4WD-Take A Deep Breath is adventurer and film maker, Andrew St.Pierre white’s adventure travel TV series. In this series he travels to wild places with strange sounding names.
SEASON-3. THE BIGGEST YET… It’s called, ITSALONGWAY.
My epic trip and TV shoot to find the source of the Okavango River in 2010 has left me with a yearning for more. When I consider what I should do next, lots of good memories rise to the surface, but one thing keeps repeating on me. All along the way, during the marvelous 66 days in the bush, I was continually astonished by the abundance of water. Some of my fondest recollections were at the villages, particularly in Angola, where the local people were found washing, playing or swimming in the rivers. The water was invariably fast flowing and clear. And then at the end, on the bed of the Boteti in Botswana, the water trickling through the village was an event of epic proportions to the locals. One of them told me, “Anyone here younger than twenty two years of age would never have seen water in this river before”. It got me thinking. There are millions in Africa that don’t even have it this good.
Early 2011 a young couple, David Gittelson and Naomi Ruben, without any prior overland or off-road experience, drove from Cape to Cairo in a twenty year old Land Cruiser. Their aim was to raise funds for roundabout water wells in Africa. In August they arrived at their destination and their target contribution to the charity exceeded. What an amazing feat.
These two events have resulted in what is undoubtedly my biggest overland project to date: In 2012 I will drive from Cape Agulhas to John o Groats (Northern Scotland) to raise money for water wells in remote African villages.
Enter 4WD-Take A Deep Breath – seasons-3 (26x26mins or 12 x 52 min) HD TV.
WATER WELLS IN AFRICA – CAPE AGULHAS TO JOHN O GROATS
AIM – First brief. August 2011.
The aim is to raise R1 000 000 (±US$150 000) for the installation of water wells in Africa and raise awareness of the dire need for water in remote African villages.
Andrew St.Pierre White, noted 4×4 author and TV presenter, will drive from the southern tip of Africa to the northern tip of Great Britain carrying a message of goodwill from the peoples and corporate companies of South Africa. Media coverage will include 26, half-hour TV shows, radio commentary and updates, newspaper features and magazine articles.
It is reckoned that over a million Africans have no easy access to water, and yet these people live on top of a virtually inexhaustible supply. Getting it to the surface is the solution. Water-on-tap is a basic human right, because without it, existence is tenuous at best. The lack of clean water is a major cause of both disease and the stagnation of local economies.
Our aim is R1 million raised.
We are currently negotiating with a number of charities and NGOs who will take responsibilities for the installation of the wells.
Television – Ignition TV
DSTV Ch265 will broadcast 24 x 24 min shows once in 2012/13 and again late 2013. There will be regular 2-min spot features broadcast during the expedition. 30-second commercial spots are available free to major sponsors. Viewer stats available separately.
Newspapers: 14 papers in the Star Newspaper group
Motoring sections on the technical aspects, regular copy in the Star Travel and a suggestion of a piece on how the sponsorship came together (with comments from sponsors about why they got involved and what they hope to get) for Media and Marketing.
Copy would be distributed to all 14 papers in the group.
Magazines.
Ramsay Media. Getaway, Car and Leisure Wheels magazines and Ramsay MAD (Make-A-Difference) Initial contact is Cameron Ewart Smith, editor, Getaway. Under discussion.
Radio
Prime Media. Under discussion.
Web
Multiple feeds will be set up from a site following the expedition: www.4xforum.com. Use of Yellowbrick to follow the route on the web.
CHARITY
http://waterwellsforafrica.org
We are currently in communication with both these charities.
TIMING
THE THREE PHASES OF MEDIA INVOLVEMENT
Drive from Cape Agulhas, southernmost tip of Africa to John o Groats, northernmost tip of Great Britain, departs May 1, 2012 and will take six months.
Media timing will consist of three phases:
1. Mid 2012. TV: 2-min news features, blog, Internet video and news feeds from the expedition as it crosses Africa.
2. Early 2013. Full-length TV series, 26 half-hour shows broadcast over 13 weeks. Each show broadcast five times.
3. Late 2013. Repeat broadcast of full TV series. Each show broadcast five times. Book released.
CONTACTS
Andrew St.Pierre White
Cel: +27 (0) 82 926 7411
Tel: +27 (0) 21 851 9695
Email: andrew@4xforum.com
- TV prod: www.shortfinalsproductions.com
UPDATE – DECEMBER 12, 2011.
This project has been postponed until 2013. This is due to the challenge in today’s economic climate of getting sufficient sponsors to pay for what is a very expensive journey, shoot TV (which is in itself expensive) and to donate a considerable amount to the cause, as worthy as it may be. But I am determined to keep trying!
UPDATE – APRIL 2012. Now by bicycle as well.
The aim and goal of the expedition has changed. I will be supporting my brother-in-law, Tom, as he rides his bicycle – the same route!
Tom Roberts (55) is a fitness fanatic. He has trekked every moor and climbed almost every hill and mountain in England and Scotland. (The top of Ben Nevis is his back garden) He has competed successfully in numerous extreme fitness and endurance competitions, both on foot and by bicycle. Tom rides the bike. (After this, Tom wants to bike around the globe)
October 2012
We are joining forces with Rhinoseday, in an effort to not only raise awareness, but funds to stop the slaughter of rhinos in Africa.
Tom is in Cape Town preparing for his expedition. He departs in November.
Andrew is completing work on the vehicle he will be using. He departs in April.
Click here to go to the main page for this event.
Jimmy
November 30th, 2011
Very impressive!!!