Aussie expat CD Ben Nott directs ‘Speak Your Vote’ film and campaign for controversial US election via World Wide Mind + David & Goliath
Australian expat creative director Ben Nott, co-founder of Droga5, and founder of US-based creative company World Wide Mind, has written and directed a genre blending two minute film for the U.S. election titled SPEAK YOUR VOTE. Nott collaborated with David & Goliath agency across all categories of the campaign.
The two minute film includes various celebrities, including a music performance by Stevie Wonder, and a resurrected ex President Abe Lincoln. The campaign was filmed in New York and Los Angeles, with experiential events at the legendary Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, and World Wide Mind brand gallery on fashionable Abbot Kinney Blvd, in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.
Says Nott: “I’ve worked on the last four U.S. elections and I feel this one is the most politically charged. In fact the very first commercial I scripted and directed in the U.S. was a non partisan, Voting Counts, message. There is so much polarized, heavy, loud, obvious messaging and misinformation surrounding us in this election. Everyone is on edge, or has shoved their head in the sand. So many people are speaking with anger, and many are too scared to speak their mind. Whoever wants to speak their mind, all they need to do is to vote, to SPEAK YOUR VOTE.”
Voting in the U.S. is not mandatory and voter turn out has not been above 70% in over 100 years. To address this challenge, the Civic Wisdom Foundation, founded by civic entrepreneur Dr. Shannon Arvizu chose a team of U.S. creative companies to communicate the delicate message, including World Wide Mind.
Dr. Arvizu emphasises the necessity of a nonpartisan, pro voting movement; “In a time when every vote counts, the #SpeakYourVote movement highlights the power and influence of the nearly 113 million eligible voters from gen z and millennials, who together represent almost half of the total voting population. Their voices are crucial to shaping the nation’s future; however, historically, voter turnout among these groups has been low, and this campaign aims to change that by creating a platform where art meets activism, inspiring young people to help decide their future.”
A recent report by the Berkeley Institute for Young Americans reveals many young voters are feeling disillusioned. Creating a concerning trend of low turnout among these voters, driven by anxiety over pressing issues such as economic inequality, climate change, and the future of democracy.
Speaking with USC (University of Southern California) Nott (pictured below) responded to questions on the campaign: “With so much questionable authenticity, fear mongering, and loud craziness in this election, I wanted to offer up a message that is neutral, light and gentle, celebrating the ability to vote in a democratic country and inspire individuals to speak their mind, to speak their vote.
“Most of the political messages are pretty obvious. Within seconds viewers assume the message, rather listen to the whole communication with an open mind. I wanted to have viewers questioning what type of political message our film is, and not serve up another obvious genre that they will mentally or physically switch off from in seconds. So we created a film that is a deliberate genre blending commercial / music video / stunt / documentary / public announcement / art film, if you will. The campaign has posters and digital ads as well, they are designed to work very quickly and clearly, as those mediums need, with less of the intrigue tactic.
“There were many collaborators on the campaign involving commercials, billboards, experiential, social, influencers, celebs, live events, Tik Tok challenges, t shirts, stickers, free drinks, the whole thing. It was cool to work with them all, especially David Angelo, who founded David & Goliath. We were junior creatives at DDB on Madison Avenue in New York a long time ago, so it was great to be reunited and humbling to see Stevie Wonder sing our campaign line; speak your vote.”
“Industry trade mags spotted the campaign early, then it went more mainstream with L.A. TV news, RollingStone magazine, and others. I think it was just so different and easy for people to connect with, that it gained some attention. The more people that get the vote message and act on it, the better. Actions speak louder than words.”
Altogether, $10.5 billion has been spent on campaign ads in the 2024 election cycle, on races from president down to county commissioner, according to data compiled by the ad-tracking firm AdImpact and analyzed by NPR (National Public Radio).
That total is up $1 billion from four years ago.
Democrats have outspent Republicans, $5 billion to $4.1 billion, from the beginning of the cycle, starting in January 2023. Independent, third-party and nonpartisan groups account for the remaining $1.4 billion.
Nott responded to further questions by USC: “For better or worse, the U.S. does have occasional rippling effects across the world. I’m a proud Australian citizen and do not vote in the U.S. I just want to help the election to be a fair representation of what the citizens of the United States truly want.”
“Yes, I’m always stoked to work on any creative project, but this is a little nerve wracking to see the whole election play out. With the experiential, physical, part of the campaign I watched many people actually register to vote, and the campaign’s digital reach has been effective nationally. So I know it’s helped a little at least. I’m hoping voter turnout is higher this election. That’s what it’s all about, right, everyone doing their honest bit.”
Client: Civic Wisdom Foundation
Agency Partner & Production company: World Wide Mind, Los Angeles
Writer & Director: Ben Nott
Producer: Danny Izzararas
Director of photography: Juan Pablo Digenio, Spinach, Los Angeles
Agency Partner: David & Goliath, Los Angeles & New York.
Creative Chairman: David Angelo
Agency Group Executive Producer: Curt O’Brien
Brand Gallery: World Wide Mind. 1306 Abbot Kinney, Blvd. Venice Beach. Los Angeles.
Post Production: Rock Paper Scissors, Los Angeles.
Editor: Louis Palacios
Music Management: Barking Owl
Music: Created and Performed by Stevie Wonder