March 12, 2009
· Filed under Show News
Heartwood USA has been quiet since this past fall because we were hard at work on something called a pitch bible. No, not the Good Book. A pitch bible is a pen and paper version of a television show. In Heartwood’s case, our pitch bible lays out the themes of the show, the main and secondary characters, summaries of nearly a full season of episodes and more.
The process took many months – I didn’t pick up the finished product from the printers until late December! But oh was it worth the wait!
As usual, Dave Schlafman created gorgeous new art – from half a dozen new characters to vivid new backgrounds. And a new collaborator – graphic designer Alyson Schultz – took mine and Dave’s raw material and created a 24-page booklet of great beauty and fun.
Next step – the long and winding road to television.
Pitch bible excerpt
February 25, 2009
· Filed under Science
Australia seeks to cut methane emissions from cows:
Researchers will explore changing diets and chemical and biological controls of stomach bacteria to reduce methane production, as well as genetic approaches such as selective breeding.
Turns out livestock accounts for 12% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Cow-a-dunga indeed.
August 12, 2008
· Filed under Show News
Hi guys,
I haven’t been frequently posting lately and won’t be for the next few more weeks. (Is that anywhere close to grammatically correct?) I’m prepping a show bible for Heartwood and it’s taking all my spare time. I’ll update you when I can!
Shane
August 5, 2008
· Filed under Kids Content · Tagged cynopsis, planet pals, planetpals, sanrio
Planetpals, a long running Web site with animated eco-heroes, looks like it’s expanding to Japan. According to Cynopsis,
Sanrio Far East (Sanrio F.E.), a unit of Sanrio Group, inks a licensing deal to exclusively represent Planetpals in Japan. Under the deal Sanrio F.E. will introduce the kid-targeted environment-centric Planetpals website and property through a multi-platform effort as well through various partnerships.
August 4, 2008
· Filed under Show News
I reconnected with an old friend (the real reason people join Linked In) and he pointed me to his older brother’s Web site and I found a song that is either a Michael Crichton inspired screed against global warming alarmists or a tongue in cheek reminder to the reality based community not to get too hyper about this stuff. I report, you decide.
Global Warming song (3.4MB .mp3)
So much for global warming / I’m freezing, I’m freezing
So much for global warming / I’m freezing, I’m freezing
So much for global warming / I’m freezing, I’m freezing
It’s cold
But we have to believe them, they’re scientists
We have to believe them, they’re scientists
We have to believe them, they’re scientists
With PhD’s
Let’s fill up the hole in the ozone with what’s down here
We’re choking
Let’s fill up the hole in the ozone with what’s down here
We’re choking
Let’s fill up the hole in the ozone with what’s down here
We’re choking / We’re doomed, we’re doomed
…
So let’s give them all the money they ask for
Let’s give them all the money they ask for
let’s give them the billions and billions of dollars they ask for
They must be right
So much for global warming / I’m freezing, I’m freezing
July 29, 2008
· Filed under Show News · Tagged Diego Mulligan, KSFR, Sante Fe Public Radio, The Journey Home
If you’re free around 730pm eastern today, I’ll be talking about Heartwood USA, kids media and green cartoons on the Journey Home show’s Sustainable Tuesday segment.
It streams live on the Web at KSFR.org. Not sure if they archive the show.
July 29, 2008
· Filed under Kids Content · Tagged animal planet, shopping bags
Cute cartoon about paying attention to the little things – like shopping bag use:
July 28, 2008
· Filed under Kids Content · Tagged Angelica Huston, Dygra Films, Fantastic Films International, Giovanni Ribisi, Ron Perlman, Sean Astin
Spirit of the Forest stars Sean Astin and Giovanni Ribisi as 2 gophers whose home…
…is threatened when an evil businesswoman plans to tear down their forest to build a highway. With the help of an old oak tree, the animals and their friends fight back with a vengeance.
The feature film community gets that there is a BIG audience for green themed content. Why not television?
Look for Spirit to bow this fall. via ecorazzi.
July 25, 2008
· Filed under Kids Content
Just heard about this cartoon from Keep America Beautiful, Inc – a network of 1000+ affiliates that work on litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification.
Click on the image below to open their video player:
I love the realistic writing and the voice over talent but it feels a little too Bob Newhart for kids to enjoy. And IMO, it takes too long to get to the threat/message. What about starting with a theme-setter? A visual of the the problem and a call to action?
