Teletoon: Children of Gilda's Club Produce PSAs
It's nice to read something about a company that gives back to the community, particularly to wonderful organizations such as Gilda's Club.
I recently read the TELETOON press release dated May 30th about the airing of two public service announcements (abbreviated as PSAs) developed by Gilda's Club Noogieland members on Sunday June 4th, National Cancer Survivors Day.
The organizations supporting this effort were Gilda's Club, the National Film Board Mediatheque, and Toronto-based digital animation producer 9 Story Entertainment.
A number of child members of Gilda's Club were invited to try their hand at a career in animation through a series of workshops lead by commercial animator Bryce Hallett, an alumnus of Sheridan College and founder of Toronto-based Frog Feet Productions.
For roughly a month, these children were able to experience the creative process first hand, ranging from writing storyboards, production, and voice-overs in post-production.
On National Cancer Survivor's Day, these gifted children will see their efforts broadcast on national television.
This first-time joint partnership between the NFB Mediatheque (National Film Board of Canada) and TELETOON allowed participants to access professional facilities to produce their PSAs.
9 Story Entertainment, a Toronto-based digital animation production studio, organized and facilitated the animation studio tour at their premises in Toronto. The 9 Story Entertainment team donated studio time and the expertise of an editor, giving the children an opportunity to add sound effects and voice-overs to complete their public service announcements.
Here's a direct quote from their press release:
"Since the inception of the animation workshops, TELETOON has partnered with arts organizations, with elementary schools, and with kids clubs to promote the idea that all kids, no matter what their background, have an opinion regarding the issues that affect them," says Len Cochrane, TELETOON President. "We are proud and thankful that Gilda's Club, the NFB Mediatheque and 9 Story supported the founding principle of this community-based initiative, and assisted kids with the tools to better express their ideas and opinions".
For the past three years, TELETOON has offered a hands-on experience of the animation process for broadcast. Since 2004, 75 participants have had an opportunity to learn as they create animated work that expresses their unique viewpoints on issues significant to them and their peers (Source, TELETOON press release, May 30th, 2006).
To follow this story as it unfolds, click here.
For those of you who are in media production and distribution, you may have been a part of a similar initiative.
Has your company made a difference in your community?
Share your stories and leave a comment :)
