NL base jump clip
Sorry to post is so late, but still worth it, I guess. On dutch national (Ned 1, 2 and 3) TV several clips were shown relating the dangers of igniting fireworks compared to some "extreme" sports. The sports I saw were bicycle downhilling (filmed very nice from a helicopter) and, yes, base. Both clips were shot in South Africa, the bicycle part around table mountain, and the base part on a Cape Town building (downtown)
In the base clip a big mentor "helps" a student on exit. The student is obviously quite scared, sweating a lot (close-up), and there is a POV shot him looking down on the edge. Then, just before he is ready to go, the mentor tells him that when is about to ingnite fireworks, that is much more dangerous than base jumping. Then he jumps. (he really jumps, no IT crap. No deployment is shown for about 1,5 seconds). The the screen goes black to text: "there are more accidents with fireworks than with base jumping". (of course, the latter is true absolute speaking, no relatively....)
Check out: http://www.extreme-fireworks.nl/ and
http://www.veiligheid.nl/csi/websiteveiligheid.nsf/wwwAssets/6B5AF70021CF953BC12570CE004A592D/$file/Consument%20%26%20Veiligheid%20-%20Downhill%20-%20Er%2030s.wmv
According to the official dutch government consumer and safety board, the clips were a huge success because the target group (youth) could imagine itself doing both, and compare the dangers. The success of the clips is such that the downhill version will be shown january 13th 16.55 hours local time, at MTV credits, showing the top 3 of favorite youth commercials.
I do not know who the base jumpers are. They contacted some dutch people, but decided on foreigners instead. South Africans? Anyway, it shows - again - base is becoming more mainstream, and used more and more on TV.
Ronald Overdijk
