Monday, October 13, 2008 12:31 PM EDT
WHS grad goes ‘viral’ for voting
 Julie Newsome, a Westerly High graduate, takes part in a pro-voting video with Dustin Hoffman. YOUTUBE.COM |
As a first-time voter and recent high school graduate, Julie Newsome puts a face and name to the American public being urged to register to vote by a slew of celebrities.
Eighteen-year-old Newsome appears in a public service video called “5 Friends” that has spread via e-mail inboxes and, as of Saturday evening, received more than 900,500 hits on the popular video sharing Web site YouTube.com. The announcement encourages people to register to vote and to pass along the message to five of their friends.
In the video’s last seconds, the 2008 Westerly High School graduate steps into the frame with a clapperboard, which is used to identify film takes.
Oscar award winning actor Dustin Hoffman asks Newsome if she has registered.
“Yes,” she replies.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Hoffman replies, and asks her name.
“You’ve got to be like Julie,” he says to the camera, pointing to the petite, blond Newsome.
Newsome, who moved to Los Angeles about three weeks ago, said her appearance in the 4 minute, 45-second video was unplanned.
She is taking time off from school and apprenticing with her uncle, Rhode Island native Keith Collea, a film producer. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio enlisted Collea’s help and equipment to shoot the public service announcement at his home.
Newsome said she was helping out behind the scenes and chatted with Hoffman beforehand.
“It was all just really very random,” she said of when the actor drew her into the scene. Later, she said, she learned Hoffman insisted their conversation be included in the finished video.
The spot, featuring a who’s who list of actors and musicians, has spread rapidly online. DiCaprio organized, funded and appears in the video, which also includes Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Ellen DeGeneres, Will.i.am, Kevin Bacon, Courteney Cox, Laura Linney, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Forest Whitaker, Amy Adams and Tobey Maguire.
Newsome said her uncle edited the film until about 4 a.m. and she heard just five hours later from a Rhode Island friend who had already seen it online.
“Ever since then it’s crazy. I really never thought anyone would see it, let alone everyone I’ve ever known,” she said.
She said the video’s message is an important one. This is the first presidential election in which Newsome is eligible to vote.
“And I’m extremely excited,” she said. “I hope the video encourages younger people to have the same attitude.”
Newsome said she is supporting Democratic candidate Barack Obama. The video, however, remains neutral and focuses on registering to vote as a civic obligation and way of having a say about issues including education, global warming, terrorism and health care. The segment does not name a candidate or support a political party.
A second PSA is in the works to encourage people to head to the polls on Nov. 4. Newsome said she expects to help her uncle on that set on Monday.
This is quite a start for Newsome, who said she went to the West Coast to learn about the entertainment industry and to pursue screenwriting. She may attend Santa Monica College next semester.
Newsome, who loves to write, penned an occasional column for The Westerly-Pawcatuck Press, one of The Sun Publishing Company’s weekly newspapers, last year.
To view the 5 Friends video, go to www.youtube.com/user/5friendsvote
edupuis@thewesterlysun.com
Eighteen-year-old Newsome appears in a public service video called “5 Friends” that has spread via e-mail inboxes and, as of Saturday evening, received more than 900,500 hits on the popular video sharing Web site YouTube.com. The announcement encourages people to register to vote and to pass along the message to five of their friends.
In the video’s last seconds, the 2008 Westerly High School graduate steps into the frame with a clapperboard, which is used to identify film takes.
Oscar award winning actor Dustin Hoffman asks Newsome if she has registered.
“Yes,” she replies.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Hoffman replies, and asks her name.
“You’ve got to be like Julie,” he says to the camera, pointing to the petite, blond Newsome.
Newsome, who moved to Los Angeles about three weeks ago, said her appearance in the 4 minute, 45-second video was unplanned.
She is taking time off from school and apprenticing with her uncle, Rhode Island native Keith Collea, a film producer. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio enlisted Collea’s help and equipment to shoot the public service announcement at his home.
Newsome said she was helping out behind the scenes and chatted with Hoffman beforehand.
“It was all just really very random,” she said of when the actor drew her into the scene. Later, she said, she learned Hoffman insisted their conversation be included in the finished video.
The spot, featuring a who’s who list of actors and musicians, has spread rapidly online. DiCaprio organized, funded and appears in the video, which also includes Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Ellen DeGeneres, Will.i.am, Kevin Bacon, Courteney Cox, Laura Linney, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Forest Whitaker, Amy Adams and Tobey Maguire.
Newsome said her uncle edited the film until about 4 a.m. and she heard just five hours later from a Rhode Island friend who had already seen it online.
“Ever since then it’s crazy. I really never thought anyone would see it, let alone everyone I’ve ever known,” she said.
She said the video’s message is an important one. This is the first presidential election in which Newsome is eligible to vote.
“And I’m extremely excited,” she said. “I hope the video encourages younger people to have the same attitude.”
Newsome said she is supporting Democratic candidate Barack Obama. The video, however, remains neutral and focuses on registering to vote as a civic obligation and way of having a say about issues including education, global warming, terrorism and health care. The segment does not name a candidate or support a political party.
A second PSA is in the works to encourage people to head to the polls on Nov. 4. Newsome said she expects to help her uncle on that set on Monday.
This is quite a start for Newsome, who said she went to the West Coast to learn about the entertainment industry and to pursue screenwriting. She may attend Santa Monica College next semester.
Newsome, who loves to write, penned an occasional column for The Westerly-Pawcatuck Press, one of The Sun Publishing Company’s weekly newspapers, last year.
To view the 5 Friends video, go to www.youtube.com/user/5friendsvote
edupuis@thewesterlysun.com
get it straight wrote on Oct 23, 2008 8:19 PM:
" Hey "Big Surprise," Obama is not a Socialist, and if you actually believe that, the only "brainwashed drone" is you, by the National Republican Party propaganda. You come across as really under educated about politics and you probably shouldn't talk about it until you learn the facts. "
mrs.r wrote on Oct 15, 2008 9:10 PM:
" Congratulations to Julie I knew you could do and be what ever you dreamed. We will always support and believe in you!! Love Ya PS hope to see you in Mexico xoxoxxo "
happy wrote on Oct 15, 2008 3:13 AM:
" This isn't about who anyone is or should vote for. its about someone from westerly making it big in Hollywood. not everything has to be a debate, just be happy for this girl "
get over yourselves wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:52 PM:
" Ok, first off this article was NOT put on here for you to voice your opinions on who you are voting for, reality check we dont care. Its about Julie Newsome who made in big in cali just think a westerly person meeting with the big people how cool is that. Shes voting for Obama Congrats to her mind your own business and just be happy for her. p.s Julie is not dumb she is sticking up for what she beleives in "
KM wrote on Oct 13, 2008 6:38 PM:
" WELL IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT OBAMA - AND DON'T BELEIVE IN HIS VIEWS OR THE FAR RIGHT AGENDA THEN .... PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE FOR MC CAIN. THE PRESS HAS BEEN SO PRO-OBAMA - BUT LETS NOT FRIGGIN HAND HIM THE COUNTRY!!
GLAD TO FIND MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS VOTING MCCAIN - YOUR VOTE COUNTS TOO ...
VOTE MCCAIN! "
GLAD TO FIND MANY COLLEGE STUDENTS VOTING MCCAIN - YOUR VOTE COUNTS TOO ...
VOTE MCCAIN! "
Calm down people wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:27 PM:
" A PSA is not Pro-Anything if it doesn't mention it in the video. Anyone who didn't have prior knowldge of who these celebrities supported would have no idea by what they talk about in the PSA. It is just them urging kids from my generation to get out there and vote because it affects our futures in a big way. And to "I'm not voting," I am also 18 and was registered to vote way before this PSA was ever released. The fact that you "don't care" about your own future is sad and it's the whole reason this PSA was made. You just come across as sounding uneducated and immature. Way to make our generation look good! "
Big Surprise wrote on Oct 12, 2008 6:00 PM:
" Westerly's newest celebrity supports te socialist along with the rest of Hollywood. Big deal...anyone with an inkling to be influenced by a bunch of actors is certainly dumb enough to vote for socialists. I'm also writing in a candidate. My 20 year old daughter is in college and tells me that the vocal Obama supporters are the kids most likely to be passed out on Saturday night. They are joined by the poly-sci majors who are brainwashed drones. "
I'm not voting wrote on Oct 12, 2008 1:28 PM:
" I'm 18 and after seeing this you tube video I will not vote. Because I don't Care about anything those Celebrities say or believe in. They are all Rich brats, who think using sarcasm will get young people to vote. because of their liberal views they will have most people voting republican anyway. Besides aren't these the same celebrities that attended Obama's hollywood dinner and where too cheap to pay the head charge and promised to do a PSA insead? Looks like this PSA is the end product.
In bad taste in my opinion. "
In bad taste in my opinion. "
Wow non Bias? wrote on Oct 12, 2008 12:28 PM:
" On the you tube video looks at the text to the right that say Tags, at the end the tags read..."voting Barack Obama John McCain register to vote how presidential election friends"
I think We all know who these Hollywierd Stars support, they just hope young people are uneducated and will get on the Obama Train. Sad Sad piece of Hollywierd Propaganda. "
I think We all know who these Hollywierd Stars support, they just hope young people are uneducated and will get on the Obama Train. Sad Sad piece of Hollywierd Propaganda. "
Oh Brother wrote on Oct 12, 2008 12:11 PM:
" Yea, everyone in the Video Supports Obama... No surprise there...
Bias? you bet! "
Bias? you bet! "
That PSA is Pro Obama wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:59 AM:
" Wow, lets see now, Every Celebrity appearing in that Video Is a Obama supporter. Hoffman has Obama on speed dial. Sara Silverman is an out right Obama Supporter on her website, as well as the rest of the foul mouth actors... Yes they have an uncensored version! I guess that appeals to??? Yes It appeals to the 18 to 24 crowd that are prone to Vote Democrat based on what they are taught when they leave High school. This is just the same as MTV 1992 Rock the Vote that got Clinton in the White House. I hope the young people that do vote look at the Issues at hand and take the time to understand exactly where each candidate stands on the issues that affect us now and in the long run. I am neither a Obama or McCain supported, I'm going to Write in RON PAUL. Yes you can do that too! You Can Write in Santa Clause too if that makes you feel good. Just Understand you don't need to vote for Obama or McCain because Celebrities tell you too, vote for yourself! "
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