Web director seeking "clueless" Perry look-alike

[onestepforward]

http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2010/07/web_director_se.html

Republican Gov. Rick Perry's campaign is expressing outrage at the thought that Democrat Bill White's campaign might make fun of the governor using actors to portray him.

The key here is a casting call from Red Western Films:

*Casting a series of comic Webisodes revolving around Rick Perry.
*We are looking for someone who looks like Perry and can combine that with a Steve Carrell like cluelessness.
*This is a low budget political ad series for Bill White. The gig will be paid, rate TBD. Shooting in August. Although they are ads, they will feel like little two minute sitcom episodes.

Red Western director Miguel Alvarez told me that the Perry look-alike idea has been dropped in favor of another concept.

"It was a preliminary call," Alvarez said. "We were looking for the rugged, manly look to play off of."

Alvarez said his work with the White campaign has been preliminary and no contract for production has been signed. He said the video was supposed to be for the Web.

But Perry spokesman Mark Miner was eager to put the spot on White's doorstep in a campaign news release:

"Liberal trial lawyer Bill White's campaign is so desperate to attack Gov. Perry that it has resorted to offering to pay actors to appear in attack ads he is writing to be filmed next month."

White spokeswoman Katy Bacon says the casting call is part of the Bill White "Filmmakers Initiative":

"One of our supporters in the film-making community volunteered to help organize a film festival that will harness the creative energy of Texans who are ready for a new governor. He invited independent filmmakers to submit short films.

The goal of this effort is to harness the creative energy of independent Texan filmmakers to support Bill White. Directors have wide latitude to create a concept and final films will be part of an event in Austin.

This casting email that you see is one of the people involved in this project, but obviously the campaign is not micro-managing the creative folks on how they choose to execute their concept.

Bill and the rest of the team are very excited about the opportunity to work with Texas filmmakers!"

LOL! It will be interesting to see what they come up with!

[sonias]

1. Too bad Perry wouldn't do it

He is the perfect person "who looks like Perry and has a Steve Carrell like cluelessness".

I hope these web videos still get produced!

:kick:

[blogslut]

2. Awesome

White is turning out to be a hearty campaigner. I love that he's engaging Texas filmmakers.

[sonias]

3. One of many campaign ads - Texas Filmmakers for Bill White

Texas Tribune 9/15/10
First Short Film from Upcoming White Event Released
It may feature small actors, but the newest political ad for Democratic gubernatorial Bill White is destined for the big screen.

It will be a part of an Oct. 5 event at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin called "Texas Filmmakers for Bill White." As the name implies, this short by filmmaker Miguel Alvarez is just one of many entries that will be shown — but it's the first to be released publicly.

I hope we can see them all on some website after the event.

This one was OK. I would have added Rick's quote about the Gulf oil spill being an act of God. :shrug:

[sonias]

4. Texas Filmmakers For Bill White Releases First Web Video

From a Bill White campaign press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 16, 2010

TEXAS FILMMAKERS FOR BILL WHITE RELEASES FIRST WEB VIDEO


Perry campaign responds by mocking Texas children

HOUSTON -- Texas Filmmakers for Bill White released the first video of an initiative designed to harness the creative talent of Texans to raise awareness about the coming election.

The first video is called "I am Rick Perry" and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkIzwrQbHlQ

The video, created by Miguel Alvarez and Javier Bonafont, two of the Filmmakers for Bill White, highlights that many Texas kids have only had Rick Perry as their governor and some of his hypocritical quotes over the years.

"I couldn't pass up the chance to make these videos. I'm a life-long Texan and the thought of a third of my life being spent with Rick Perry as governor was not appealing" said Alvarez. "Of course, when his campaign came after us for daring to make the videos, it only made the whole process more satisfying. I mean, c'mon, he's Rick Perry. He can't take himself too seriously, can he?"

Perry's campaign spokesperson, Mark Miner, mocked the children in the video, telling the the Houston Chronicle, "It's nice that Bill White put his policy advisers in a video."

"Of course Texas children are on Bill's mind when he's thinking about policy for our state's future. It's Texas kids whose future Rick Perry is mortgaging with his fiscal mismanagement and the $18 billion budget hole. Unfortunately, the only thing Rick Perry and his handlers are looking out for are their political friends and special interest lobbyists. That's why we need a new governor," said Katy Bacon, campaign spokesperson.

The "I am Rick Perry" web video debuted on the well-known Austin-based movie website, Film School Rejects. The review of the web video stated, "I don't think I've ever heard of a politician using a short film festival as part of a campaign."

The Texas Filmmakers for Bill White event will take place on October 5 at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in south Austin. More details can be found here: www.billwhitefortexas.com/film

"We're grateful that talented Texans created a Filmmakers Initiative to support Bill White. They are some of the many, many people that want a new governor who'll be in it for Texas, and Bill is proud to have their support," said Katy Bacon, campaign spokesperson.

:kick: