NSI – Totally Television

In Canada signs of Spring are everywhere. Longer days, melting snow, and of course Totally Television’s annual call to aspiring Canadian Writer / Producer Teams with big ideas for Canadian TV.

I had the great fortune to take advantage of this program a number of years ago and can not say enough how great an experience it was for me. It came at a critical time for me, I had just signed a development deal with TELETOON for The Side Show Christmas, and was able to put the practical knowledge I gained from the experience to work. It prepared me for the success to follow.

If you are a creator of television shows, it is often very hard to deal with rejection after rejection however I can not stress this enough, it is important to plan for success. If you think that getting a No is hard, getting a Yes can be even harder. There is no better course that you can take if you plan to produce television within the Canadian system. Totally TV prepares you for the work that is needed when that Yes finally comes.

Best part – it is free. You just have to have an idea for a show that really stands out!!

From the Totally TV Website…….

What is NSI Totally Television?

• Market-driven, professional development program.
• Up to six writer/producer teams develop and produce a series for Canadian audiences.
• Fine-tune your ideas and work towards landing a development deal with a broadcaster.
• Learn about market conditions, trends, the viability of certain genres, marketing and pitching elements needed to sustain a television series.
• Concludes with Banff World Television Festival where students get to pitch their TV project to broadcasters.
• Part-time training lets you keep your day-job. No relocation – intensive training happens in one place then you return home to work with a mentor for the rest of the program.
• Graduating teams have entered production deals with broadcasters such as CHUM, CTV, YTV and pilot projects have aired on CBC, APTN and Global.

Have a great idea for a TV show? Learn how to get it to air with NSI Totally Television

News release: March 2, 2010

NSI Totally Television, run by the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI), gives you the tools you need to develop your TV show and pitch it to broadcasters with the ultimate goal of getting it made.

Over ten months you’ll receive relevant market-driven training including the opportunity to work with story editors, showrunners, mentors and executive producers to develop and shape your project.

Up to six teams will be accepted for the initial phase of training; only the top teams with the best market-driven projects will go on to phase 2 and attend the Banff World Television Festival in 2011.

Apply for the program by Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 4:30 p.m. Central Time.

Get guidelines and an application form now.

“NSI Totally Television is all about training and connections. We give you the tools you need to successfully develop and pitch your project, and connect you with the people who’ll help you get it made,” said Brandice Vivier, Manager, Programs and Development, NSI.

“Our participants’ series have aired on Global, Citytv, APTN, HBO Canada, Showcase and CBC demonstrating the strength of projects and teams that have come through the program.”

This program gets results. 50% of phase 2 projects have gone into development with a broadcaster and 50% of these have gone into production.

Recent shows developed through NSI Totally Television include Todd and the Book of Pure Evil (shooting in Winnipeg this month), Less Than Kind (season 2 is airing now on HBO Canada), ‘da Kink in my Hair (season 1 available on DVD), and Wapos Bay (season 4 airs on APTN; series also airs in Australia).

The NSI Totally Television program can be done while you keep your day job. It features a week-long boot camp in Toronto in the fall for all participants and a shorter training session in Spring 2011 for Phase 2 teams. Project and professional development plans are created with maximum flexibility to allow you to keep working.

About Brandice Vivier – Manager, Programs and Development

Brandice Vivier has worked in the film and television industry for over 15 years. As Manager, Programs and Development at NSI, Brandice develops and delivers many of our training programs. In addition to managing NSI Totally Television, she is currently working with the NSI Online Film Festival and Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program. Brandice has also managed NSI Drama Prize, NSI Storytellers, NSI Pitch to Win!, NSI Global Marketing, Telefilm Canada Spark Plug, and DiverseTV.

About Samantha Linton – Program Advisor

Sam is an award winning producer, director and executive producer. She has worked as Head of Factual Programming at Cineflix, Head of Development for RTR Media where she helped create Maxed Out and From the Ground Up with Debbie Travis. She also worked as Head of Original Production for Discovery Channel Canada where she oversaw and executive produced hundreds of hours of programming.

 

Joy The Christmas Penguin – Unveiled

The latest Christmas Offering from Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. We were pitching this show at KidScreen Summit in NYC this February.

1 x 48 Minute Animated Genre: Family / Animation / Adventure / Christmas

Joy, an intrepid penguin, journeys to the North Pole to learn the secret of flight from Santa and his reindeer.  Along the way she must foil SKY PIRATES, three bumbling elves-gone-wrong, bent on destroying Christmas.

It’s like: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer meets Happy Feet.

JOY is both an optimist and a dreamer.  She confesses to her only friend BLIZZ that she longs to soar in the sky like other birds.  But when Blizz accidentally reveals her secret to several other penguins, she is ridiculed and ostracized.  Humiliated, Joy embarks on a quest to the North Pole, where she hopes to learn the secret of flight from Santa and his Reindeer, cleverly hitching a ride on a plane carrying kids’ Christmas letters to the North Pole.

Blizz, shaken by guilt at revealing Joy’s secret, convinces the penguins who made fun of Joy to help him find her and bring her back home.  Meanwhile Joy’s plan is working: she is hidden away safely in a crate full of letters headed to the North Pole, when suddenly it is hijacked by three mysterious thieves.

At the South Pole, Blizz leads the grumbling penguins due north, only 11, 486 miles to go!  As the group complains about their impossible journey, Blizz finds a camp of polar weather scientists preparing to move to the North Pole where winter has just begun.  He convinces the other penguin to stow away among scientific equipment about to be shipped to the North Pole.

Joy discovers that the thieves who have stolen all of Santa’s letters are Sky Pirates: FINCH, HORRACE and TINSEL, three bumbling, disgruntled, disgraced elves, fired from Santa’s workshop for making unsafe toys.  They have vowed revenge and are determined to destroy Santa’s reputation by putting an end to Christmas.  Without the children’s Christmas wish letters, Santa won’t have a clue which presents to make or deliver.  Joy outwits the Sky Pirates and escapes with the letters and delivers them to Santa’s workshop.  As a reward, Santa shares the secret of flight, and Joy soars triumphantly among the clouds for the first time.  On her return, she finds the workshop in chaos. The Sky Pirates have struck back, kidnapping the reindeer.  Joy’s despair turns to shock when she finds Blizz and the other penguins trudging toward her.

To save Christmas, Joy must teach Blizz and the other penguins to fly, lead Santa’s round the world flight and reconcile some disgruntled elves with their old boss.  Impossible tasks yes, but not for Joy, the Christmas Penguin, especially when she discovers…

… that being a little different can make all the difference in the world.

For more information about this show,

contact: Tim Tyler – Producer

306.229.2567 tim@cheshiresmile.com

http://www.cheshiresmile.com

2010 Cheshire Smile Animation Inc.

All Rights Reserved

 

The Littlest Bridge Troll Animation Designs

These are preliminary animation designs for Mr. Brasshorn and Professor Thumpson. I am excited about where the look and feel of this show is headed.

Mr BrassHorn

Professor Thumpson

Animation designs by Jordan Ratzlaff.

 

LITTLE AIRPLANE ACADEMY 3-DAY SEMINAR

If you are truly interested in making a great pre-school television series this is the place to get the ultimate insider view. I was fortunate to have taken this course in August of 2009.

Not only was it a highly inspirational, it was very informative. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in taking their first significant steps on this journey.

********************************************************************************

LITTLE AIRPLANE ACADEMY 3-DAY SEMINAR:
“HOW TO MAKE A GREAT PRESCHOOL SERIES”
February 13 through February 15

Little Airplane Productions is offering limited enrollment in a unique workshop led by accomplished preschool TV veterans on creating a hit preschool series. Classes include Pitching, Writing, Research, Design, Music, Directing, Legal, Licensing, and a notable panel of children’s television network executives.

Please contact Melinda Richards at 212-965-8999 melinda@littleairplane.com .
http://www.littleairplane.com/academy .

 

The Side Show Christmas 2009 broadcast dates on TELETOON Canada

2009 Broadcast dates on TELETOON Canada – EST.

Saturday, December 19 at 4 pm,
Sunday, December 20 at 1 pm,
Monday, December 21 at 10 am,
Tuesday, December 21 at 5 pm
and Wednesday, December 23 at 8 am.

A SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

As Christmas approaches, JASON SHANKS watches his father’s side show hit rock bottom. Jason’s father, SANDWELL, driven to desperate measures, kidnaps Santa Claus and hypnotizes him to be the new headline act. To save Christmas Jason must get Santa back in the sleigh, reconcile with Sandwell, and revolutionize the Most Unbelievable Show On Earth.

The Side Show Christmas was produced by Saskatoon Based Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. in association with Studio B Productions.

Purchase your own copy of The Side Show Christmas DVD online from Amazon.ca

 

The Side Show Christmas – Canadian DVD Release Date – 10 November 2009

DVD Label

The Side Show Christmas is set to be released at major retailers across Canada under the TELETOON Presents Label on 10 November 2009. The Side Show Christmas was produced by Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. and Studio B Productions and is distributed internationally by DECODE Entertainment.

 

The Littlest Bridge Troll – 1 Sheet Design

 

The Littlest Bridge Troll

It is the beginning of the 09-10 pitch season for broadcasters and I am excited to be pitching Cheshire Smile Animation’s latest preschool property The Littlest Bridge Troll to SCN in Saskatchewan today, and other preschool broadcasters (SCN, Treehouse, and Nickelodeon) at the 2009 Ottawa Television Animation Conference in October.

Billy The Littlest Bridge Troll

The Littlest Bridge Troll was originally conceived as a series called The Bridge City Trolls a variety style show with different trolls under different bridges. The idea lay dormant for a number of years until I had the great fortune of attending Little Airplane Academy last August in New York City. Quite simply this is the most in depth, honest view of what it takes to conceive, develop, produce and exploit a Great Pre-School Television Series.

This blog gets a lot of hits from people who are interested in learning how to pitch and create television series for children. I can tell you, that in all of my years attending conferences like KidScreen, Banff, MIP, and the Ottawa Television Animation Conference, there is no better crash course to be take that can give you a more complete view of the process than Little Airplane Academy. If you are hitting this page because you want to learn how to pitch and create a TV series for children – Go to this workshop – you will not regret it + you get to spend a killer weekend in NYC.

I came away from the experience inspired, and The Littlest Bridge Troll is the result. Check it out.

The Littlest Bridge Troll
Created By: Tim Tyler

Logline: The Littlest Bridge Troll is a 6 x 11 minute pre-school animated series starring Billy, a little boy bridge troll, who can’t help but get himself into trouble. It’s his troll nature! Through honesty, the advise of his troll elders, and the support of his best friends, 3 pigeons, he always
puts things right at the end.

Design Brief: The Littlest Bridge Troll mixes cut out friendly muppet monster style animation designs, with larger than life green screen live action characters, and digital sets that merge surreal perspective photographic bridge imagery with home and life elements such as bedrooms,
kitchens, studies, and back yards to create a distinct collage style reality that is clearly not of our world, but relatable to kids through it’s familiarity to their own lives.

Curriculum: Social Development – honesty, tolerance, and problem solving. Let’s face it everyone makes mistakes. It is important for children to learn that mistakes are a part of life and honesty, tolerance, and problem solving are the best way to deal with them.

Backstory (As told to the producer by Billy):

Hi, I am Billy. I am a little boy bridge troll.

I was born when they started building a new bridge over the Saskatchewan
river. My mom says when they finish it, I will be all grown up.

My 3 best friends are pigeons, Cagny, Scott and Thimm. They live under my
mom’s bridge too.

There are lot’s of Bridges in my city. Each one has it’s own Troll.

There is the University Bridge. It’s the bridge to the university and
Professor Thumpson is a very smart Troll. He is my teacher.

There is the Broadway Bridge. Fran lives under that Bridge. She loves music,
and people and lets me play her Bongos.

The Victoria Bridge is the oldest Bridge in Saskatoon. Mr. and Mrs BrassHorn
are two veerrry old trolls who live under it. They have lived there forever.
Once I was playing Troll Tag with Cagny, Scott and Tom, and broke a light.
Mr BrassHorn was very mad, but Mrs. BrassHorn said it would be OK and I
helped him fix it. I don’t think he likes little boy trolls.

The Freeway Bridge is where the highway crosses the river, Jet, who lives
under it is the fastest Troll I know. He never does anything slowly, he zips
and jumps from here to there, and talks really really fast. When I grow up
he is going to show me how to skateboard.

I live with my mom and dad under the Family Bridge. It’s the bridge that
families cross when they go to their homes at night after work and school.

 

Animation Direction through the eyes of a Lighting Designer: Visibility

When I was a youg man, I went to the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem. An incredible dedicated performing arts school. 20 years later it is the only institution I still dream about. There I studied the art of lighting design.

Fiddler on The Roof - as taken by my iphone (hence the crappy quality)

Lighting design has 4 Objectives: Visibility, revelation of form, composition, and mood. Applying these 4 objectives to animation has been the foundation of my approach as an animation director. In this blog I am going to discuss Visibility and how it applies to animation.

Visibility – simply speaking this objective is about all clarity. Creating visual circumstances that allow the viewer to see. As a lighting designer, if you can satisfy only one objective this is the one. Make what is important visible to the audience’s eye. In musicals, this is often achieved by putting a spotlight on the singer who is singing. I have since learned that visibility is also the most important objective of animation.

Visibility in animation is achieved in a number of ways, but primarily though strong visual silhouettes. A silhouette is the outline of a solid object as cast by its shadow.

Imagine for a moment the movie Aladdin, that incredible moment when Al rubs the lamp and releases the Genie. Did he hold it in close to his body? If a shadow was cast what would we see? Nothing. Aladdin thrust the lamp into the negative space surrounding him so that if the scene was animated only with an outline the lamp would be visible. Was this accident or design? It was direction by design.

Strong silhouettes in the posing of your characters are they first step to creating visibility within your scenes. From pose to pose, what is the focus of your scene? Do the silhouettes support that focus?

Visibility is also achieved through contrast between foreground, mid ground and background elements. In animation it is critical that your characters stand out from the backgrounds.

When picking colors for your scenes it is vital that you consider the relationship between the colors within the location and their relationship to the characters in the scene. Does the wall paper have the same tone as the lead characters skin or is there enough contrast so that character will leap off the background? How can I tell? Simple plop your characters into the file and squint your eyes when you are looking at the monitor. If the characters are not visible with your eyes squinted there is not enough contrast between the foreground and background elements. It is true, you can use lighting effects such as highlights and rim shadows to lift the character off the background however this is only a fix, and these effects would be fundamentally more effective if the desired level of contrast had been achieved from the beginning.

This is also an important consideration in Theatrical Scene design – I designed lights for a play this summer where the walls of a set were a yellow color with almost the same tone as the actors skin. The director kept asking for more light upstage in the house and although I kept increasing the intensity of my front light to give it to him, I was fighting a loosing battle because the walls glowed more with each additional percentage point of intensity, and although there was more light there was not more visibility because there was simply not enough contrast between the actors and the walls to make them be more visible.

When considering the visibility of your scenes there is one other important consideration and it is not visual. Do each of your characters have a unique and distinctive voice? If you were to close your eyes and imagine if you will a field. As you listen to the voices in your cast do they stand apart each occupying it’s own space spread out evenly across the field or do they stand close together in clumps? Each voice needs to have a unique and distinctive sound so that you can tell who is speaking without seeing anything. I went to great effort in the vocal casting of The Side Show Christmas to create this vocal distinction, and I think it work fabulously, however, in casting the french version of the show, I did not pay as much attention, and I have to say I regret it because unfortunately the voices of Sandwell and Santa Clause sound too much like one another, and sadly this causes some confusion, reducing the visibility of both of those characters when they are in scenes together.

Visibility is an objective that I strive for in all of my creative efforts. It is a concept that applies to all kinds of compositions. Is the intended focus visible? It is the most fundamental question. As a director your job is to know the focus of your scene and to understand how to make that focus visible.

 

Go Canada – Grain Elevators – Pilot Episode

Go Canada is an animation/live action documentary series developed by Cheshire Smile Animation, Kids CBC, and SCN, for 2-6 year old children starring Canada: an inspired, animated map of our favorite country.

Inspired by kids, her audience, Canada travels our nation discovering and exploring entertaining, educational and cool stories about iconic elements of Canadian geography, locations and life. Canada is possessed by an insatiable curiosity for the country where she lives. As the host, Canada, leads the adventure, but she learns alongside the children viewing the show as she discovers, explores and experiences special places within the Canadian Community.