FYI 2007 Competition
The Vision
FYI/Film Your Issue is an unprecedented, ambitious outreach to young Americans to engage them in the public dialogue about pressing issues of importance, locally or nationally.
We want to know what young people think, we want to empower the next generation of leaders to understand how their single voices can influence the public debate, and — as hoakey as it sounds — to understand the power of democracy — where every voice counts.
It doesn't always feel that way — like individually we can make a difference, or even collectively.
Sometimes voices get drowned out because of special interests, because of majority votes, because the time is not yet right for a collective consciousness to manifest the level of equality we know is the profound truth of the higher consciousness.
We are all equal. We all deserve protection by our government. Animals shouldn't be abused. There shouldn't be pollution. Nobody should suffer without healthcare or food or shelter.
We want to encourage young people, no matter how disaffected, cynical or disillusioned — and there is every reason to be cynical and disillusioned — yet, yet ....
We have to fight, to speak up, to believe, to believe things can be better.
And the best part is that America IS a democracy, where every voice has a constitutional right to be heard.
Since we are in the millennial age of media and film — the media of this generation — we are inviting young people to express their passion or concern or indignation about an issue of concern.
We will listen. And watch.
And for young people, remember this: your film will be seen by leaders nationally and internationally.
Our VIP Jury and ThinkTank include the heads of several major studios, television, internet, music and publishing, as well as senior elected government representatives.
Finalists in the special categories, created with our association with The United Nations, The Humane Society of the United States, ASCAP, and the NRDC will be presented at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, to opinion leaders in Washington, and to the worldwide audience of The Humane Society of the United States, on its website.
We want your passion, ingenuity, creativity, originality. We want to hear your heart, and see your talent, in action.
Move us to laughter, tears, anger, action, indignation. We want to hear and see and feel your take on the world around you. We've ALL come together because we care about the state of the country and world, we look to the future with anticipation, challenge and concern, and understand that young people have their own unique perspective on life in 2006 — the positives and negatives, challenges and solutions.
We want your input. We want to encourage you to be involved, to find and express your voice in the dialogue about the country and its present and future.
This is also about your future — as a citizen. It's about your future, as a creative force. It's about your career.
It's about who YOU are, and the world YOU want to see.
How FYI Began…
in partnership with The American Democracy Project (ADP)
Early in 2003, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), in partnership with The New York Times, created the AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PROJECT (ADP) as a way of focusing attention on the preparation of citizens, engaging the younger generation in consciousness and involvement with public issues and dialogue.
That same year, HeathCliff Rothman was having lunch with Disney executive John Solomon, and discussing ways to engage young people in the presidential election the following year. The idea of creating PSAs to encourage voting by young Americans metamorphosized in the idea of young people creating their own PSAs, but on any and all issues, not just the importance of voting. Thus was the embryo of FYI born.
When the full page ad for the ADP appeared in The New York Times, HeathCliff immediately contacted George Mehaffy, the visionary founder of the ADP, to collaborate on FYI, whose idealistic objectives were similar.
ADP and FYI partnered in the first “beta” round of FYI, and ADP is continuing with us as we expand our vision, outreach and partnerships in this expanded version in 2006.
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities represents more than 430 public colleges, universities and systems of higher education throughout the United States and its territories. AASCU schools enroll more than 3.4 million students or 56 percent of the students enrolled in public four-year institutions.
