A summary interview with Hector
Introduction
On this page you can see all the video content I produced for Hector's campaign for SU president at Aberystwyth University in early 2023.
The Campaign
Over a 7 week period from the end of January to mid March 2023, I produced video content for Hector's campaign to run for SU President at Aberystwyth University. Hector had three main policies, to create a more sustainable SU, to increase student engagement with the SU, and to stand up for students on the issues that matter. Hector passed two motions at the SU's AGM and raised awareness of important topics like climate change. In the end Hector came second place against 6 other candidates, with a share of 48.5% of the total votes in a very close final.
The Videos
To support the campaign, Hector decided to target voters using Instagram Reels, short, portrait videos that are readily recommended to users and can be used to spread information rapidly. No other candidate used reels to quite the same extent as Hector in this election. I filmed and edited these videos, and helped to plan and direct some videos. Most videos amassed thousands of views, the reels I produced had a cumulative total of 70,000 views by the end of the seven week campaign.
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The reels consist of both serious discussions of policies and sensitive issues, as well as some more comedic light-hearted videos designed to be shared widely to attract wider audiences and raise awareness of the campaign. This included a mock policy aiming to rehabilitate seagulls to reduce food thefts by the birds, a dance video, and a campaign song, which I also recorded and mixed the vocals for.
View Hector's Instagram to see the campaign in full and how the videos are integrated:
Serious promos
The main short promos to support the campaign
All the short, easily watchable and shareable promos. Note that the inforamtion at the end of each promo has been cut short in this compilation.
More detailed policy information
Longer, more detailed videos about policy specifics.
Q and A
A series of short answer videos to questions posed by the public on Instagram.
Other serious content
Standing in solidarity with UCU strikes
Hector joined the picket line to show solidarity with UCU strikers.
SU's Big Meet
Both of Hector's policies were passed at the SU big meet.
Campaign song and Flowers dance
Campaign Song - 'This is Hector' - Parody of This is Love
Hector's campaign song, a parody of This is Love by Will.i.am ft. Eva Simons. Full credits in the video description. Backing track â„— 2021 Sybersound Records, Inc. Hector's vocals mixed by Oskar Brennan.
Second version (used as lyric video)
A short version of the campaign song, later published as a lyric video.
Flowers dance
Hector dances across a bridge to Flowers by Miley Cyrus.
Seagull rehabilitation mock-policy
#Stoptheseagulls mock-policy launch
The launch of Hector's mock-policy about seagull rehabilitation to spread awareness of the campaign.
Seagull rehabilitation awareness
A publicity stunt using the seagull mock-policy in the main square at the university to raise awareness of the campaign.
Final week content
Blooper Reel
Bloopers derived from three hours of raw footage recorded over the course of the campaign.
Election Results and Final Word
The election results and a final word from Hector