Mad story ideas anyone? Here's a plea for help from Irish TG4 Producer Evan Chamberlain:

"I am currently in pre-production for a new Travel Series on TG4, Ireland's
National Television Station.. The new series will feature the Award Winning
travel presenter, Hector O hEochagáin making his way south from Cairo to
Cape Town in this classic trip which will take him through Egypt, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa."

THE STORY
He's been on the beat with the NYPD in New York City, he's roamed the
streets of Amsterdam looking for love, he's dangled weights from his
danglies in Taipei and taken an undercover tour of Bolivia's most notorious
prison.

He's been on stage with the Ladyboys in Bangkok, trained with the Foreign
Legion in French Guyana and sang Irish songs with the Indians of the Amazon
in Brazil.

He's got his kit off with the world-famous Chippendales in the Rio in Vegas,
run with the bulls in Pamplona, ridden with the cowboys in Nashville, and
had a chinwag with Hugh Hefner and the Playboy bunnies at the Playboy
Mansion in Beverly Hills .

THE PITCH
During his trip, Hector wll present his own unique and hilarious perspective
on what he sees and does in each of these locations. Hector likes to eat. He
likes to play. He likes to shop. Unfortunately he doesn't have much time so
often it is a race against the clock to try out all of the wondeerful things
he has heard about each place. But his biggest problem is not the incessant
ticking of the clock : he is easily distracted by shopkeepers, passer's by
and even people's pets. As talented as he is at asking the questions he is
often more interested in sating others' curiosity.

THE SCOOP
The programme is shot using a digital camcorder, no bigger that an ordinary
Hi 8 camera. There is no extraneous sound or lighting equipment. The whole
operation is of necessity very compact. With a crew of 3 (which includes
Hector) and the camera as the sole piece of equipment we will be of little
distraction.

We tend to base our filming for about 3/4 days in and around main cities.
The reason I am mailing you is that you may be able to help me with your
city and environs.

We are looking for mad stories, unusual people to interview, weird things,
interesting, off track, wacky stories etc ...... anything that would be
really mad television viewing. We will be doing the normal stuff aswell but
it is the other content that really makes the programme what it is.

Maybe you have some ideas or could point me in the right direction as
regards good websites etc or individuals who may be of help.

In each location I hope to have Hector moving all of the time be it being
driven by a Taxi Driver, On Camel Back, On a Motor Bike, By Train, Driving a
jeep etc.

Office ++353 506 60681
Mobile ++ 353 86 8338628
Email : evanchamberlain@eircom.net