Partnership Proposal Respected Sirs and Madams

We at EbonyLife TV are excited to offer you the valuable opportunity to partner with us on the production and launch of our second season of The Ojos in D' House, season 2. This a great chance for both the U.S. Embassy and African media to work together and collaborate on a product that serves to meet the needs of both Africans and Americans by doing credit to the each of the respective cultures, peoples, ideals, and values. Many Africans view America as a place where dreams come true, and through your assistance with Ojos in D' House, those dreams can continue to be made into a reality -- both for EbonyLife TV -- Africa's first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle Network for premium homegrown content -- and for the U.S. government which will be portrayed as a fair, balanced, democratic, and humane force for good through the show's content and message.

The Success of The Ojos in D' House

The success of The Ojos in D' House, season 1, is based on the show's universal appeal across cultures. It centers on the Ojo's -- a formerly lower middle class family in Nigeria -- who have moved up in the world and entered a new upper class neighborhood. The show has an I Love Lucy charm to it in that it follows the shenanigans of Elizabeth Ojo, a flamboyant mother and wife, who devotes most of her time and energy trying to convince her new neighbors that she is of the same social breeding and high class standing as they -- and just like Lucy, she constantly finds herself in all manner of awkward and embarrassing situations, out of which her loving family continuously bails her out.

The show thus presents the story of Elizabeth Ojo and her family as they attempt to cope with the chaos that Elizabeth unintentionally creates. Her down to earth husband Tafaa keeps the show grounded in the kind of working class values that appeal to universal audiences; her mischievous son Samuel represents the Bart Simpson in all of us; and her nerdy daughter Nichole is essentially a Nigerian Lisa, providing audiences with some much needed high brow antidotes to the often low brow situations effected by Elizabeth.

Some of the various embarrassing situations in which Elizabeth found herself in season one included ending up on the covers of a notorious tabloid following a disastrous makeover; living in a dysfunctional house renovated by an alcoholic, and becoming stuck in the bathroom of a popular celebrity. Episodes like these have endeared the show to audiences around the world.

Now it is time to take the show to the next level, and we would like your support.

Remembering how the U.S. Embassy supported us in the past through Culture Connects TV, EbonyLife TV makes bold to request a continuance of this support.

The concept for season two is to present America as a country where societal values, norms and traditions integrate to produce an environment that has essentially become the home for millions of immigrants, where equal opportunity is provided to all: it is a pro-American look at American culture and society via the experiences of outsiders -- namely the Ojos. This was exactly the formula that made the Culture Connects TV series a hit, and it is being revived for season two.

The Culture Connects TV series, of which the U.S. Embassy was such a valuable part, allowed a three-member TV crew to examine American tradition, culture, norms and values while doing a comparative analysis and documentation side by side with Africa's culture, norms, values and traditions. The series consisted of 13 episodes and showed why America is a model and ideal country that can be admired worldwide for its just governance, ability to empower women and youth, and its investment in people and the rule of law. One of the best parts of the series was the fact that it was able to reflect themes supportive of the U.S. Department of State Strategic Plan, most notably the plan's mission to "shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world, and foster conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of the American people and people everywhere."

III. About EbonyLife TV

EbonyLife TV is devoted to Africa but connects to a wider, global audience by promoting a shared lifestyle of shared values. Launched in 2013, EbonyLife TV is a multi-platform broadcaster that reaches the all-important 18-34 demographic. By attracting local and internationals plaudits since its inception, EbonyLife TV has put African media in a leadership position, as it ranks as one of the most watched channels across Africa and promotes positive cultural aspects of Nigeria and the...

The goal of EbonyLife is tell Africans new stories that they have never yet been told.
Annually, EbonyLife TV produces 1000 hours of premium content with the express purpose of promoting the idea that Africa is changing -- and changing for the better.

IV. Synopsis of Season 2

The synopsis of season 2 of Ojos in D' House centers on the concept of the Ojos coming to America. Every year, since the inception of the program, Nigerians apply to the U.S.'s Congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV). The dream of Nigerians is to get to live in the cities of Atlanta, New York, Chicago or Houston, etc. They view these places as the cities where dreams come true: if anyone believes in the power of the American Dream, it is the people of Nigeria and of all Africa.

This concept is applied to the Ojos in season 2: they "win the visa lottery" and move to Atlanta, allowing the antics of Elizabeth to be conducted on an American stage, essentially making her a real-life Nigerian Lucy. Like always, she is ever mindful of keeping up appearances and attempting to display herself as more high class than she really is, which results in a number of comic episodes and situations that both Americans and Nigerians will enjoy.

It is for this reason, the producers of EbonyLife TV are reaching out to the U.S. Embassy to help with production of season two of Ojo's in D' House.

Season Two will revolve around the following factors that invite the U.S. Embassy to take special note:

A) The series will display how America has strong democratic institutions, improved governance, and a terrific record on human rights; the show could do this by centering a few episodes on corruption and showing how the American government views corruption with disdain. A prime example of this type of comedic expression has already been used by Afghanistan's version of the UK and U.S. show "The Office," and the Ojos could do a similar job.

B) The series will focus on economic growth, trade, and investment and show how in America each of these factors are expanded and made more possible thanks to strong leadership within the government.

C) The series will also promote the advancement of peace and security by showing how America takes good care of its borders and its immigrants.

D) The series will promote Opportunity and Development by showing how America values the chance to give other peoples of other cultures and nations the opportunity to come to America and live the American Dream by embarking on pursuits that are supported by the American government in conjunction with ideals of freedom, democracy, and humane values and concepts.

V. Opportunities and Benefits of Partnership for the U.S. Embassy

The producers of EbonyLife TV would like to partner with the U.S. Embassy in order to secure 1) a sponsored production of a 6-member crew to shoot the series in Atlanta, Georgia. Support would include 2) housing accommodations, 3) transport accommodations, 4) visas for the cast and crew, 5) food accommodations, 6) telephone and communications accommodations, 7) and White House guest passes for the cast and crew for visiting and filming at the White House.

By supporting Season Two, the U.S. Embassy would help America to achieve 8 of its strategic objectives outlined in its Department of State Strategic Plan:

First, it would help itself to expand access to future markets, investment and trade by appealing to the African audiences of the Ojos.

Second, it would promote inclusive economic growth by welcoming the Ojos to the U.S.

Third, it would help to establish a foundation for a new stability in North Africa by showing and giving support to EbonyLife TV.

Fourth, it would help to overcome global security challenges through diplomatic engagement and development cooperation.

Fifth, it would enable diplomats and development professionals in the entertainment industry to influence and operate more efficiently, effectively and collaboratively.

Sixth, it would strengthen and protect civil society by fostering ideals and values needed for the growth of all cultures.

Seventh, it would help to promote and protect human rights through the collaborative process.

Eighth, it would help to encourage democratic…