As we enter the end of the U.S. presidential election season in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, the stakes have become even greater for those whose human rights have been threatened by the current administration’s social, political and economic agenda. Enter New York-based brand design studio ThoughtMatter and their ongoing docuseries “For The People” — inspiring people to learn about, engage with and use their constitutional right to vote, during the months leading up to the 2020 election.
“We want to spark new conversations about what the Constitution means to every American citizen,” explains ThoughtMatter Managing Director Jessie McGuire. “Given what Americans have experienced in the last few months, these conversations couldn’t be more critical.”
The latest episode introduces celebrated writer, choreographer and director Jack Ferver, touching on themes like identity, LGBTQIA+ rights, the myth of democracy, allyship and white privilege as it relates to the U.S. Constitution. Ferver is a gifted performer, acclaimed by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time Out NY with work presented at The New Museum, The Kitchen and countless other venues foreign and domestic. Interviewed during the middle of the pandemic quarantine, he details his personal story, struggles, and efforts to use dance as a political tool while also reflecting the personal and social fractured psyche that has become more evident in the U.S. since the 2016 election.
The episode was directed by Nigerian-born interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker, Olu Obafemi, who has worked with brands like Google, NASA, Motorola, McDonald's, Moet, and Hennessy, and alongside agencies like Droga5, TBWA, DDB and Deutsch.
Sprung from a simple idea, the original “For The People” project began in 2016 in the form of a radical redesign of the U.S. Constitution that was covered by Fast Company, HuffPost and others, that then grew into a documentary interview series. From April to July, the content evolved to offer creative takes on Constitutional rights being violated and became more urgent, provocative and culturally relevant. Now in its final phase from August to November, “For the People” is officially turning up the heat to focus on the ultimate constitutional right: voting. The goal is to be informative, honest, reflective but also leave viewers with tangible, actionable steps and solutions to combat injustices.
While “For the People” tackles complex subjects, for ThoughMatter, the message is simple: “In 2020, you must vote like your life depends on it,” stresses McGuire. “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Check out Jack Ferver’s episode as well as past episodes directed Nicolas Heller featuring anti-Trump cover artist Edel Rodriguez, world famous NYC tattoo artist Mark Cross, and others at: https://www.forthepeopleproject.org/
