18 in '08

why it's important:

18 in ‘08 is a nonpartisan documentary film and movement targeting today’s 17 to 24-year-olds, many of whom will be voting in their first presidential election in 2008. Made by director David D. Burstein, and produced by new media content company Crossborders, 18 in ’08: The Film, features interviews with many of the most influential politicians of today, as well as figures from popular culture, political activists, media commentators, student leaders, and young people. 18 in ‘08 highlights what is at stake for youth in the 2008 election, how decisions made in Washington today will affect young people for years to come, the issues and ideas that engage our generation, what turns us off, why are we so cynical about politics, the role of new media in engaging young voters, and candidates who have inspired youth. Fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking, the film is ultimately a call to young people to overturn their traditional under-representation in election campaigns, get involved in the political process, and vote.

David first began to think about making this film in the wake of the 2004 Presidential election. Having helped to create and run one of the country’s most successful high school film festivals, David saw firsthand the impact the film medium on his generation and the power of film to affect change. Over two years of work went into making the film. David traveled the country, interviewing past and present Presidential candidates, congressmen, senators, governors, mayors, public policy experts, student leaders, and a diverse group of young Americans. Some of the people featured in the film are: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Sen. Sam Brownback, Mayor Cory Booker, Governor Jeb Bush, Sen. Robert Byrd, James Carville, Gen. Wes Clark, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sam Donaldson, Richard Dreyfuss, David Gergen, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and Sen. John Kerry.

18 in ’08 started as a film, but has quickly become a truly unprecedented national peer to peer effort to register, engage, and mobilize young voters for the 2008 election and beyond. 18 in ‘08 is a peer to peer engagement effort, it has been made by young people and designed to appeal to young people. The centerpiece of our efforts is ongoing screenings around the country featuring on-site voter registration and talkbacks with politicians, candidates, activists, students, and filmmakers.

Over 29 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 will be eligible to vote in 2008; if that power is harnessed properly, young people could swing the outcome of the election. While youth voter turnout increased both in the 2004 and 2006 elections, it is still well below the level it should be, especially when considering the pressing importance of today’s issues to the lives of young people. To mobilize this demographic, 18 in ’08 is leading an unprecedented movement to engage, register, and mobilize young voters for the 2008 election and beyond.

Given the importance of the 2008 election, and the direct impact it will have on an entire generation of young Americans, we need to overcome apathy, cynicism, and skepticism — as well as the frequent disappointments of the political system — and get involved. The hope is that 18 in ’08 will spur conversation and start to galvanize and aggregate the power and passion of youth. The film’s message is that young people can and should take their future into their own hands by participating with and
engaging in our democracy. The primary tool used to engage voters is the documentary film “18 in ‘08” through screenings of the film, followed by discussions with leaders and students and on site voter registration. 18 in ’08 also works heavily through educational efforts on college and high school campuses, celebrity outreach, intensive media coverage, peer to peer viral spreading of the message, and extensive use of new media, social network, and mobile technologies.

the plan of action:

18 in ’08 started as a film, but has quickly become a truly unprecedented national peer to peer effort to register, engage, and mobilize young voters for the 2008 election and beyond. The centerpiece of our efforts is ongoing screenings around the country featuring on-site voter registration and talkbacks with politicians, candidates, activists, students, and filmmakers. In addition we are undertaking the following initiatives:

• College and High School Tour through Fall 2008, in the lead up to the election screening the film on a diverse array of college campuses. Screenings would be followed by voter registration and talk backs with activists, students, politicians, and celebrities.
• Major initiative to get copies of the film into high school government and social studies classes throughout the country along with voter education curriculum and educational materials.
• Vote Strong bracelet campaign, encouraging voter awareness
• Sponsoring and organizing Congressional and Senatorial debates for the fall elections. Questions would be submitted exclusively by 17-24 year olds in specific districts.
• Major web video, blogging, and social network initiatives through www.18in08.com as well as through high-profile sites including YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook. Including Regularly posting new video content on all major web video sites, this content includes short public service ads featuring politicians and celebrities, man on the street interviews, videos on issues, clips from the film, and edited versions of the interviews used in the film (showing lots of new content from leading interview subjects
• Created a viral Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign featuring young celebrities encouraging young people as fellow members of their generation to vote with them.
• Text messaging and online campaign with Access 360 Media called Shop the Vote, which encouraged young people to sign up for text messages with political news, campaign news, voter information, and take polls about issues that matter to them.
• An interactive online game with in the style of Battleship which engages young people in policy issues and discussions through competitive online gaming.
• Launching a peer-to-peer initiative called Friends Ask Friends to Vote campaign encouraging young voters to pledge to ask 20 friends to register to vote every month in the three months leading up to the election

To help accomplish all these ambitious goals, 18 in ’08 is constructing extensive partnerships with existing voter mobilization and youth-oriented organizations. We have also created an advisory board with leading figures from politics, entertainment, media, and advocacy organizations.

how you can get involved:

We need volunteers to help achieve these goals, and we want them to be young! email us at info@18in08.com

Of course register to vote at www.18in08.com, and vote in all elections and have a dialogue with your peers about issues that matter to you.

videos: