Lucas Baiano, a 19-year-old Toronto film student, used a 10-second meeting with Bill Clinton to pitch an idea which has now turned into a project that is drawing attention around the world.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. native, who is studying film production at Seneca College, met Clinton just before Christmas at a meet-and-greet where the former U.S. president was promoting his new book.
He had memorized a one-minute speech to deliver to Clinton, but was told just before meeting him that he would only have 10 seconds.
He told CTV's Canada AM he quickly edited his pitch, quoting a line from Clinton's book, telling him that he had dual citizenship and explaining that he wanted to 'be part of history' by making a promotional video for Clinton's wife.
"Basically I said I read your book, I took a quote from his book saying the best thing a person gives is useful skill. I said I have a skill I can offer, I'm a film student studying in Toronto, dual citizen, and I truly believe your wife will be the next president of the United States. Is there any way I can be involved through the media aspect?" Baiano said.
Clinton then handed his personal business card to Baiano and gave him the chance to help, authorizing the Clinton campaign office to send Baiano six hours of raw footage of the presidential hopeful.
After a frenzied two-week rush of sleepless nights and long hours going through footage and making edits, Baiano came up with a slick, stylish, three-minute video that has Clinton's supporters around the world watching the video online, quickly boosting its status on the YouTube most-popular list.
The video promotes Clinton as the Democratic leadership candidate who will provide the most benefits to the U.S.'s burgeoning middle class.
Baiano, whose family has a history of supporting the Democrats -- his mother is American-born -- said he is confident about Clinton's chances of success and wanted to be involved in a campaign that he believes will make history as the first to successfully bring a woman to the White House.
"I can't vote because I'm dual but I thought I still want my voice to be heard and I want to help everyone else's voice be heard," he said.
"I'm passionate. I truly believe she will be the next president and she can bring everything she says she can bring, to the table."
Through his film company Lumiere Films, Baiano has completed a number of projects since he started the endeavour at 16, including a campaign for Ontario Travel, as well as a number of corporate jobs, and a film that is used by the United Nations to promote Holocaust awareness.
The video can be viewed on YouTube by searching "Hillary Clinton trailer."
