It's official. Canadian children's television rules, and with a few exceptions, U.S kids t.v. sucks. (oh, and the Brits do it better too
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I think it's also a timing thing. 20-30 years ago it was much more common for local stations to provide their own content. There would be a greater chance for small independent kids' shows. Now the local stations are strapped for cash and have to rely on infomercials instead of real programming. It's also market size driven. Growing up in Chicago it was not a problem finding locally produced kids' shows that had puppets and other characters.
While there are still opportunities here, especially on APTN (Tiga Talk, Takuginai, Wawatay Kids, Mouki), there seem to be fewer puppet and costume programs being produced here unfortunately :(
It worked for me as well, and I too long for the days when TVO's schedule consisted of a large percentage of puppet and mascot shows (Readalong, Téléfrancais, Math Patrol, Calling All Safety Scouts....) *sigh*
Agreed! I Still watch Kids Shows, and the vast majority suck! They were so much better years ago. I would love to get a job as a costume and puppet designer (and maybe performer) on some kids show.
Of all people I do think the Christan children's shows need help. Their costuming and puppets look like they have been hit with a truck full of ugly sticks! They end up scaring children more then helping them.
Hey, lets start our own Internet Children's TV Show. Filled with nothing but furs! Oh I mean anthros... *Evil Grin*
I know you said this in jest, but what's stopping anyone from doing just that? While not a kids show by any means , look at the Funday PawPet Show. ogoing on 1@ years. How about Mr. Furry Fur and friends www.friendlyearthfriends.com? Started in an apartment with 1 wall painted green. Today you can netcast easily with servicrs like u stream. Geting " On the air" is a lot easier
I wasn't saying this in jest (well mostly but not all),
I would love to be apart of a Kids Show! I watch them, I love them, I would love to work on them. To be the costume and puppet designer would be awesome! To get to play a character would also be awesome!
With location and crowded on-air time being the big issues -- I really wonder how long it'll be until Internet-only kids shows become a viable business model.
The viewing public would probably need much greater access to broadband, and would probably need a far-greater number of Internet-capable TVs in the living room -- but hey, even if it's a relatively small market model right now, I wonder if a production could be small enough and cheap enough to get a return on investment.
[Shoot, though, there's a lot I'D need to learn, business-wise, before fully entertaining that idea, though.]
Strange you mention the Christian children's television market. That was one of my biggest reasons for learning costuming and puppetry. My parents sat me down in front of that stuff for most of my preschool days, and to be honest, it was horrible. When I was old enough to technically critique those shows from the 70s (which were still being shown in my area), I vowed to be better than that.
In the few TV runs I've had, I'm glad to say that our product, even though it may have never made it to the airwaves, was far better than what I remember watching in my formative years.
There's certainly a "Christian Jim Henson" out there to be made. And IMODO, he won't have to try too hard and do too much to exceed the standards and expectations for the genre.
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I wish folks didn't feel everything had to be animated by computer anymore. Live characters always worked better for me.
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I Still watch Kids Shows, and the vast majority suck! They were so much better years ago. I would love to get a job as a costume and puppet designer (and maybe performer) on some kids show.
Of all people I do think the Christan children's shows need help. Their costuming and puppets look like they have been hit with a truck full of ugly sticks! They end up scaring children more then helping them.
Hey, lets start our own Internet Children's TV Show. Filled with nothing but furs! Oh I mean anthros... *Evil Grin*
I get the rodent character!
Ryngs D. Ratt
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I would love to be apart of a Kids Show! I watch them, I love them, I would love to work on them. To be the costume and puppet designer would be awesome! To get to play a character would also be awesome!
*Grin*
Ryngs D. Ratt
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"Hey, lets start our own Internet Children's TV Show. Filled with nothing but furs! Oh I mean anthros... *Evil Grin* "
Ustream, makes getting on the air easy. As long as you have a good relatively fast connection to the web and a camera you can broadcast
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The viewing public would probably need much greater access to broadband, and would probably need a far-greater number of Internet-capable TVs in the living room -- but hey, even if it's a relatively small market model right now, I wonder if a production could be small enough and cheap enough to get a return on investment.
[Shoot, though, there's a lot I'D need to learn, business-wise, before fully entertaining that idea, though.]
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In the few TV runs I've had, I'm glad to say that our product, even though it may have never made it to the airwaves, was far better than what I remember watching in my formative years.
There's certainly a "Christian Jim Henson" out there to be made. And IMODO, he won't have to try too hard and do too much to exceed the standards and expectations for the genre.
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