#DoingGoodIsContagious

"You know you’ve made it when you graduated from Harvard working directly with Obama himself and the U.S. Department of Education/White House Initiative on APIs; or how about when you graduate UPenn and work for one of the most prestigious consulting firms; oh, here’s one: going to Harvard. Med. School. Yep, these are the boys—no, men—of The Jubilee Project: Eddie Lee, Jason Y. Lee, and Eric Lu, respectively." -- The Other Asians.

The Jubilee Project (JP).

About a year ago, I knew them accidentally thru my YouTube timeline. Those three guys have decided to quit their promising full-time job to make videos for good causes. And, they’ve always been standing on their slogan: #DoingGoodIsContagious. Something’s beyond my imagination. When many people use YouTube for singing, short movies, and other commercial stuffs…

• How come these people survive by sustainably making only social movies?!
• Are they all rich people that would love to do charity through videos?
• What’s Eddie’s, Jason’s, and Eric’s turning point that led them to leave their high-paid promising jobs for this uncertain risky job?
• How can they do charity through YouTube? 

(Left to Right) Eddie Lee, Jason Y. Lee, Eric Lu

All of those questions were the key reasons behind my decision to keep coming into this event, thou I’d been late for 45 mins already. Apparently, I also knew that I might be the eldest in that event amongst plenty of teenage girls listed on FB “Going” list. On top of that, I can say that March 18, 2013 was 1 of the most memorable days in my life. I got the most inspiring advice to keep me making videos! (Amen)

So, let me share you my experience on that day…

Starting with their history, none of them had videography background on college or prior that period. Starting as a hobby, they made bunch of videos, yet none of them hit any big success. Up until they made this “Love Language” video, which was copied by many videographers around the world ~ even some of them also used the same concept, background, and OST. Before talking directly with them, I’ve always thought that they would have felt disgusted with all those copycats. Moreover, there’s a copied video that hit bigger views than theirs! However, surprisingly they feel the vice versa. They feel blessed since it proved that their mission to influence people doing good things was victorious!

Ever since, each of them made one of the biggest life-decisions, which was quitting from their full-time job. Eddie and Jason moved out to Eric’s house in LA, started sleeping on bunk bed and living their dreams to make more videos for good causes. They started getting more trusts and supports from donators and NGO to raise not only awareness of social problems, but also funds to help others. Along the way, they learned more about videography. Each of them shared and contributed differently based on their previous working experience – e.g.: Jason (ex consultant from top-notch global management consulting firm, Bain) helped Jubilee Project got access to lots of NGOs and companies, Eric gave lots of insights in terms of illnesses and psychological impacts, etc. 

Up until now, they have produced over 60 videos and raised more than $30,000 for good causes (leukemia, altruism, AIDS, sex trafficking, Mom’s day, etc), partnering with amazing organizations, such as: Jeremy Lin Foundation. From hobby and a small dream to give hands, Jubilee Project now has just been registered as one of national NGOs in USA! Amazing, isn’t it?!

After the big forum discussion, I finally decided to come closer to get the answers of my curiosities. While waiting for them to get done with the girl fans’ stuffs (photo sessions, etc), someone came to me and asked if I was the one who threw up the question earlier (at big forum), about Jason’s life-change from consultant to video maker. Her name is Ailen, and she works for The Jubilee Project as well, supporting the boys in business model, organization, etc. Aha, bless in disguise! Along with my chat with Eddie, Jason, and Eric, hereby I would like to share more about my experience meeting with them.

Me trying to substitute Jason

At first, I tried to understand the reason why they come to Indonesia…

So, basically one of their big projects last year was to create a film about the end of AIDS. At that moment, the fundraiser came down to a thrilling last 24 hours when they still needed $10,000 and end ended up surpassing their goal and raising $41,000.  Continuing their mission for global AIDS campaign, they’re coming here to film their next big project titled “The EndGame”.

It’s a story about a global movement to end AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. They’re going to visit several third-world countries, starting from Indonesia, to film compelling stories about people who are living with HIV / AIDS. Working together with local NGOs like Rumah Cemara in Bandung for the filming, they want to share the story of someone like Dina, who is a pregnant woman with HIV and has trouble accessing treatment that can save her and her baby’s life; or someone like Donna, who is a single mother with HIV and joined the national women’s soccer team to make her son proud. “The EndGame” is a quest to end the deadliest diseases of our time. (quoted some from JP’s blog)

Furthermore, I try to understand more about their business model….

Right now, The Jubilee Project have already had 3 sources of funds, i.e.: 1) generous donation from donators, 2) companies that occupy them to make videos, and 3) in-house merchandise sales. And, it has been a long way down the road to get these sources. There have been lots of ups and downs at their first year. They haven’t had huge subscriber base yet like Ryan Higaniga or Wong Fu; Thus, they couldn't rely on Google Adsense for the fund raising.  At first, they tried to implement $xx-per-view, yet it wasn’t sustainable and working well. And, finally they came up with those sources. They also got more well-known from time to time by making more and more better and better movies.
As I mentioned earlier, they even have to sleep in bunk bed to get more focused under 1 rooftop on making movies. In Jakarta, they even stayed in hostel @ Jalan Jaksa.

At the end, since they basically do what they love, they never gave up on living their dreams as they always believe that doing good is amazing not only for others, but also for themselves.

My last question is about their turning point to quit their promising job and ‘move-out’ to Jubilee Project….

If I can summarize, their turning point is essentially when they realized that their video can inspire lots of people to do good things. Ailen told me that even several schools in US have mini Jubilee Project programs. Jubilee Project every day get lots of emails, FB messages (and walls / comments), and tweets telling how Viewers feel inspired and driven to do good causes. In the meantime, it reminds me back of some of my friends who now work as socialpreneur, which in fact made this kind of vision become reasonable.

At the end, I believe that every one has his/her own path. To be or not to be like Jubilee Project is a free choice for all of us. However, if we can do what we love to cherish others, to aspire others, and to make a better world, why shan’t we start soon?!  In my latest video project #2013hopeNchanges which was inspired by Jubilee Project’s “Be The Change” video, one of the interviewees said:

“Usually when you put the word “Change” and “World” at the same sentence, it gets us to think the big things. But, for me, making change in the world can start with little things. Doing meaningful things for your surroundings, doing good for other people. Even though the scope is local, maybe can reach only like, say less than a hundred of people. But, imagine if all of us are doing it, all of us are doing these little small good deeds for people surrounding us… I think this world could be a better place.” (EP)

Thank you, Jubilee Project and Ailen for the sharing and inspiration.

Thank you, Elaine Tan and all people behind this great inspiring event.

Thank you, TI ITB 2004 friends (Rani, Rahmat, Dannu, Arfi, Ben, Atiek. Kico, Boteh, Restu, Batari, Febri, Maya, Mauli, Akom, Aldud, Uqi, Nadya, Bin), and Ernest Prakasa + Soleh Solihun for your contribution on my latest video project.

Hopefully, this writing may remind us not to give up doing what we love and keep aspiring ourselves & others to do good things! If it does, please help me sharing and spreading this blogpost throughout your social media :)

#DoingGoodIsContagious

Peace, Love, and Community.

@edodotcom