Television Projects in Development:
In the Cold of the Sun
Documentary investigating the people behind the various autonomous homes, solar homes and communities being built in Southern Alberta. Focus is on Drakes Landing, the largest solar development in North America. Development funding received from CTV to complete research. Producers White Iron TV, Calgary.
Gawain's Garden (Children's TV series)
We live in a very fast world. We move fast, the shows we watch are fast, and our attention spans are plummeting. Attention Deficit Disorder is the norm among young children. It is time to slow things down.
Welcome to “Gawain’s Garden”. An oasis in a sea of hysteria, here is an escape for our children at the end of a busy day. The pace is slower, the setting is a garden, and for a moment a child can believe that all is right with the world. The owner of the garden, and host of the show, is GAWAIN, an Irish Gardener and Wizard. Gawain will nurture his audience with Celtic folklore, amaze them with faerie magic and introduce them to the Nature Spirits in the garden. He carries with him the knowledge of the ancient Celts from Ireland: the healing power of stones and herbs, the value of animal allies and pets, and the power of meditation. He holds great reverence for the Earth, and passes this on to his viewers. Gawain will show us the value of animal allies, using his cat, PERCIVAL as an example. Percival, being a wizard’s cat, is also a shapeshifter, allowing Gawain to show us the care and feeding of everything from a cockatoo to a dragon.
Or, he can turn into a unicorn and take us on a fantastic journey into middle earth.
A major part of the show will be the faeries from Middle Earth. ANNWN, the princess, is Gawain’s best friend and will show us the ways of this world, and the fables surrounding it. And then we have the PIXIES. They are mischievous, flying, faerie-like creatures which always seem to know the wrong thing to do. They love pulling pranks, hiding Gawain’s things, and providing the comic relief of the show.
Science, music, arts and crafts will be regular features through visits from craftsmen and musicians. The loose flow of his day will allow for many styles and types of stories to be told. One day he may show us how to turn an abandoned inner city lot into a garden, the next he may have a disabled child to visit, giving children a chance to see a child with the same hopes and dreams, and hear what their limitations and talents are.
Gawain’s audience has outgrown the preschooler shows, and is saturated with Japanese Anime cartoons. They are looking for joy and self-empowerment in their lives brought about by real wisdom. It is time to put the joy and wonder back into childhood with an interactive television show in a natural setting. This is a show which can safely be turned on at home, at the daycare or day home, to help a child relax at the end of a long, tiring day. The overall feeling is gentle and happy. The success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings has demonstrated that children are craving the magic and folklore of the past in their lives, and Gawain’s Garden will bring it to them.
THE SET: THE GARDEN
Uilleann Pipes herald our arrival. Once inside, we see the lush garden which contains fruit trees, rows of vegetables, every type of flower, and potted herbs. The garden borders a narrow river which powers a water wheel. The water wheel generates the power to irrigate the nearby field and Gawain’s garden. A large compost patch sits in one corner which Gawain throws his organic scraps onto and mixes with dirt, soot, and hay. He will explain its uses, and show viewers how to incorporate compost into the garden as the show progresses. THE
TREE HOUSE
A giant oak tree stands in the center of the circular garden, with a donut-shaped tree house around its perimeter high up in the foliage. The roof is covered in beautiful peacock feathers (peacocks fly up regularly and replace feathers on a voluntary basis). This is the sign that a Celtic Shaman is in residence. Solar panels on the roof provide power, and a windmill which also generates electricity. This is an eco-friendly environment which viewers will learn about as time goes on.
MULTIMEDIA:
The eventual development of an interactive website to complement the show would allow children to go on line to get Gawain’s craft ideas, recipes, his latest joke, or some Celtic Folklore. It will allow children to access this world any time they wish.
The Sensual Garden (adult gardening show)
The Sensual Garden is a gardening series of a different breed. Each story is a mini comedy following our young hosts to a variety of parties, adventures, and experiences, all centered around the sensual, even erotic, nature of gardens.
Our hosts are single, sexually adventurous types, one male, one female. They belong to “Generation Y”, 25 to 30 year olds constantly connected to their iPods, Blackberries and friends. They are urban dwellers, who wander into the countryside if an adventure is afoot. Most likely, they will be of mixed heritage to reflect Canada’s cultural diversity.
The target audience is 25 – 30 year olds who are tech savvy, multi-cultural, and largely urban dwellers. Every garden is full of naturally erotic forms and events. Flowers are sexual organs, their artistic colors, shapes, and fragrances specifically evolved to attract insects which enable flower sex to happen.
The Sensual Garden will expose our audience to as many different sensual garden adventures as possible, most times with a tongue in cheek playfulness. The market is full of shows explaining “How” to make the perfect garden, now it’s time to remind them what fun they can have in a garden.
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