What If They Had An Election And No One Showed Up?

That was the sort of question which inspired that ad I described in the last post. What would happen if the Democratic party so demoralized its own supporters that they boycotted an election?

Apparently it's an idea that seems to resonate with a lot of people. So, I thought I'd give everyone a quick update on the progress of what has now become our little project.

• I have two completed scripts, which I hope are timed so that they can be read comfortably in 30 seconds. They may have to undergo further cuts, if they are too long.  
• I have a basic motion storyboard, following the concept written out in the post below, set to the music I chose. I found a great instrumental version of Happy Days Are Here Again on the Internet Archive, which means it's in the public domain, so  won't be pulled from YouTube for copyright violations.
  
• An actor and DJ from New Orleans, Louisiana, named Farrar Hudkins, has volunteered to do the voiceover for the YouTube, sparing you the difficulty of having to decipher my yowls and hisses. I plan to have all the requisite video work done by this Friday, and will put the voiceover on as soon as I get it.
  
• A radio producer in New York City has graciously offered to take the scripts, and the YouTube, and produce a radio-friendly version of the spot. This is fantastic, as radio spots are much cheaper to run than tv ads (even though I want to make the tv version of the ad as well)
  

So,  there we are, the video is almost done. It won't take long to put the voice track on it. As soon as we have the YouTube and the radio spot, we can try to raise money to produce and air a tv spot. I'll need your help for that. But it'll be easier to plan once you all see the great little video this is shaping up to be.

Everyone stay tuned.

Oh wait, wait... I forgot that I have a question for you, regarding the campaign signs in the video.

Originally, I had thought to replace all the names on the campaign signs in the video with something generic, Smith or Jones etc. But a reader has suggested that we put in the names of the politicians we would intend to target, like Ross, or Baucus, or maybe Nelson.

So what do you think? Generic names or specific targeting of certain pols?

(Crossposted to Whiskeyfire)

Comments

[Adam Hominem]

I think specific names are fine.

Never does to overestimate the intelligence of Congresscritters, who are the target of the ad, after all.

You could always update the ad with different names as time goes on. Changes and improvements will no doubt occur to you anyway.

[David Derbes]

I'd use a Democrat who is hesitant about the bill. Maybe Mary Landrieu, maybe Baucus. Better to use an actual name, I think, and maybe tailor the name to whatever market the ad runs in. I don't think there's any shortage of Blue Dogs, sadly.

[Ruth]

If you want a perfect world, use Ralph Hall, oldest member of Congress, who defamed a victim of slave trading in the Mariannas by essentially saying she was a slut anyway. This after taking Abramoff trips to the islands and working for low wages on the islands - as if there were some TX 4th district interst there.

[Izzy Schwartz]

Call out the Blue Dogs...

It's time to name names.

[chicago dyke]

eep... i guess i disagree with the conventional wisdom. i think the ad is powerful enough, and more powerful for being general. the point isn't really about scaring national reps, who probably will barely notice it. it's about scaring the rank and file. the ones who will be doing all the work during election season, when the volunteers don't show up. this is the kind of ad that scares the pants off them, and many of them will hear about it.

KISS. let all who ignore and at the same time rely upon the semi-activist base tremble and despair. and do what they did to baucus- chew his ass out so hard he actually budged a bit and was made to listen.

[Tlazolteotl]

El Gato, re the last bit of ad time....how's this?

66% of Americans want a strong public option

/fades into

If we can't count on legislators for insurance reform, they shouldn't count on our votes.