Coming Soon to a Computer Near You

Editorial Videos Go Live Aug. 2

If you haven’t had a chance yet, take a look at Chronicle videographer Nick George’s trailer for the Editorial Board interviews. It’s short and presented like the trailer for some sort of apocalyptic, ensemble-cast feature film.

The Editorial Board consists of five members and, in short, they bring in each candidate for the primary elections and ask them questions about “The Issues,” which takes about 45 minutes. In next Saturday’s episode of The Chronicle, the Our Views column will carry the Editorial Board’s collective opinion on the two races for which Editorial Boards were held: the County Commissioner race and the battle for Dan Swecker’s seat on state senate. The column will also feature the board’s take on a few other races and issues coming in the Aug. 19 primary, for which ballots will be out in early August. 

Anyway, back to the good stuff. The preview video, clocking in at 1:13, definitely draws the politically-conscious viewer in right off the back. It starts out with ominous music on a black screen with a debut date (Aug. 2) and flashes STARRING... followed by a quick clip from each of the candidates’ interviews. 

It starts off with a bit from the Lyle Hojem interview, where the former woodsman remarks “I can do any damn thing I want to!”

This, based on my memorable experiences with Hojem, is pretty much how he starts all of his conversations. That might not be the best way to win over a crowd in, say, Berkeley, but a no-nonsense attitude and hickory shirt will go a long way in a county with Packwood, Pe Ell, Morton and Winlock on the map. 

Another interesting preview is the Chuck Bojarski portion, where he talks about drinking beer while his friends were “smoking” something called “Maui Wowi” (which I, being a morally sound individual, am unfamiliar with) in the jungle. How this applies to running for state senate I’ll never know (unless I watch the full video), but it makes for a good sound bite.

Other than that there’s only a few surprises. Among them: John Penberth remembering he wasn’t running for president of a Florida retirement home and ditching his normal Hawaiian shirt for a suit and tie, and Bill Schulte’s quick exit after delivering his no-deal speech. 

The final cuts will contain about 10 minutes from each candidate and go online Aug. 2, as well as the uncut, extended versions (about 45 minutes apiece). Keep your eyes peeled and your mind open.