcan Productions’ We the Economy a collection of digital short films, produced with Cinelan, featuring the work of Morgan Spurlock, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Adrian Grenier, Adam McKay, and Patton Oswalt, among others. The project used innovative storytelling to cultivate a more informed understanding of the U.S. economy, while leveraging technology to successfully challenge the traditional film and television distribution model.
“With so much at stake in the November election, all Americans need to know that their vote counts,” said Jeff Dupre, Principal, Show of Force. “We the Voters will entertain, educate and motivate people to make their mark and to fully participate in our democracy.”
A comprehensive social media campaign will support digital distribution efforts. Partnerships with a number of top-tier digital media outlets will be announced prior to the launch of the project. All films are currently in production, and advance teasers highlighting talent and stories will be available in the months ahead at WeTheVoters.com and on the We the Voters app. PBS Learning Media will create educational materials and guides to bring the films from the web into the classroom and online through their Election Central site.
About Vulcan Productions
Vulcan Productions is dedicated to the power of storytelling. The division produces content and large-scale campaigns that entertain, electrify and change the way people understand the world’s toughest challenges. Vulcan Productions’ films, television series and digital content spark ideas and turn action into measurable impact. Founded by Paul G. Allen and his sister Jody Allen in 1997, Vulcan Productions creates content across all platforms, extending the wide-ranging work of Vulcan Inc. in wildlife, science, climate, oceans, education, technology, current social issues, history and the arts. Award-winning projects include Racing Extinction, Academy Award®- nominated Body Team 12, We the Economy, #ISurvivedEbola, Girl Rising, and The Blues. Upcoming projects include Ivory, Naledi: A Baby Elephant’s Tale, Mind of a Giant and Unseen Enemy.
About Show of Force
Show of Force was founded in 2006 by veteran film and television producers Maro Chermayeff and Jeff Dupre and is known for creating award-winning feature documentaries, event television series and groundbreaking transmedia projects. Their work includes the forthcoming 8-hour music series Soundbreaking, produced in partnership with legendary Beatles producer George Martin; the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present for HBO, Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace, the 2014 SXSW Jury Prize winner for Best Documentary Short; Mann v. Ford, a feature-length documentary for HBO; the 6-hour PBS series Circus; and the Emmy Award-winning 10-hour PBS series Carrier. Their projects, A Path Appears, and Emmy Honors recipient Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, based on the bestselling books by the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, were two four-hour broadcast series on PBS and multi-platform initiatives that reached more than 40 million people worldwide, garnered some 3 billion media impressions and included mobile games and a Facebook game.
About FilmBuff
FilmBuff is an award-winning full-service global sales and distribution company, with a focus on delivering high quality, compelling film and video to targeted audiences. Founded in 2007, FilmBuff consistently introduces audiences to the best in independent film, including Oscar-nominated Exit Through The Gift Shop, Sundance Audience Award winner, Senna, Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, The House I Live In, Jared Leto’s Artifact, Adam Carolla’s Road Hard, The Internet’s Own Boy, Burt’s Buzz, Spring, and many others. Offering a comprehensive array of services and solutions for today’s evolving media landscape, FilmBuff partners with creative filmmakers, publishers and brand marketers to reach, engage and inspire viewers around the world. Connect with FilmBuff at www.FilmBuff.com and @FilmBuff.
# # # MEDIA CONTACT Brandon Shaw 323.556.9700 [email protected]
1 NYTimes article, "The Worst Voter Turnout in 72 Years," Nov 11, 2014 2 Pew Research Center Study, "Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology," June 2014: http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/sec,on-10-poli,cal-par,cipa,on-interest-and-knowledge/