16.11.2011

Above: In the series MTV's VJ, Axl Smith, has adventures downhill karting, sailing in the archipelago as well as in Naantali's Moomin World.

Axl Smith goes on an adventure in and around Turku 

Southwest Finland gets its own MTV series

MTV (Music Television) and Southwest Finland are jointly producing a 30-part TV  series for young people called Bucket List, which will star MTV's VJ, Axl Smith. 

"Bucket list” means the things that you ought to do and experience before you die. But Axl Smith doesn't have a deadly serious attitude to the job. Instead he gets to know, explores and experiences what life is like, and what goes on here in Turku and the surrounding region – with an MTV attitude, of course.

The series was shot entirely in Southwest Finland and students from Turku University of Applied Science were also involved in producing content for the series.

The series begins on 17 November.

Bucket List can be seen on MTV for the next half-year. The first show will be broadcast on 17 November and  the series will last for 30 weeks until June 2012.

– This is a unique way for us to reach youths who often receive less attention from marketers, says  Kalle Euro, who has worked as Chairman for Southwest Finland's Marketing Board. We want to reach youths who are making decisions such as where they will study. Now we can show what Southwest Finland is like and do so from a fun, youthful perspective.

The show is also unique for MTV in that it is the first time that it has been involved in marketing cooperation with a region building itself as a brand.

– Southwest Finland is an innovative and active region that seeks out new ventures, says MTV's Country Manager, Erja Morottaja. – It's also wonderful to have the local youth participating in the project and to be able to offer them the possibility to produce content for the series.

Local students involved in making the show

Bucket List recruited students from Turku University of Applied Sciences. They blogged, worked as online reporters, production assistants and collectors of new ideas. Two students were also chosen to be VJs, Sonja Salli and Reetta Vahanen, and they present and host the show together with Axl Smith.

- It's great to be part of MTV's programme production, say Sonja and Reetta. When we saw MTV's recruitment announcement at the university, we realised at once that this was an opportunity we simply couldn't let pass us by. For us, this is a unique opportunity to learn from an experienced production team.

 

Read more: 

• MTV Bucket List homepage

See the trailer:

• Trailer