Originally created pro bono as a proof of concept, the film caught the attention of Oath.vote
How can people who care about gun safety make a difference? That question sparked the initial idea from Creative Director Bob Winter for a film built around a simple but powerful insight: voting for candidates who support gun safety is one way people can make their voices heard on the issue.
Originally developed pro bono as a proof of concept, the film was created by Winter and the Whitehouse Post team to bring that message to life. When Oath.vote saw the piece, the organization asked to use it as part of its election campaign.
Whitehouse Post’s Matthew Wood and Editor Brian May took Winter’s initial idea and brought it to life, distilling the concept into two powerful shots and slowing down the pivotal moment to heighten its emotional impact. The result is a striking visual metaphor: a bullet traveling through the air before being stopped by an ordinary pencil, transforming an everyday symbol of the vote into a powerful counterpoint to gun violence.
To create the film’s dramatic imagery, May used carefully crafted prompts and AI tools, including ChatGPT and Seedance, to generate the visuals. By combining thoughtful prompting with a deliberately restrained approach, the team created a cinematic moment that builds tension and lets the message speak for itself. A carefully crafted soundtrack further amplifies the suspense, reinforcing the contrast between the destructive force of a bullet and the quiet power of a pencil.
The film directs viewers to Oath.vote, where they can learn more about which candidates support gun safety and make informed decisions at the ballot box.
“Most people want to do something to help promote gun safety, but they’re not always sure where to start,” says Bob Winter. “The initial idea was to show that there’s a meaningful way to make your voice heard, and it starts with your vote. Matthew and Brian took that idea and found a really powerful way to bring it to life by stripping everything back to two shots and letting the moment unfold. We originally created the film as a proof of concept, so it was exciting to have Oath.vote see the potential in it and ask to use it during the election campaign. We hope it gets people’s attention, starts conversations, and ultimately helps make a difference.”