AL Media, Eric Adelstein and Ann Liston’s a political advertising consultancy and production company, has launched its first broadcast campaign of the upcoming election season, for a Milwaukee County politician.
The 19 year old company will produce between 300 and 400 television and radio spots, and hundreds of additional digital pieces for its Democratic candidates between now and Election Day, Nov. 1, 2016, says editor/production supervisor Scott Cohn, who’s been with AL since 2009.
AL Media’s opening salvo is Chris Abele’s campaign for reelection to his second four-year term as Milwaukee County Executive.
Produced in November, the day-in-the-life/documentary-style spots are currently airing on TV, cable and YouTube from now through the Tuesday, April 5 election.
Unlike the barrage of negative election advertising, the Abele campaign focuses on the candidate’s good work for his constituents.
Each of the spots features a real person – a student, small business owner and grandfather — in his personal environment, talking about a program that Abele had started or supported that’d had a positive effect on that person’s life.
The slogan, “It feels good having someone working for us. For a change,” is supered over the last scene of candidate Abele with the real people in each of the spots.
AL Media’s 2016 Democratic election work will begin in earnest after the April primary elections, currently representing Illinois candidates in three Congressional and several state representative races, along with independent expenditure and third party work for labor organizations.
The staff of 10 includes six in broadcast and three in digital production. “By the time we get to June, we will have hired a freelance staff of up to 50 or 60 who will be working through the election,” says Cohn.
Credits for the Chris Abele campaign: Stephanie Rabiola producer, and found the real people; Eric Adelstein directed; Alan Thatcher was DP on two spots, Pete Biaggi, DP on one spot.
Scott Cohn edited and supervised post; Peter Molinaro did the online editing; audio mix by George Lampros of Studio 300 and Jonathan Sack was the account executive.
Watch the Abele spots on YouTube: “Downtown Renaissance,” “Transit,” and “Otis.“
