18 in ’08 (2007), Director/Producer
18 in ‘08, is a nonpartisan documentary film targeted at those who were first time voters in 2008. The film details the stakes for young voters in the 2008 election, how decisions made in Washington will affect young people for years to come, the issues and ideas that engage our generation, why we are so cynical about politics, the role of technology in engaging young voters, and profiles of candidates who have inspired this generation. Fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking, the film is ultimately a call to young people to overturn traditional under-representation in election campaigns, get involved in the political process, and vote. Over 100 people were interviewed for the film including: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Sam Brownback, Sen. Robert Byrd, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. John McCain, Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Former Governor Jeb Bush, Mayor Cory Booker, strategists James Carville and Joe Trippi, General Wes Clark, ABC News’ Sam Donaldson, Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, David Gergen, Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, Former Secretary of Commerce Peter Peterson, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Samantha Power, JFK Adviser Ted Sorensen, MTV News Correspondent Gideon Yago, and Professor Howard Zinn. The film inspired the creation of the organization Generation18 and a major campaign to register, engage, and mobilize young voters in the 2008 election.
Running Time: 34 min.
Producers: David D. Burstein, Brian Edelman, Nick Godfrey
Up to Us (2012), Director/Producer
Made for the 2012 election, to voice the concerns and issues of young Americans who are struggling in the recession, the film follows two young Americans, Atlanta native Kyle Murphy, who has served as an AmeriCorps member at Habitat for Humanity and Brandon West a MPA graduate who has been underemployed for 18 months but is seeking work in the public sector. As we follow them on their journeys, both individuals display the resilience and idealism of this generation and our desire to have an impact on our world. The film also features interviews with journalist Jonathan Alter,Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, political analyst Margaret Hoover, Will.i.am, Jessica Alba, and more. Up to Us, shows an optimistic solution for young America’s economic future, one that envisions an expansion of national service to grow economic opportunity alongside increased opportunity for millennials to achieve their idealistic goals of tackling social problems. The film seeks to inspire and activate our generation support the campaign to get one million new national service jobs and to turn out to vote.
Running Time: 21 min.
Producers: David D. Burstein, Chris Casey