Sounds like they're looking for the real, sled-driving, potato-chip delivering type like Gump. Too bad he just drives RVs nowadays... Here's the email I received. Sounds like it could be a good opportunity for some grizzled and handsome young buck like Born2flyAK or the dashing and beautiful Jamee Wallis.

Hi Zane,

My name is Colin Sprague and I am a Development Coordinator at Original Media Productions in Los Angeles. We are the company behind shows such as Dual Survival, Swamp People, and many outdoor oriented shows.

First off, I apologize if you are not the person I should be sending this too. Your email was the only one I could find on the site. The reason I'm reaching out to you is that I'm beginning production on a new show for National Geographic that focuses on people who deliver vital supplies (Fuel, Food, Clothes, Etc...) to isolated people living in the American wilderness without road access. I came across backcountry pilot and wanted to reach out to see if anyone in your organization knows of an American Bush Pilot that does these kind of deliveries by air? We are trying to find an experienced and personable pilot to include in this project as one of five different delivery teams.

I know this is kind of out of the blue, but any help you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions/concerns about this project feel free to shoot me an email or give me a call at 323-850-7809, just ask for Colin. I'm happy to answer any and all questions you may have. I have also included a link to Original Media's website in my signature below. Feel free to check out our past and current shows to get a sense of who we are. I hope you are well and that this is something we can talk about soon!

Wishing you all the best,

Colin Sprague
Development Coordinator
http://www.originalmedia.com
323-850-7809

Cool!

And don't worry, if you (whoever it ends up being) make it on a Discovery show, we'll all assume the drama is scripted.

Send him to see Ray Arnold over in Cascade.

m7flyer wrote:Send him to see Ray Arnold over in Cascade.

That's an excellent idea. I think Colin is monitoring this thread.

Almost this exact thing came up on BCP once previously, and my comments were a bit too pointed and mean-spirited towards the TV business. In the spirit of using TV as a tool to make friends for aviation, I'll try to be be a bit more civil this time around.

My suggestion (to whoever throws their hat into the ring for this), is to make sure that whenever the final agreement is negotiated, you will be able to get an enforceable clause put into the contract that the eventual TV show will not disparage or embarrass you as a person or as a pilot, and that it will not disparage or bring ridicule upon bush flying, aviation, air safety, or any of the people working in the aviation business.

To understand why you would ever need to do something as uppity as this, please watch a few episodes of Penn & Teller's Bullshit! cable series, and any of the reality shows that make us all laugh at duck call manufacturers, rednecks, wannabee actors or singers, Jersey Shore residents, etc. Many of those people were NOT told that they would be made to look like idiots. There is a reason that Penn Jillette's scathing commentary and narration are edited in long after the video was shot, and that the people appearing on the show had no idea what show they are appearing on. Can you imagine how many people would agree to appear on the Penn & Teller show if they knew that's where the video would wind up?

Imagine you agree to do a bush pilot reality show, making a few bucks and getting your face on TV for a lark. When the show is aired, you see that they edited and composed the show so that you look like a cowboy, daredevil, or are looking at the girl's boobs instead of pre-flighting the airplane. Embarrassing, and maddening, but you got paid and it's a great story to tell in a bar. A year later, you finally get an interview at an airline, or the Air Force, or for your dream job as a bush pilot with the leading company. The company's insurance broker or FAA liaison is there, and reminds the interviewer that cowboy pilot behavior is associated with your face in the public eye.

I'm not saying that nobody should take them up on the offer because this kind of disaster will happen. This show may be 100% legit, and a great opportunity to make bush flying look good. I'm saying that you might want to have a deterrent in place to prevent it from happening, and to have some recourse if it should happen.

Sorry, double post.

Yeah, it was fun seeing my old airplanes and villages on "Flying Wild Alaska" and the Nat Geo Alaska flying episodes. But, I'm glad my face, name, and "edited" piloting skills weren't on the tube for all to see.

Gump

m7flyer wrote:Send him to see Ray Arnold over in Cascade.

X2

CamTom12 wrote:Cool!

And don't worry, if you (whoever it ends up being) make it on a Discovery show, we'll all assume the drama is scripted.

And I know of a bunch of drama that is real and better than what Hollywood can do. Funny, sad, and bizarre.

G'Day

The problem with these programs is their excessive manufactured drama. To me, it seems like only impressionable teenagers or the mentally challenged would believe the stories.

Bush flying is just hauling soda, ramen noodles, and people to a variety of runways. Yes, some runways are better than others. Yes, the weather is sometimes lousy, and some numbskulls press on regardless. What is far more interesting are the friendships made with the villagers, the Native/gussik (sp?) relationships, the fauna, the amazing scenery, and the differing viewpoints on developing Alaska's natural resources.

But the drivel about urgently re supplying Joe with his heart medicine, or beating the Wx to get a load of food in to the village, or rushing a part to a village because their generator broke down in the middle of winter is just that - drivel. Those things, and lots more, are routine, day-to-day events that people in Alaska think nothing about.

Don't get me wrong: the flying out here is outstanding. And so are the people, the animals, and the scenery. But "reality" shows have stumbled onto the appeal of manufactured drama and it has become their crack cocaine. That means depicting the things that actually matter won't hold the interest of an audience.

Amen.......

Gump

Zzz wrote:

m7flyer wrote:Send him to see Ray Arnold over in Cascade.

That's an excellent idea. I think Colin is monitoring this thread.

I think that's a great Idea too.

I have to admit I find those shows to be pretty fun, even though even my kids can see through the fakey-wakey stuff.

Actually, it's sort of a running joke in our family when we're out flying. Something minor will happen, like maybe I'll drop a chart on the floor, and my kids will pipe up on the intercom with "DA DA DAAAH! Suddenly, disaster strikes!"

The Tapatalk version of the subject line leaves out the word "pilot". Just what the H kind of outfit you running here, Z?

gbflyer wrote:The Tapatalk version of the subject line leaves out the word "pilot". Just what the H kind of outfit you running here, Z?

Maybe Colin is located in Chatsworth, CA?

Oregon180 wrote:I have to admit I find those shows to be pretty fun, even though even my kids can see through the fakey-wakey stuff.

Actually, it's sort of a running joke in our family when we're out flying. Something minor will happen, like maybe I'll drop a chart on the floor, and my kids will pipe up on the intercom with "DA DA DAAAH! Suddenly, disaster strikes!"

This totally made me LOL... Ha!

Oregon180 wrote:Actually, it's sort of a running joke in our family when we're out flying. Something minor will happen, like maybe I'll drop a chart on the floor, and my kids will pipe up on the intercom with "DA DA DAAAH! Suddenly, disaster strikes!"

Sounds like those kiddlies have inherited a good sense of humor from Mom and Dad!