PRIME4KIDS&Family - apply now!
specifically designed for the development of projects for child and family audiences across all audiovisual media.
For many years the media industry paid little attention to children and families as a target viewing public. Change only came about - in Germany as well as in other European countries – following the success of large-scale cinematic productions. As a rule, these were adaptations of well-known literary models, which flagged up this market’s rich potential. Recent technical developments have opened up new dimensions in the market: it is children who are enthused by technologies such as on- and offline games, mobile entertainment and other interactive fare, and who are using these in increasing numbers. In addition, cross-media developments are becoming more and more important for the media industry as a whole, but in particular in the realm of children’s and family entertainment. Children are acclimatised to the media. Not only have they long since got used to the idea that their heroes and their heroes’ stories cross the traditional format boundaries – from book to TV series to film to game – but they enjoy and increasingly expect to re-encounter their heroes in other formats too. One example of how important cross-media products have become can be shown by Prime4Kids&Family’s participants. Of all the projects dealt with during the 2007 course, for the first time, a full third of them were conceived as being of a cross-media nature.
Prime4Kids&Family is specifically designed for the development of projects for child and family audiences across all audiovisual media. We collaborate with the strong conviction that it is essential to create specialised professional development programmes for those who want to make original work in media for children.
At Prime4Kids&Family, writers develop their projects and their craft through collaboration with experienced mentors, all distinguished writers, with creative professionals from allied fields, and with an international group of fellow participants.
Essentials
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A creative community designed to provide substantial professional support for development of original ideas and exceptional talent.
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A supportive environment for experimentation and for exploring ideas and processes which is not usually possible within the structure and pressures of commercial development.
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A distinguished mentoring and support team of practitioners with a range and depth of experience in the field of film, TV and interactive media for children.
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A cross-disciplinary approach involving writers, directors, producers and also actors, designer-programmers, animators and storyboarders.
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The experience of a rich mix of European cultures and a platform where everyone involved can build a productive network with colleagues from other European countries.
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The 6-month programme comprises: Two residential sessions, which form the core of the programme, plus internet support from mentors after each session.
The Labs are not prescriptive. Each project needs its own approach. In addition to substantial analyses and feedback by mentors and fellow writers, Prime4Kids&Family puts special emphasis on supporting the creative process in different ways:
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During the 8 day long first Lab a resident ensemble of five actors and a director supports the development of projects through improvisations and readings of work-in-progress. Also in this first Lab and according to the special needs of the projects selected in each year, creative professionals from allied fields may also be invited, e.g. designers, illustrators, possibly a composer or puppeteer, or others who can be a creative resource to the writers. In addition a producer is invited to provide training in project pitching skills.
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Each writer develops an individual schedule with his / her mentor, including individual and group sessions with mentors, work with the actors or other members of the Lab team and private writing time. By the conclusion of the 3 day long second Lab, the aim is to bring projects to a point at which their creators will feel confident to present them to potential producers and broadcasters to seek further funding.
- After both the first and second sessions, participants stay in contact via the Internet with their assigned mentor, sending draft ideas, treatments, bibles or scripts as appropriate for feedback comments.
Connecting with the Industry
The second workshop will be a 4-day event. On the first three days participants will review work developed since the first workshop, first with mentors and then with additional invited ‘industry mentors’ who are film producers, TV commissioning editors and cross-platform/interactive media producers. Each participant will be able to present their project and receive advice on possible routes to further funding and production.
On the fourth day, the workshop will be opened to a small number of selected, international representatives from the various market segments – film, TV and interactive media. Targeted and mediated market discussions with the visitors in the morning will be followed in the afternoon by a panel discussion session between participants, producers and market partners on alternative approaches to developing and producing cross-media family entertainment and the future of this sector of the industry.
Mentoring Team
With a clear focus on the specific needs of those creating work for children, Prime4Kids&Family brings together a mentoring and support team with specialized experience in writing and production for this audience.
The programme mentors are always an international team of working professionals. Each year we put together a new team, some or all of whom may be new to the programme and others who have worked with us previously. We are delighted when mentors are able to return but at the same time, we think it is important to also draw new mentoring and support expertise into Prime4Kids&Family each year. This helps us to give to each new year of the programme a stimulating freshness and to ensure we have a mentoring and support team with the specific expertise to respond to the selected projects.
Creative Resource Team
An ensemble of five actors and a director and two other resource persons (e.g. artist / storyboarder, designer, programmer, musician, according to the specific needs of the projects selected) are resident at the first Lab to support the development process. In addition we invite a producer to spend a day at the Lab to assist writers with their project pitching skills.
Download booklett of last year
- Application Deadline 2nd of August
- Please send signed Application form in advance to Fax +49 30 4372729-50
- Selected Participants announced early August and posted here
- Your application must be in 9 copies in English (a working translation will suffice) include the signed Application Form. Please also send a CD with all parts of the application.
- For further information please contact us
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