Causecast

by AARON HORWITZ, Contributing Writer

Thursday night at the L.A. Film Festival, Causecast leader Jason Pollock premiered his exciting new documentary The Youngest Candidate. Screened in association with the Donkaphant Film Festival, and produced by Worldwide Pants and Oscar-nominee Lawrence Bender, The Youngest Candidate is a film about youth in America getting involved in the political arena. If you were checking out Causecast that night, you may have seen it streamed live.

For his first feature length film, Pollock decided to zero in on four young political hopefuls across the country, ages 18-20, as they made valiant bids to win public office in 2007, and in no small towns either. 19 year old Ytit Chauhan ran for city council in Atlantic City, NJ, while Raul De Jesus competed for mayor in Hartford, CT and George Monger ran for city council in Memphis, TN. 18 year old Tiffany Tupper ran for school board in Hampton Township in Pennsylvania.

Pollock, himself a young man, mentioned during the Q & A that he found his beginnings as an assistant to perhaps the most famous documentarian, Michael Moore. During his time working on Fahrenheit 9/11, Jason’s interest in politics and his desire to create a powerful film of his own were born.

From the looks of this film, he clearly learned a thing or two about how to make an effective documentary.
The Youngest Candidate is light and refreshingly unpretentious for a political doc, and maintains a poppy soundtrack to keep things fun and current. Pollock wisely decides not to explore the political platforms of his four heroes, instead focusing on their campaign process and their indomitable spirits. While documenting the ups and downs and hurdles candidates must face in the campaign process- especially teens and young candidates—Pollock isn’t afraid to show some of our candidates’ less-than-flattering character traits, or their utter lack of experience (as one would expect from a person who just graduated high school).

But the purpose of The Youngest Candidate is not to argue that more youth should be elected to public office (although that certainly is encouraged). It is merely to demonstrate that the youth movement in America can and should get more involved in the political arena, and play a larger part in the important political decisions that affect all of us.

In that respect, The Youngest Candidate is a rousing success and a wonderful rallying cry for young Americans everywhere. As Pollock notes in the film, about 50 young Americans currently hold public office throughout the nation- a shining example that the ability is within all of us.
Causecast is proud to partner with Jason Pollock and Worldwide Pants in promoting The Youngest Candidate and its positive message. For more information on the film, or to join The Youngest Candidate movement, head over to the official site.