Information for TV / Broadcasting / Media outlets!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="2da785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>kevin-french.com</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="kevinfrench.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="kevinfrench.com"><U><B><IMG SRC="2c00e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>  </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Would you like to be my carer / helper?"><U><B><IMG SRC="2c20e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#0099FF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="04d7cba0.jpg" border=0 width="124" height="186" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contacting Kevin French"><U>Contacting Kevin French</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="051a7610.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Information for TV / Broadcasting / Media outlets!</I></div> <div> So why another filmed circumnavigation featuring Kevin French</div> <div> <IMG SRC="04501010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="04c01010.png" border=0 width="1" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sydney to Sydney via Anchorage.</div> <bR> <div> Who is Kevin French?</div> <bR> <div> My name is Kevin and I have Cerebral Palsy. I have a 'normal' intellect but my body, especially my speech, is defective. Recently I have been seeking the Labour Party nomination for MEP. Unfortunately but despite many peoples doubts, I have just come a close second!</div> <bR> <div> I wanted to enable people with disabilities to have a better quality of life and to make society more understanding. If I had become an MEP many of society's conceptions would have been challenged! I am not a disabled activist but by living life normally, I have change peoples' perceptions of disability.</div> <bR> <div> Why another filmed circumnavigation?</div> <bR> <div> Many people ask me "how can you travel", quickly followed by "I would like to travel but I am afraid too". Also everywhere I travel the local people are amazed, shocked, amused, or want to cure me, usually by driving a devil out of my body. Also by staying in the local community, I hope I get a better insight into life in that country. I feel this mix would make compulsive television.</div> <bR> <div> The Video Tapes.</div> <bR> <div> Longbow Production use me to rehearse interviewing unusual / non-English speaking people! Too their surprise I exceeded their highest expectations with one of my interpreters I took control and professionally guided the interview!</div> <bR> <div> Shortly afterward I outline my circumnavigation idea to Longbow. They felt it was an excellent programme idea but they felt they did not have the resources to undertake such a large project. Longbow encouraged me to approach large production houses.</div> <bR> <div> The Labour Party in their wisdom decided to hold over 50 MEP selection meetings in a 2-week period and it was impossible for any candidate to address a quarter of these meetings. To overcome this hurdle, I wrote and directed a 5-minute video address. The local video company that I hire to record my address were impressed with my script and vision of the video; they inquired, "whether I would consider scripting their commercial videos"!</div> <bR> <div> My video surpassed my highest hopes because I received many more nominations than I expected! I think this was because the video illustrated what I was capable of, better than a simple written or verbal statement! It showed me going around town unaided, writing and giving a speech and a Sky News interview!</div> <div> .</div> <div> Life Experience.</div> <bR> <div> In the last eight years I have visited Australia, New Zealand, India, Kenya, Shi Lanka, Hong Kong, Germany and Ireland. I have flown 'down under' four times unaccompanied and have lived in a Kenyan mud hut for a fortnight, with only a bucket of water and no electricity. </div> <bR> <div> Although I have a severe disability, it has never handicapped me and I live life with high expectations and always achieve my goals. I have worked voluntarily but on an equal basis with other staff. I wrote DJ scripts and selected records for the playlist at Radio Radio (The Super Station). This radio station was the direct forerunner to Virgin Radio. I also interview and employ my own carers.</div> <bR> <div> Communications Skills.</div> <bR> <div> My communication skills are my best asset because they have allowed me to negate my speech problem. For the last year I have been on a mission to explain my capabilities and qualities and now many people in (and outside) the Labour Party, as well as the media consider me to be a “credible candidate”. </div> <bR> <div> Information Technology has liberated my life and I utilise it to its full potential and it is the key to my future. 10 years ago I would have no chance of mounting a successful MEP campaign but today computer technology places me on an equal footing with every other member of society.</div> <bR> <div> I will go to places or events where wheelchair users do not usually go because whatever the barrier I know that I can surmount it in a unique fashion. A national PR company said I would not get the media to take me seriously because of my speech problem but by the use of interpreters and a speaking computer, my disadvantage has re-enforced my uniqueness.</div> <bR> <div> I do not think "I can not go to Africa because I haven't got a helper, I think I want to go to Africa, now I have to find a helper."</div> <bR> <div> Interpersonal, teamwork and liaison skills.</div> <bR> <div> Another direct upshot of being able to live independently or normally is that I no longer think of myself as being disabled! This attitude or state of mind has meant since leaving college, I have interviewed and employ my own carers.</div> <bR> <div> When you employ and rely on carers, without support, you learn tact and to solve problems, which builds self-confidence and reliance. I have a great affinity with people who have never experienced disability. My campaign has been aided and endorsed by individuals and organisations that do not normally become involved in politics.</div> <bR> <div> The Programme.</div> <bR> <div> The essence of the programme to circumnavigate the world in 365 days, from Sydney to Sydney via Anchorage. A long the trip I would talk to people, discuss life, customs, imposed custom such as alcohol And western religion. Travel hazards, rail travel and the boredom of container ship travels</div> <bR> <div> Although I do not want to make a film about disability because I am severely handicapped, it will be an integral part of the programme, so a long the trip disability and the world would be challenged</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>