Independence Day has always been a holiday of great pride, tradition and celebration in the United States, but it holds extra significance this year. The holiday weekend marks a time when many Americans are continuing to reunite with loved ones since the beginning of the pandemic and Anheuser-Busch and its mainstay brand, Budweiser, are celebrating this patriotic milestone with the release of this digital film titled “Go Fourth, America,” which puts a modern-day spin on the iconic presidential speech from the movie Independence Day.
In “Go Fourth, America,” actor Bill Pullman reprises his famous fictional presidential role for the first time in 25 years, using his platform to encourage America to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and come together once again to commemorate everything the people of America have overcome. As a part of its ongoing commitment to aiding recovery from the pandemic, “Go Fourth, America” also highlights a donation from Budweiser to Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization focused on enabling vaccine access in both the U.S. and globally. Since the onset of the pandemic, Direct Relief has supported 50 U.S. states and 105 countries, all with the overarching goal of global vaccine distribution and COVID-19 relief.
“I can’t imagine a better or more meaningful moment to reprise this iconic role than Independence Day this year,” said Pullman. “I am proud to partner with Budweiser on its continued efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccination awareness and education. While the world has overcome so much in the past year and a half, there is still more work to be done. I hope this film can serve as a beacon of hope and progress for our country and beyond.”
Pullman’s speech in “Go Fourth, America” celebrates how America has rallied together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and encourages the country to look towards a brighter future. The story follows the speech’s broadcast live across the country, from billboards in Times Square, to backyard barbecues, as the American people gather to celebrate July 4th safely. Independence Day fans will also notice Easter eggs throughout the ad.
“Go Fourth America” was directed by Tucker Gates (whose episodic TV credits include The Morning Show, Parks and Recreation, The Office, Homeland) via production house Independent Media Inc. for agency VaynerMedia NY. The Budweiser film was lensed by two-time Oscar winner (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) Janusz Kaminski who is also on the directorial roster of Independent Media.