Open CallOpen Call: Pitch Reels
Don't Get Mad, Run for Office! (3:34)
Mark Read - Brooklyn, NY
The Pitch:
Justin Alfond, a 29 year old former professional golfer from Dexter, Maine who is currently locked in a tight race for State Senate, came to politics via an unlikely road: The League of Pissed Off Voters. The League was formed in 2003, with the goal of mobilizing the legions of disaffected, disheartened, disengaged young voters around the country, and, with them, build a progressive governing majority in our lifetime through electoral politics. Justin Alfond heeded that call. He and others like him challenge a prevailing notion about the younger generation of Americans: that they have disengaged from the political process. Alfond himself founded a chapter of The League in Portland, Maine that has since become the envy of the organization, helping to pass landmark legislation on education, housing, and the environment. Today, Justin stands poised to take the next step, with a crucial primary on June 10th, that will decide his political future. This short documentary will get inside Justin’s campaign, telling the inspiring story of his political awakening and his current crusade to transform the political landscape of this country, one state district at a time.
Mark W. Read is a New York-based documentary filmmaker (www.markwread.com) who grew up in Portland Maine. Though he has lived in New York for a decade, he maintains his Maine Driver’s License in order to vote in the state elections. The work sample is excerpted from “Finding Bolivar’s Heir”, on which Mark worked as writer, editor, and co-producer.
For more samples of Mark's work, visit: http://markwread.com/p_works.html
5 Comments [Add a comment]
The opinions expressed in the Comments Section of this website are those of the writers/ contributors and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the WGBH Educational Foundation.
- Login or register to post comments
Comments
i'd like to see this film on POV
for years, so many of us have been turned off politics. now, as that seems to be shifting, what better way to take the pulse of that sea change than a candid inside look at the story of one young man taking history into his own hands at the local level. what makes him tick? how does stubborn reality push back at him? the pitch has gotten me curious. now i want to see the film.
demoncratic
i believe it is impossible to get elected unless you are corrupt and in the pocket of huge global corporate interests
i would prefer to not have this belief challenged.
0 out of 5 stars
The Alfond/Read project
The idea that local laws could be changed, that citizens who are not a part of the financial classes could run and win positions in government -- this is not regarded as possible by many Americans. The lack of hope must be the essence of corruption. I hope this pitch makes a film that makes such change...
Reverend Billy, Brooklyn
The Democratic Process is Still Alive
I think Mark brings to light an important angle of the enlivened democratic process that has been amplified by the current primary season. The frustrations young voters have had through out the Bush administration has brought a new generation to the democratic table demanding change and progress. It seems Justin is an exemplary piece of this pie. Documenting his campaign would be a great motivator for young people across the country.
Good pitch
I think this would make an excellent documentary because of the need to illustrate positive actions of youth in electoral politics. I think the pitch really sells the idea.