Politics & Government

Recent NCHS Grads Make Video to Rock The Vote [Video]

Hoping to motivate young voters with a campaign video.

The creative minds behind Think Inspiration Media have produced a “get out the vote” video aimed at young voters. Recent graduates Nick Howard and Nicola Scandiffio shot and edited a campaign video they hope will inspire their friends to vote in the upcoming Republican caucus.

The two won the American Library Association's 2011 contest, earning a $3,000 prize for the NCHS library, and were also the creative influence behind a video used to launch last April’s NCHS Scholarship Fund drive. Howard said they were approached by First Selectman candidate Rob Mallozzi, about making a video to get out the youth vote. 

Howard and Scandiffio said they are friends with Mallozzi’s son, Robby, but they hope the video will inspire their peers to vote, no matter who their candidate.

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“Mr. Mallozzi was featured in the video, but it was about getting the vote out,” Howard said. “I made a note at the end that even if you don’t support Mr. Mallozzi you should vote.”

Howard and Scandiffio gathered with a small group of friends outside recently. They said partisan politics weren’t their motivation. What interests them is what’s happening to their town.

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Howard, who will be heading to Drexel University in the fall, identifies himself as a conservative. Scandiffio, who will be studying architecture at Pratt Institute, said he is more liberal. One thing they agree on is that maintaining the character of New Canaan matters to them.

“It’s less bipartisan, and more about keeping it how we know it,” Howard said. “When we come back from college, I want it to have the same qualities I appreciated as a kid.”

“Us kids are the ones who are going to be affected by how the town is changing,” Scandiffio added.

Their friend, Justin Formentin, said it’s not so much about specific issues as it is about the candidate.

“At the end of the day you’re voting for the person’s ability to make a lucid decision,” he said.

Howard said they made the video to get younger voters to participate in the process.

“A lot of kids are well educated about politics in town,” he told Patch. “But we don’t have the motivation to go out and vote. We get frustrated with media and politicians. This is our part to help out.”

Scandiffio said the message to their peers is simple.

“Just vote,” he said. “These are the election times. Come out and vote.”


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