NGTI ACQUIRES THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT

Published: 28 March 2007

Over a lifetime the average person will:
- speak 123,205,750 words
- shed 121 pints of tears
- drink 15,951 pints of milk
- discard 29,700 lbs of food packaging
- know 1,700 people

These amazing statistics, along with many many more, are visualised and bought to life in THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT (1 x 90/1 x 52), an innovative new factual programme acquired by National Geographic Television International (NGTI), just in time for MipTV.

Created by Touch Productions (The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Running, Separating Twins, Beasts of the Roman Games) for Channel 4, THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT sets out to demonstrate in a series of remarkable visual stunts what makes up an average human life today.

So if you have ever wondered what it would look like if all the things you produce and consume in your lifetime were piled up outside your front door…if all your clothes, electrical goods and your worldly goods were laid out before you – then this is the film for you. By using strong imagery and quirky facts, this new programme reveals the extraordinary impact that each of our lives has on the world around us. It is a playful, surprising, shocking and thought-provoking portrait of our time on earth.

Leading us through this journey are a small boy and girl who we follow from the cradle to the grave. Representing everyman, we watch as their lives unfold. So, for example, we see all the pigs, chickens, sheep and cows an average person will eat alongside all the disposable nappies we put on as children to keep in the mess. We see all the money we will ever spend laid out in coins, together with all the consumer durables we’ll buy. We see a lifetime’s clothes, shoes, washing machines, Christmas presents, beer and wine all stacked up in a series of unique visual stunts. And each one is laid out for real. It’s the only time in your life you will see your lifetime’s consumption in one go.

This wonderful film takes viewers on a unique journey through life - through your childhood, your school, your marriage and your jobs. It shows you all the people you will ever know. It shows you how much waste you will produce, the amount of fuel you’ll consume as you drive or fly around the planet. It shows you just how much you’ve got to pack in during your 2,475,526,000 seconds on earth. It is the story of your human footprint.

Edwina Thring, head of acquisitions and co-productions at NGTI comments: “Touch Productions has a highly detailed and creative approach to factual programming and The Human Footprint provides a unique and truly fascinating look at an average life. We are delighted to be working with Touch and anticipate that both the original programme and the format rights for this show will be of great interest in Cannes.”

Malcolm Brinkworth from Touch Productions adds: “At a time when everyone is concerned about their carbon footprint and green issues, this film tackles the subject in an original and genuinely innovative way. The stunts are stunning in their scale and breadth and allow the viewer to laugh as well as be shocked by the scale of our footprint. With the possibility of creating multiple versions of the show to suit major territories, we hope to create a worldwide brand with NGTI.”

THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT was produced by Touch Productions for Channel 4. The programme was produced by Nick Watts and the executive producer was Malcolm Brinkworth. In addition to the completed programme, NGTI also has format rights for locally produced versions.