ParkRidge47 Was Funded
by Patrick Ruffini :: March 21st, 2007 12:22 pmOver at TechPresident, Zack Exley comes to the rather definitive conclusion that the “Vote Different” ad (up to nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube — and nearly 2 million in its various iterations) was professionally commissioned by a high-level Obama supporter acting outside the campaign. Here’s his thinking:
But so far most of the discussion of the ad has put up a picture of an independent video person working at home on their Mac in their spare time. But that’s just not plausible. Such a character would be claiming his or her reward right now, boosting his or her career and having a great time doing the media rounds. And, also telling: the ad maker knew exactly what election law lines not to cross, stopping just short of express advocacy. Why didn’t the ad say, “Vote Obama”? So, when did independent YouTube video hackers get access to their own election law attorneys?
This was a funded project, involving lawyers and an ad agency or at the very least a professional video person who’s time is worth hundreds of dollars an hour.
There has been a lot of talk about how the Internet is about building community. That’s true, but I think the bigger story is how the Internet is empowering individuals to get involved in increasingly creative ways, for good or ill.
No campaign could have produced this. I don’t think David Geffen did either. It’s too subtle and under-produced by Hollywood standards. And that’s what makes it so deadly effective.
Tagged: barack obama 
hillary clinton online politics youtube
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A huge success it was, funded or hobby-driven. It achieved its purpose in our crowd-powered information era. But that does not mean I support its message. I am only underscoring the potency of the medium - its accessibility,interactivity and viral thrust. At last, computer and software-equipped individuals, not just multinationals, can shape the political process even from their basements or bedrooms.
Paschal Eze
I have another possible reason that ParkRidge47 does video (potentially poltical video) work for a living is this: The ad is very good but like you said not Hollywood good. Compare the lame Joe Liberman version of this ad with this ad. Notice the subtle parts of Hillary, the iPod that moves fluidly with the hammer weilding heroine, the Hillary Face that has text moving over her face like the original Apple ad, or how real the Obama logo looks on the shirt. Anyone have any ideas how they did this so well?
Even the sound effects of the marching, the periodic shrill beeping sound (I don’t know how to describe this exactly), and Hillary’s voice were mixed together very well. This wasn’t done with iMovie on someones Macbook. The ad was produced mostly likely with Final Cut Pro using Motion or After Effects. Lastly, where the heck did they get a high enough quality copy of this video to be able to edit in the changes? All of the copies I can find of 1984 online are low rez and not suitable for editing the highly detailed parts such as the Obama logo, iPod, or Hillary face and text.
Any thoughts anyone?