The last guests at a
Texas wedding are trickling into the church. Meanwhile, in a purple transit bus, four guys are
frantically changing into thrift store suits, hoping to make an appearance at the big event.
Jonnie Penn is the first to step into the church, when the bride sees him. She stares right at him with a
puzzled look, thinking, “Who is this guy?”
In 2006 four friends from British Columbia — Ben Nemtin, Dave Lingwood, and brothers Duncan and Jonnie Penn —
set out on a journey across North America to complete a list of “100 things to do before you die.”
All in their early twenties and still in school, they realized that their lives were out of their hands and
moving too quickly. “I think what was missing for us was just meaning,” says Ben in a phone interview. “I
think a lot of kids go through it, and I think everybody goes through it at some point.”
So, they began filming their journey in a documentary called The Buried Life, which premiered this
past winter on MTV.
When Jonnie returns to the bus, Dave yells out a frustrated, “Let’s just get this done!” They wait until the
wedding is over and the reception starts. At the outdoor party, guests are drinking, eating, dancing and it’s
getting dark. Time is running out.
From May until August 2006, they planned, fundraised and embarked on their first tour through British
Columbia to cross 24 items off their list. They went back to school in September, but by May they postponed
university and returned to Victoria to concentrate on the project.
Breaking off the regular path was a huge risk for these guys, especially with the debt they’ve acquired for
the project and putting off their education. In the beginning, their parents were skeptical. “At first they
basically thought we were crazy,” Ben says. “But you know, as it kind of progressed they saw that we were
very serious about it and they became very supportive in us exploring this.”
Ben anxiously shifts from side to side. “I’m just going to go after the bouquet toss and ask for the
mic,” he says directly to the camera.
The other three guys mingle amongst the crowd and watch the bride and groom share a dance. The music finishes
its last note and Ben briskly strides onto the stage and takes the mic.
But, what is really important is that people — young and old — are given the chance to find out what
they’re truly passionate about. No matter what it is, these friends show that crossing whatever crazy,
out-of-this-world goal off the bucket list is achievable.
“The reason we set out to do this is really to prove to ourselves that these things are possible. And
the more things we cross off the list, the more we kind of show ourselves — as cliché as it may sound — that
anything you want to do is possible,” said Duncan.
“Excuse me guys, I have to make one toast. You guys haven’t seen me since I was much younger, but if I
didn’t do this my grandparents would not let me live it down…”
The bride smiles awkwardly and looks over at her new husband, whispering, “Who is he?”
Ben continues his speech, mentioning his parents and quoting John Lennon about how all you need is
love. He finally concludes by saying, “Here’s to you guys,” and raises his drink to the couple with
frozen smiles plastered on their faces. “I love you, I always have, and long years of marriage. Take care you
guys.” And the crowd erupts with cheering and clapping
No. 41: Make a toast at a stranger’s wedding, is off the list.
But, for each item they complete off their list, they help a stranger cross something off theirs.
As the show progressed they say it became more about helping others. “We’ve definitely found that
philanthropic side of what we do and sort of realized that it’s bigger than us,” says Duncan.
In the same episode where they cross off No. 41, they meet a man named Sam Fuller Jr., a painter, who hasn’t
seen his son, Laban, in 17 years. On the top of his list is to clear that up — if he can.
After meeting him, they instantly begin tracking down his son, and after making dozens of calls, they find
his number. Duncan calls the number and explains who they met on the street. In the Buried Life
episode, Duncan tells the man on the other end, “We asked him what do you want to do before you die. The
thing he said was to meet his son and to just talk with him. The reason I’m calling is because his son, I
think, is you.”
The next day the four friends get together with Fuller. “This is his number and I guess the rest is up to
you,” Duncan says, handing Fuller a ripped sheet of paper.
After a few moments of staring at it, Fuller looks up and shakes Duncan’s hand, pulling him into a hug.
“Thank you,” he whispers.
The next scene is Fuller’s silhouette against the setting sun — his phone up to his ear.
“Hello?”
Laban’s voice cracks into the phone when he replies, “Hello?!”
“Is this Laban? Laban Fuller?”
“Yeah.”
“This is your father… Sam.”
Since the Buried Life-rs started, they’ve been on three tours where they have already crossed off:
open the 6 o’clock news, tell a joke on late night television and kiss the Stanley Cup.
They’ve travelled to British
Columbia, California,
Idaho,
Nevada,
Oregon,
Texas
and Washington,
D.C, to cross 54 items off the list. Their fourth tour began on June 6 and this time they’re
travelling across the United States again from Florida to Nevada.
“We’re going after 10 new big list items while helping 10 new people we meet,” says Duncan. “We’re planning
on raising the bar again — we recently finally played ball with Obama and it has set the stakes for this next
tour.”
Keep your eye out for the big purple bus in your home town, or stay tuned for the second season of The
Buried Life, set to air later this year.•
