will.i.am's "Yes We Can Song" Video Awarded Emmy® for New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment

[Pirate Smile]

will.i.am's "Yes We Can Song" Video Awarded Emmy® for New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment

Political Music Video Inspired by Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Speech Wins Emmy Award


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - June 16, 2008) - Friday evening at the 35th Annual Creative Arts & Entertainment Daytime Emmy® Awards ceremony in New York City, the "Yes We Can Song" was honored with the first-ever Emmy Award for Best New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment. The new category recognizes innovative production techniques and the use of media enhancement to support content. A collaborative video produced by artist will.i.am and Mike Jurkovac, and directed by Jesse Dylan, "Yes We Can Song" has garnered over 25 million views and growing.

Originally posted on February 2, 2008 right before Super Tuesday, a pivotal time in the Presidential Primaries, the video has become a viral phenomenon on the Internet through YouTube, MySpace, and its official site www.YesWeCanSong.com. Its message elicited a movement for change and instilled a sense of urgency and hope that has swept across the nation.

The "Yes We Can Song" was inspired by Barack Obama's speech the night of the New Hampshire Primary, and the video features footage of Obama delivering the speech. Created in just two days, the music and the video were a product of passion and inspiration, pieced together with the help of many influential people in the entertainment industry who offered their time and talent both in front of and behind the camera. The video features a bevy of celebrities, including Common, John Legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kelly Hu, Nick Cannon, Scarlett Johansson, and many, many more.

Executive Producer Fred Goldring, who originally conceived the idea for the project, stated, "We are thrilled and honored to have received a prestigious Emmy Award, particularly in a brand new category which acknowledges the ever-increasing impact of the convergence of digital content and delivery. Most importantly, we hope our video continues to virally connect with people around the world and spread the inspirational messaging of our next President, Barack Obama."

During the Webby Awards earlier this week, where will.i.am was recognized as the Artist of the Year and acceptance speeches were limited to five words, he proclaimed, "Now we know we can."


A full list of credits for the "Yes We Can Song" video:
The Credits

CEO of Inspiration:
Barack Obama

Song Produced By:
will.i.am

Video Produced By:
will.i.am and Mike Jurkovac

......

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=869064&sourceType=1

The video:

http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/ywc/

[AllexxisF1]

1. Awesome.

I am wondering now that we are in the general election what more we can expect from the awesome Will i Am.

I would love to see one more video of this type with loads of famous people and I mean loads.

[uponit7771]

2. WORD!!!

[Cha]

3. Way to will..

That was so inspiring!