Partnership with PIVOT

BALLAD TO THE BALLOT, 2020

Directed by Linda Mai Green featuring Thao Nguyen, wardrobe by Thai Nguyen

Ballad to the Ballot features indie musician Thao Nguyen of @thaogetstaydown crooning an original, bilingual Get Out the Vote anthem, set to the dreamy rhythms of cha cha cha. The music and the look evoke retro episodes of Paris By Night, an over-the-top variety show beloved by many Vietnamese of the diaspora, who often served a VHS-viewing of the show along with family dinner. Thao, who is Vietnamese American, plays both the hostess and performer in traditional ao dai-inspired dresses from the Atelier of Vietnamese American fashion designer @thainguyenatelier Thai Nguyen, from Netflix’s show Say I Do. The video honors Viet nostalgia while claiming a future here by celebrating democracy, civic engagement and the rich cultural contribution of an often-marginalized immigrant community that is now an emerging political force in counties and cities all over the USA.

PIVOT is a 501c4 nonprofit whose mission is to engage and empower Vietnamese Americans for a just and diverse America. Our community of activists and supporters are spread across 25 states. In 2017, hundreds of progressive Vietnamese Americans from around the nation formed PIVOT, the first national progressive Vietnamese American organization, committed to fighting for a just and diverse America. As refugees and children of refugees, PIVOT members were committed to ensuring that come election-time, their community would not be left on the sidelines or misled with divisive misinformation.  For more information, visit www.pivotnetwork.org. #PhothePeople #ProjectBaConOi #BalladtotheBallot #GOTV #dareweimagine

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