A group of actresses and industry members lead by Frances Fisher (ABC's RESURRECTION, TITANIC) and Marcia Cross (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) have created a Public Service Announcement titled "I WOKE UP" to support Marianne Williamson's campaign for Congress.
This PSA has been sponsored and the media purchased by Blue America PAC Independent Expenditure Committee, completely independent from the Marianne Williamson for Congress Campaign.
Other noteworthy actresses involved in the PSA include
Francesca Eastwood (OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS, JERSEY BOYS),
Shohreh Aghdashloo (HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG),
Catherine Roberts,
Debbon Ayer, Molly Weber,
Nancy Moonves,
Amanda Perez,
Jody Carter, and Bonnie Bower. Also appearing in the ad is the Publisher of the LA Progressive, Sharon Kyle, along with Digital Marketing Consultant and Speaker, Nori Wolfson. Moby, a multiple-Grammy Award nominated musician and BMI Film & TV Award winner, donated the music that plays throughout the piece.
The PSA will be airing online starting today via numerous web sites including The LA Times, and it will air on cable TV starting Friday morning on networks that include MSNBC, CNN, TBS, TNT, Comedy Central, USA, The Food Channel, and Bravo.
"We collectively felt compelled to stand up and do something to support Marianne," says Roger Wolfson, who wrote and directed the PSA. Wolfson, a TV writer (THE CLOSER, SAVING GRACE) who has been staff to Senators Kerry, Wellstone, and Kennedy, added "I've never seen any project come together as easily and quickly as this one."
By all accounts, this was a collaborative effort.
Marcia Cross, who has won two SAG Awards, one Satellite Award, and who has also been nominated a combined 13 times for the Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, Prism Awards, and the Satellite and Television Critics Association Awards, came up with the slogan "I Woke Up." She additionally contributed much of the dialogue. Explains Cross: "Marianne represents the quality of leadership we need in America, and we hope this piece can help create awareness for her and inspire action to vote for Marianne. She has changed so many lives, including mine. We felt this ad was the least we could to do support this incredible candidacy."
The ad was conceived Friday night and shot on Monday - Memorial Day.
Frances Fisher, who has starred in Academy Award winning films like "Unforgiven," was willing to serve as Assistant Director, Craft Services, and Final Touches for this particular set. "There is nothing I wouldn't do to raise awareness of this incredibly vital campaign. Finally, we don't have to go to the polls to choose between different flavors of vanilla. Marianne provides a choice that every woman should consider."
The film crew included Director of Photography Steven Miles, Sound Work by Rick Brush, and it was edited by Writer/Director Stephen Lentini. The set for this film took place at the West Hollywood showroom of activist Jamie Adler, who appears in the ad next to her daughter, Ruby. Director
John Wynn also contributed guidance and support. Even Mark Wolf, who served as a Filmmaker and Editor at The White House for
President Obama, showed up as crew to take stills and work the teleprompter.
"The entire process was inspirational," said Wolf. "Everything we needed seemed to appear, right on schedule," added Adler. "We were fighting to give each other lines," said Aghdashloo, an Academy Award-Nominated Actress who has won the Primetime Emmy, Independent Spirit Award, and the LA and NY Film Critics Awards.
On a personal note, Adler pointed out: "I have never been so proud of my daughter, who was as committed to the quality of this ad as anyone in the room." Ruby Adler (9) added: "When I grow up, I'm voting for Marianne."
Another mother-daughter combination the PSA captures is that of Fisher and
Francesca Eastwood, whose passion for Williamson is well captured onscreen, when she explains: "I'm showing up at the polls, because I woke up."
The issues the PSA touches on includes the misplaced priorities of spending more on candidates versus pre-natal care, Veterans, the need to reduce recidivism, and providing more teachers in schools to support and better educate our children.
A link to the 60 second version of the PSA can be found online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKoWCr-0xhs
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