IT! Origin
A couple of years ago I was in a taxi, rambling along on a dirt road in the sacred valley of Peru. In the middle of nowhere, that’s the best way to describe it. Ahead, through the dusty windshield I could make out a large group of children in colorful vests and school uniform, making their way along the road. I asked the driver where they were going? He pointed off into the distance “They live in the mountains”. I asked him where they were coming from? He jerked his thumb in the opposite direction and said “on the other side of the valley”. How far is that? “about 12 miles”. You mean they walk 24 miles to school and back? The driver gravely nodded his head as if embarrassed by the situation.
Let’s pick them up.
As we pulled over just in front of them, kids screamed and cheered at the prospect of a ride. We crammed every inch of vehicle space with smiling, giggling school children and started off for their mountain village.
The kids were amazing. They laughed, they told jokes, they asked questions. By the time we delivered them to their homes I had decided to hire the taxi for the whole day and ferry the rest of the kids up the mountain.
This experience made my trip. So much so, that it got me thinking.
“I’ve been fortunate in my career so far and I figured I have the means to be able to get these kids a bus”.
The thought rolled around my mind for the next few months.
I couldn’t stop thinking, but not just about THESE kids and A bus.
I was thinking about EVERYTHING I had ever seen, in our country, and around the world, that I knew could be different, if people we’re just given a hand-up when they needed it most.
What can I do?
I’m comfortable in front of a camera. I act in film and TV.
I write. I travel. I have friends who are directors, producers, cameramen.
What if I created a TV show, one that told the story of communities with difficult challenges and a team of inventors, engineers, environmentalists and artists who set out to create solutions to those challenges.
What if I made sure it was fun, filled with humor, and full of hope. Just like those kids I drove up the mountain.
I recruited some of my most talented friends and colleagues and we set out to make a television series that is beautiful, and felt as epic as the problems people face. A show that would never shy away from the most difficult subjects but always handled them with a gentle respect. We will tell the stories of amputees with no work and abused women with nowhere to go. Stories of people with no clean water and people with nowhere to call home. Every episode will be a collision of progressive thought and progressive action. This show will push the envelope. This will be the evolution of reality television.
But first, we must tell one story, and the first story, shall be about kids.
WE NEED YOU! We are close to placing our show on television and some incredible things have happened during the process. Some of the most effective aid organizations in the world want to work with us, like USAID, CARE and Mercy Corps Intl. We are also in negotiations with one of the best schools in the world (can’t say who yet) to be our University partner. We are assembling the most amazing team we could ever hope for in order to get this done.
But most importantly...
WE NEED YOU!
Network television wants to know two things:
Will you watch it and do you care?
That’s it.
We need your voice and participation. You will find the ways you can be involved on the front page of this site.
We figured you could help us with that. What are the chances you could give US a hand-up?
Sincerely,
Eion
Let’s pick them up.
As we pulled over just in front of them, kids screamed and cheered at the prospect of a ride. We crammed every inch of vehicle space with smiling, giggling school children and started off for their mountain village.
The kids were amazing. They laughed, they told jokes, they asked questions. By the time we delivered them to their homes I had decided to hire the taxi for the whole day and ferry the rest of the kids up the mountain.
This experience made my trip. So much so, that it got me thinking.
“I’ve been fortunate in my career so far and I figured I have the means to be able to get these kids a bus”.
The thought rolled around my mind for the next few months.
I couldn’t stop thinking, but not just about THESE kids and A bus.
I was thinking about EVERYTHING I had ever seen, in our country, and around the world, that I knew could be different, if people we’re just given a hand-up when they needed it most.
What can I do?
I’m comfortable in front of a camera. I act in film and TV.
I write. I travel. I have friends who are directors, producers, cameramen.
What if I created a TV show, one that told the story of communities with difficult challenges and a team of inventors, engineers, environmentalists and artists who set out to create solutions to those challenges.
What if I made sure it was fun, filled with humor, and full of hope. Just like those kids I drove up the mountain.
I recruited some of my most talented friends and colleagues and we set out to make a television series that is beautiful, and felt as epic as the problems people face. A show that would never shy away from the most difficult subjects but always handled them with a gentle respect. We will tell the stories of amputees with no work and abused women with nowhere to go. Stories of people with no clean water and people with nowhere to call home. Every episode will be a collision of progressive thought and progressive action. This show will push the envelope. This will be the evolution of reality television.
But first, we must tell one story, and the first story, shall be about kids.
WE NEED YOU! We are close to placing our show on television and some incredible things have happened during the process. Some of the most effective aid organizations in the world want to work with us, like USAID, CARE and Mercy Corps Intl. We are also in negotiations with one of the best schools in the world (can’t say who yet) to be our University partner. We are assembling the most amazing team we could ever hope for in order to get this done.
But most importantly...
WE NEED YOU!
Network television wants to know two things:
Will you watch it and do you care?
That’s it.
We need your voice and participation. You will find the ways you can be involved on the front page of this site.
We figured you could help us with that. What are the chances you could give US a hand-up?
Sincerely,
Eion
Tags: bus, eion bailey, it! team, peru
Comment
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Comment by Luqman Yusoff on November 5, 2009 at 3:41pm - You guys should go on Oprah and talk about it. That way you will get a higher chance of getting broadcast for your TV show. And I know Oprah would looooooove stories like yours to be featured on her show. Plus if Oprah backs you up, your ratings will shoot the roof.
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Comment by Regina Hartley on September 19, 2009 at 3:45pm - Just finished reading Three Cups of Tea by Gregg Mortenson about building schools in Afghanistan to promote peace through education. What a great segue to your project. It's about time TV is put to its highest and best use - communicating and teaching. Go for IT.
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Comment by Hayley Catt on September 8, 2009 at 1:27pm - I cannot WAIT to watch this show!!! It is by far one of the greatest things reality television will ever do! Forget lonely D-List celebrities looking for love. What a waste of time! I will spread the word and support you guys in anything and everything possible. Thank you for your selflessness, Eion!
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Comment by David M Kelmer on June 25, 2009 at 9:55pm - What I have seen so far has been extremely inspiring! This is what is needed...now! I will definitely watch!!
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Comment by Nicole Vaughn on June 9, 2009 at 2:28pm - YES, we care and YES, we'll watch it!!!
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Comment by paul von zielbauer on June 5, 2009 at 2:22pm - Greetings Eion and all. Roadmonkey heads to Tanzania in three weeks, and Vietnam in November, if anyone's interested in "adventure philanthropy." Sounds like that's what IT is about, as well.
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Comment by Emily Pearson on June 1, 2009 at 10:44am - Bravo. Spreading the word...
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Comment by Erika on May 29, 2009 at 6:46pm - Hi Eion. I am very excited about Imagine This and I'll be getting the word out to my friends about it. We can all help, in one way or another, those people who are less fortunate than us.
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Comment by J C Avery on May 29, 2009 at 4:39pm - I would watch it and tell others about it. You go Eion.... Live your purpose with passion.
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Comment by Maike W. on May 29, 2009 at 4:04am - Yeah, I would watch it! I'm from Germany and here are some social TV shows. So If your show makes it over the sea, I will watch it and some other Germans too. You had a really great idea, all the best wishes to your project!!!
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