Grassroots TV ads for Iowa - It's on

[Deborah K]

My heart is jumping with joy this morning!

 

[VoluntaryAmerican]

Deb got things kicked off in this thread, we just talked and are starting to assemble a team to get the project off the ground.

The immediate focus is getting votes in the Ames Straw Poll (Aug 13th), assuming we can get an ad up and running minimum a week before the poll. Also to just plug Ron's name in a general classy way so viewers hear his name over and over. The Iowa caucus is still a ways off (Feb 6, 2012).

Ads are generally 3 varieties: 15 sec, 30 sec, 60 sec.

The 60 second ones are generally the most bang for your buck as you have a lot more time to build a proper message.

This is a good example at what we're thinking:



For mobiles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY

Except turn it around "more Americans are out of work than ever" etc. We need vetted statistics to weave into the script that give credibility to the overall message. First 30 seconds would give examples of the bad shape the country is in (problem), the final 30 would be about Ron Paul (solution). Ron's name is not even mentioned until after the 30 second mark...you will have no idea this is even a political ad at first. 1st half: grab people's attention, 2nd half: tell them about Ron Paul. We can hire voiceover talent that will sound very similar to the ad above.

We need to craft a very effective script to make up the voiceover. It cannot have any hard to understand talking points. Words like "keynsian", "sound money", "Fed Res" should be avoided....we're talking the TV-watching general public here folks. They unfortunately have very little understanding what these things mean. We want a feel good ad people can relate to, very similar to the Reagan one above, but perhaps a bit more substance. Think fluffy, but intelligent substantive fluffy. A 2011 update of this classic 1984 ad.

We are going to have to shoot our own footage for the ad, all in HD, to really make this thing pop visually. Youtube clips won't really cut it...we need 100% original content anyway to avoid copyright issues. I can shoot some myself, and we have other professional contacts who can contribute. Once the script is written we'll figure out what kind of visuals to run under the voiceover.

We will need an uplifting soundtrack. There are a lot of good royalty-free websites where songs can be purchased for very little. It's also possible we can have it written for us. We will have to contract out the voiceover. My PAC can pay for some of this upfront. Assuming everything works out we'll get a Chipin up soon and start raising for the actual ad buys in Iowa. Cable, broadcast, satellite, whatever will work best.

Deb is beginning to research and contact Iowa TV/cable companies this week to get pricing, etc. We can also run radio ads with the same voice talent in conjunction with the TV version. Those scripts can be altered as needed to be effective for that medium, even plug "vote in the Iowa Straw Poll August 13th in Ames" or something to that effect.

If this project is successful, we have months and month to run ads in IA and NH. Caucuses and primaries don't get underway until Feb 2012.

We have vetted, proven forum people onboard with the project. Obviously we want as much input as possible. Have at it.

I like the idea to base it off the Reagan commericial. I do have a background in Mass Media and Advertising.

I suggest you look at this link below.

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/abuck2/wwv/monroems.pdf

If you're trying to persuade someone Monroe's Motivated Sequence is the most important model for over 50 years in advertising. Just give it a look over and it will greatly help your ad.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

My heart is jumping with joy this morning!

 

[Deborah K]

My bud!

 

[sailingaway]

This is fantastic idea! We could start a thread here where people can post themselves performing the whole script. Then the video editors can cut it all together the way they like. This would be so awesome.

Honestly, I react negatively to that, it sounds like hubris. I think the Reagan ad approach is better.

 

[trey4sports]

Honestly, I react negatively to that, it sounds like hubris. I think the Reagan ad approach is better.

I agree. I think the Reagan ad will convert more people. Although the "script" idea is neat I think it would be more of a "feelgood" approach that would appeal to people who already support Ron. The Reagan ad i think will have more broad appeal and convert more people. Lastly, i would be very careful about projections. Just because you or I might really like an ad it doesn't mean that the voting population in general will like the ad. It is important we tailor the video to the voting public as a whole and not just what "we" the grassroots like.

With that said, i'll support the commercial that is most backed by objective evidence and the one i believe will convert and appeal to the most voters. Not necessarily the commercial that makes me feel the best.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

I imagine we will end up creating/airing more than one commercial by the time this is over and the "Thanks Ron Paul" seems like it will work. Maybe we need to flesh it out more, but it seems a good basic idea. I know a similar one YAL made was well received.

 

[sevendst19]

Potential TV commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHybC0feMLM&feature

In this video he has a great potential TV ad. From 1:50 to 2:30 of this video would make an excellent political ad. IMO

 

[KatieForPaul]

Honestly, I react negatively to that, it sounds like hubris. I think the Reagan ad approach is better.

The 'real' Katie here - my fiance will be posting under the ronpaul nyc liberty hq account now. The idea was not meant to be hubris-tic in nature; the feelings conveyed would/should be honest sincerity and gratitude. People would be thanking him as if they were actually speaking to him in person and really, truly giving their sincerest thanks for all he has taught and done.

I, personally, have not had the pleasure of meeting him yet, but when I do I hope to convey my most sincere thanks to him. He has taught me so much and I am appreciative of the 30+ years of hard work, learning, and educating he has done.

That is what the "Thank You Ron Paul" idea was meant to be. Maybe this will help flip the negative viewpoint; if not, no biggie... that's why we are here, to toss around ideas and entertain and tweak them using a multitude of different vantage points and opinions.

 

[sailingaway]

The 'real' Katie here - my fiance will be posting under the ronpaul nyc liberty hq account now. The idea was not meant to be hubris-tic in nature; the feelings conveyed would/should be honest sincerity and gratitude. People would be thanking him as if they were actually speaking to him in person and really, truly giving their sincerest thanks for all he has taught and done.

I, personally, have not had the pleasure of meeting him yet, but when I do I hope to convey my most sincere thanks to him. He has taught me so much and I am appreciative of the 30+ years of hard work, learning, and educating he has done.

That is what the "Thank You Ron Paul" idea was meant to be. Maybe this will help flip the negative viewpoint; if not, no biggie... that's why we are here, to toss around ideas and entertain and tweak them using a multitude of different vantage points and opinions.

I understand and think WE would love it but it sounds more like a 'fan' thing to do, and one thing we have to fight is the idea that we are 'cultish' about him. I think as an introduction the other ad is better. Just my 2cents, though.

 

[LibertyEagle]

I understand and think WE would love it but it sounds more like a 'fan' thing to do, and one thing we have to fight is the idea that we are 'cultish' about him. I think as an introduction the other ad is better. Just my 2cents, though.

I agree.

 

[Tarzan]

I also have an idea called "Thank you Ron Paul." It cuts to different people (from every age and range), thanking Ron Paul for his personal efforts to restore America. At no point does it say "vote Ron Paul" I've found people are generally more susceptible to messages when they think it's their own idea.

How about a slight twist on this? Example:
Young Couple
Male: I learned how we can make American prosperous again.
Female: Thank you Ron Paul.
Adult Couple with kids:
Female: I learned how we can save our Children's Future.
Male: Thank you Ron Paul.
Senior Couple:
Male: I learned how we can secure our retirement. (social security, medicare)
Female: Thank you Ron Paul.
Military Couple (not in uniform, not allowed, but with hair and military tshirts):
Male: I learned how to make American more secure.
Female: Thank you Ron Paul
Worker Group (Farmer, Hardhat, Construction, etc.):
Female: I learned how we can get America working again.
Male: Thank you Ron Paul.
Entire Group of all people:
Female: I learned how we can Restore America Now!
Group: Thank You Ron Paul

End with VO and link to learn more about Ron Paul website

 

[Deborah K]

I understand and think WE would love it but it sounds more like a 'fan' thing to do, and one thing we have to fight is the idea that we are 'cultish' about him. I think as an introduction the other ad is better. Just my 2cents, though.

Keep in mind though, this is a grassroots project. It kind of makes sense that since we thought it up, funded it, and put it together, that we would, at some point down the line, want to do a "Thank You" ad, not only to show our authenticity, but our numbers. But I agree. Initially I'd like to see the Reaganesque ad - especially for this first target market which is older republican voters.

 

[LibertyRevolution]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHybC0feMLM&feature

In this video he has a great potential TV ad. From 1:50 to 2:30 of this video would make an excellent political ad. IMO

I agree, here is a 30sec clip:

 

[sailingaway]

I'd have him learn it and say it, if they went that route. When he reads he doesn't come across. Or really, I'd use clips from his speeches. People animate him.

 

[sailingaway]

Keep in mind though, this is a grassroots project. It kind of makes sense that since we thought it up, funded it, and put it together, that we would, at some point down the line, want to do a "Thank You" ad, not only to show our authenticity, but our numbers. But I agree. Initially I'd like to see the Reaganesque ad - especially for this first target market which is older republican voters.

I didn't mean never, but it requires some buy in to the idea that he is a good guy to make it work. Sarcasm takes over, otherwise. Imagine that ad for Bachmann or Cain, and your instinctive reaction. For an introduction, I think the other is better.

 

[trey4sports]

I understand and think WE would love it but it sounds more like a 'fan' thing to do, and one thing we have to fight is the idea that we are 'cultish' about him. I think as an introduction the other ad is better. Just my 2cents, though.

agreed.

 

[ItsTime]

How did I miss this thread? Introduction ad is the way to go. Remember Ron also said he would be looking to the grassroots to create official campaign videos. So my suggestion is make a bunch of them and I am sure someone from the official campaign will contact you

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

I got the following via email and haven't checked to ensure accuracy (why there are "sources" listed which are not referenced in the stats, I have no idea), but FWIW:

After two years of Obama ...

Hit people when they wake up... coffee(Starbucks, et al) and inflation is accelerating costs up (double Digit percentages).

More: http://www.espressocoffeeguide.com/2011/05/coffee-prices-going-up/

Major Coffee Companies Raising Prices
Last week J.M. Smucker Company (Folgers, Millstone and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee) raised prices yet again, this time by 11% (after three earlier increases that totaled 23%).


Peet’s Coffee also announced a new price increase after two recent increases, and Kraft (e.g., Yuban and Maxwell House coffees) also recently raised their coffee prices due continued increases in the price of green coffee beans (milled but not yet roasted coffee beans).

Kraft’s recent price hikes come on the heels of March price hikes that included an increase of 6.25 cents per pound on instant coffee as well as 70 cents per pound on ground coffee. This trend of coffee prices going up is not new – Kraft had raised prices in December of 2010, which came after a 9% increase in coffee prices in August of 2010.

Joining the price-raising party is Starbucks which recently announced that it will increase the price of bagged coffee sold in Starbucks stores in the United States by 17% beginning on July 12, 2011. This is the first time since 2009 that Starbucks has raised the price of its packaged coffee sold in stores.

IOWA Staple: DAP, diammonium phosphate Fertilizer (for corn Ag)

Fertilizer prices rose right along with the grain prices, with a couple of dramatic, sudden spikes over the course of the fall. At one point, my price for DAP, diammonium phosphate, jumped by $140 a ton, which was a 27% price increase. DAP has risen another 10% for spring of 2011, and indications from the wholesalers that we buy from are for prices to continue to rise over the winter.

 

[svobody]

I think an introduction ad is a good idea, but I also think it should focus on his predictions. In theory, this should be pretty easy - 30 seconds of footage of empty storefronts and people in a foodstamp line or whatever, and a voice over. This has to talk about the economy I would think? Or are the social issues still what's going to drive this straw poll... This is where it'd be nice to have the campaign's polling info!

"The media always tries to kill the messenger
So when Ron Paul told us that the housing bubble was coming
And that a financial collapse was inevitable
And that Obama's stimulus bill wouldn't save the economy
They said he was wrong
But he was right
Who would you rather have in the White House?
Somebody who PREDICTED, and warned about the problem
Or somebody or helped create it... "