HeathCliff Rothman's Letter to Young Americans

We started FYI three years ago as a kernel of an idea. John Solomon and I were having lunch before the last election, and he suggested that we make films to get young people to vote. From that embryonic conversation at lunch metamorphosized the idea that young people make their own films, on any issue. George Mehaffy at the American Democracy Project was the first, of many, angels.

We want to empower the younger generation -- the next generation of leaders -- to understand how their single voices can influence the public debate, and -- as hokey as it sounds -- to understand the power of a democracy -- where every voice counts.

It doesn't always feel that way -- like individually, or even collectively, we can make a difference.

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 at the level of equality we know is the profound truth of the higher consciousness.

That we are all equal. That we all deserve protection by our government. That animals are not unfeeling objects to be ignored, abused or allowed to suffer casually. That there shouldn't be mindless, unnecessary pollution. That nobody should live without healthcare or ample food or reasonable shelter.

We want to encourage and engage young people, no matter how disaffected, cynical, or disillusioned -- and there is every reason to be cynical and disillusioned.

Yet, yet...

There is as much growing consciousness of equality as there is ignorance and oppression. The world is moving into the light as much as darkness is manifesting.

We have to fight, to speak up, to believe -- to believe that things can be better.

And the best part is that America is a democracy, where every voice has a constitutional right to be heard. We're not the only democracy, but we were founded on the celebratory notion of democracy, where all men (and women) are equal. We'll add animals, races, religions, sexual orientations, and enlightened categories our Founding Fathers had not yet learned.

Since we are in a millennial age of media a 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 judges and Think Tank include the heads of several major studios and television, internet, music and publishing entities, as well as senior elected government representatives.

And your film, if selected for the semi-finals which are voted on by the public, will be seen by up to 80 million users of Microsoft internet platforms. The finalists will be seen by viewers of mtvU, by visitors to MSNBC.com and MSN Video, by visitors to filmyourissues.com, and other broadcast platforms that we haven't even thought of.

And MSN Spaces gets our vision. They have generously created a joint MSN Spaces/FYI community page which will link FYI videos to blogging on the issues. How cool is that? And all filmmakers who submit a film, or plan to submit a film, can create a personal webpage, offer their personal bio, discuss the making of their film, and post their photos and their resume, on MSN Spaces.

Finalists in the special four categories, created through our association with The United Nations, The Humane Society of the United States, and USC Center for Public Diplomacy, will be presented at 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 heard and see and feel your take on the world around you. We want to learn.

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 also about your career, how you manifest your talent and voice, in an autobiographical, creative way.

To quote George Clooney -- who doesn't want to quote George Clooney: We can't wait to see your films.