Drew Barrymore documentary Airs on MTV

Choose or Lose presents: The Best Place to Start

Tue 09/21
10:30 PM

Wed 09/22
6:00 PM

Tue 09/28
1:00 AM

Tue 09/28
8:00 AM

Fri 10/01
10:00 AM


Choose or Lose Presents: The Best Place to Start
"This special follows Drew Barrymore's road trip journey into America to find out why young people don't vote in higher numbers, and what would get them more excited about voting. With Drew as the central presence on camera, interviewing and interacting with a wide range of people - her journey leads from rallies at the New Hampshire primary to meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to an experience with voting history in the deep South. After awakening to the 'vicious cycle' that exists when young people don't vote and therefore find themselves ignored by politicians, Drew witnesses the amazing efforts - from Russell Simmons' Hip Hop Summit to the Warped Tour's Punk Voter campaign - that are being made to break the cycle and get more kids involved in voting. Along the way, Drew talks to numerous high school and college students, politicos from across the partisan spectrum from Hillary Clinton to Ralph Reed, and interviews a host of today's most recognizable voices such as Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, and Michael Moore."

http://www.mtv.com

Interview with Drew and some great photo!

http://www.barnard.edu/newnews/news091304c.html


"Barrymore said she decided to make the documentary when, after she was asked to speak at a political rally for young people, she "fell on my face." She said she realized then: "I have to know what I'm talking about or I just can't live with myself."

In making the film, she travelled with journalists on the press bus during last winter's Democratic primary elections in New Hampshire and other states, interviewing the candidates, including Gen. Wesley Clark as well as political leaders including Sen. Hillary Clinton and her own congressman, Rep. Henry Waxman of California, and celebrities like filmmaker Michael Moore, Democratic political strategist James Carville (of "It's the economy, stupid" fame) and political humorist Jon Stewart of The Daily Show. She also interviewed activists for voter registration for young people, such as the Hip Hop Summit, punkvoter.com and First Vote.

The film takes the form of Barrrymore's search on camera for answers: Why do so few young people vote? What difference does it make if they do? How can we break the cycle of apathy that keeps turnout low? She approaches the subject with candor and humor, at one point noting her own student years in high school cutting class as she approaches a group of students doing the same.

She discovers a cycle in which 18-to-24 year olds vote in such low numbers (only 36 percent) that politicians feel they can then ignore issues of concern to them. Then, feeling ignored and misunderstood by politicians, young people are less likely to see the point of voting. "But we do hold all the cards," said Barrymore, who will turn 30 next year. "If we vote, then they will have to start speaking meaningfully to young people."

get your kids to watch.

Hey, this is Drew!

She's probably the most lovable young woman in Hollywood today.

She can get the youth vote.


Give her some support, she is doing it. Not just talk.

i plan to watch - see what the kids are thinking! i did see the promo on The Daily Show - punky goth looking guy said he'd vote repubican....curious as to see why he would.