Film rallies young voters
Eagleton Institute of Politics screens documentary by 18 year-old director
Brian Dwane / Contributing Writer
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: University
- Page 1 of 2 next >
As part of a major campaign to galvanize young voters to get to the polls, David Burstein, the 18-year-old director and producer of "18 in '08," screened his documentary and held a post-screening discussion with students, professors and alumni at the Eagleton Institute of Politics on Douglass campus Monday night.
The nonpartisan film focuses on the role of today's youth in politics and features interviews with politicians, commentators, political strategists and students. In addition, Burstein's documentary aims to motivate students to vote in the 2008 election because what happens in Washington today will affect them for years to come.
The film is a call to action for young voters to take their future into their own hands by participating with and engaging in democracy. This begins by registering, getting informed and voting, Burstein said.
"The idea for the documentary came about in 2004 when I was following the presidential election. I thought about what I could do to increase the youth voter turnout. I thought it would be great to work on a film to speak on their level," Burstein said. "We tried to speak to our peers, legitimize their frustration and concerns about the political process and say, 'Dude, I totally get it.'"
"David created a nonpartisan documentary that acts as a catalyst to get youth involved across the country," said Elizabeth Matto, a staff member at Eagleton. "David is linking a voter mobilization effort with the film. He has screened his film at about 20 campuses across the country so far."
"I thought it was fabulous. It was nonpartisan and thought provoking. I feel that the best message is to deliver by a young person," Matto said. "The same holds true for voter-mobilization. In the film, a peer shows students why voting matters and how they can get involved."
Burstein, who will be turning 19 next week, said he wanted to analyze the issue of voting from a youth perspective.
"In 2008, about 29 million will be able to vote between the ages of 18 and 24," he said.
The nonpartisan film focuses on the role of today's youth in politics and features interviews with politicians, commentators, political strategists and students. In addition, Burstein's documentary aims to motivate students to vote in the 2008 election because what happens in Washington today will affect them for years to come.
The film is a call to action for young voters to take their future into their own hands by participating with and engaging in democracy. This begins by registering, getting informed and voting, Burstein said.
"The idea for the documentary came about in 2004 when I was following the presidential election. I thought about what I could do to increase the youth voter turnout. I thought it would be great to work on a film to speak on their level," Burstein said. "We tried to speak to our peers, legitimize their frustration and concerns about the political process and say, 'Dude, I totally get it.'"
"David created a nonpartisan documentary that acts as a catalyst to get youth involved across the country," said Elizabeth Matto, a staff member at Eagleton. "David is linking a voter mobilization effort with the film. He has screened his film at about 20 campuses across the country so far."
"I thought it was fabulous. It was nonpartisan and thought provoking. I feel that the best message is to deliver by a young person," Matto said. "The same holds true for voter-mobilization. In the film, a peer shows students why voting matters and how they can get involved."
Burstein, who will be turning 19 next week, said he wanted to analyze the issue of voting from a youth perspective.
"In 2008, about 29 million will be able to vote between the ages of 18 and 24," he said.