Gearing up for a big day on Saturday 11th.
With PUNKY up for two IFTA nominations... with floor length gown and tux specified for entry along the red carpet into the new Conference Centre for the award ceremony... this could be one of the biggest nights for PUNKY!
The nominations are for Childrens/ Young People's Programme and for Sound Design. To everyone who voted for us, a heartfelt thanks.
But then it has already been a big nine months for PUNKY between the launch at the end of April, multiple screenings on RTEjr since May 3rd, to the overwhemingly positive response internationally - virally via the web, DVD's being sent overseas and word of mouth - to Gerard O'Rourke winning European Producer of the Year at Cartoon Forum last September and Target Entertainment coming on as distributor to launch the series internationally at MIPCom last October...
So Saturday already feels like a real celebration of all that has been achieved -- and very far from the scribblings of an idea that I had back in 2007!
And here she is...
Launched April 28 2011
Showing posts with label down syndrome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label down syndrome. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
PUNKY grabs attention overseas
Target Entertainment has reported back on PUNKY's progress after MIPCOM Junior and MIPCOM. The series already has two international offers on the table but there are scores of interesting and interested parties from all over the world now considering it.
This is how Target summed up her progress:
"PUNKY has been extremely well received by clients as unique, bold and a fantastic way to challenge the taboos of having a disability. It was great to hear buyers say they loved it and many wanted to screen more episodes. The team are currently following up on all interest and we expect to have more deals before the year is out."
This is how Target summed up her progress:
"PUNKY has been extremely well received by clients as unique, bold and a fantastic way to challenge the taboos of having a disability. It was great to hear buyers say they loved it and many wanted to screen more episodes. The team are currently following up on all interest and we expect to have more deals before the year is out."
Distributor appointed... Sept 6th 2011
In September, the UK-based leading rights management company Target Entertainment nabbed global distribution rights to PUNKY, with plans to launch the series internationally at MIPCOM Junior.
In Animation Magazine on the 6th of that month, Mercedes Milligan wrote: 'The show has gained rave reviews from its RTE airing and been given the nod by kids and parents who approve of the show’s inclusive, progressive and upbeat message.
'Producer Gerard O’Rourke spoke of why he chose Target as global distributor: “We wanted this series to sit in the middle of any preschool block anywhere in the world and let viewers discover that Punky is a great child but also happens to have a disability … Punky is not a Down Syndrome person, but a person with Down Syndrome. If we can pass this message to our next generation through Punky, then we have created a very worthwhile TV series. Target Entertainment, and in particular Alison Rayson, fully understand how important a series like this can be and we know they will communicate this message to all broadcast mediums worldwide.”@
Rayson, Target's CEO, has a son with Down Syndrome and has said that she feels a special connection to the series and hopes that Target can help spread Punky’s message about this much misunderstood genetic condition, which she said affects about 5.8 million people worldwide:
“Children with Down Syndrome globally now have healthy, fulfilling lives in most countries … There are still countries however where a child with Down Syndrome or any disability is marginalized and mistreated, and that’s just not acceptable.
"Our imperative with Punky then is not just a commercial one for Target, but also a charitable one. We will be donating half of our sales commissions to Down Syndrome Education International, which pioneers inclusion at schools for all children with Down Syndrome. We want Punky to become a global ambassador for Down Syndrome and for all children with learning difficulties worldwide, breaking down old-fashioned and negative stereotypes and championing the joy of individuality.”
In Animation Magazine on the 6th of that month, Mercedes Milligan wrote: 'The show has gained rave reviews from its RTE airing and been given the nod by kids and parents who approve of the show’s inclusive, progressive and upbeat message.
'Producer Gerard O’Rourke spoke of why he chose Target as global distributor: “We wanted this series to sit in the middle of any preschool block anywhere in the world and let viewers discover that Punky is a great child but also happens to have a disability … Punky is not a Down Syndrome person, but a person with Down Syndrome. If we can pass this message to our next generation through Punky, then we have created a very worthwhile TV series. Target Entertainment, and in particular Alison Rayson, fully understand how important a series like this can be and we know they will communicate this message to all broadcast mediums worldwide.”@
Rayson, Target's CEO, has a son with Down Syndrome and has said that she feels a special connection to the series and hopes that Target can help spread Punky’s message about this much misunderstood genetic condition, which she said affects about 5.8 million people worldwide:
“Children with Down Syndrome globally now have healthy, fulfilling lives in most countries … There are still countries however where a child with Down Syndrome or any disability is marginalized and mistreated, and that’s just not acceptable.
"Our imperative with Punky then is not just a commercial one for Target, but also a charitable one. We will be donating half of our sales commissions to Down Syndrome Education International, which pioneers inclusion at schools for all children with Down Syndrome. We want Punky to become a global ambassador for Down Syndrome and for all children with learning difficulties worldwide, breaking down old-fashioned and negative stereotypes and championing the joy of individuality.”
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
28th April: PUNKY is launched
28th April 2011
Upstart writer Lindsay Sedgwick writes about her innovative new animation project for RTE children’s programming:
On the 28th of April, courtesy of the Dublin Lord Mayor, Down Syndrome Ireland and RTE will launch the series I created, PUNKY, in the Mansion House. Produced by Monster Animation, PUNKY will be aired on RTEJr from May 3rd, twice daily on weekdays for four weeks. After four years of hard graft, the idea I conceived is finally ready to be gorgeously birthed!
This has happened thanks to the determination of the producer Gerard O’Rourke who believed as firmly as me that it had to be made.
Why? ‘Cos it’s different. It is the first mainstream cartoon ever – as far as we can ascertain – to be centred around a main character with special needs. Punky is feisty, fun, frustrating and loveable. She lives in the moment and she also happens to have Down syndrome. She is voiced by Aimee Richardson who has brought the character to life. Aimee also has the Down syndrome and is an ambassador for Down Syndrome Ireland, who have been behind the project and excited about it since I first contacted them in early 2008 after getting development funding from the Irish Film Board.
But it all began in early 2007 with a ten minute animated script called Bookcraft where a dog got changed into a rooster and Punky’s brother got changed into a girl…
(Yup, it had a lot going on. Chaos seems to follow me into scripts whether I want it to or not but we’re in serious discussions. Chaos has now promised to stay for inspiration processes only but then slip into a separate file on the desktop and try not to sulk. I’m sure it will sulk though and we’ll probably suffer separation anxiety for a draft or two of each project. We’ll come out stronger!)
But here’s the thing: That short script has since proven to be the germ for an animated feature, a live action feature, this series PUNKY, another short that will go into competition soon and another series idea that will, hopefully, follow Punky’s esteemed footsteps in due course. So the chaos works, it just has to be channelled right!
So, if Bookcraft still hasn’t been made, I can’t complain. Maybe its role was a bit like those magic beans Jack brought home? Meanwhile, I have the bottle of Jameson primed to celebrate Punky’s arrival on the small screen. Though seems a little odd to be celebrating the arrival of a pre-school series with hard liquor, I think I can handle it!
http://upstart.ie/blog/?p=1013
Upstart writer Lindsay Sedgwick writes about her innovative new animation project for RTE children’s programming:
On the 28th of April, courtesy of the Dublin Lord Mayor, Down Syndrome Ireland and RTE will launch the series I created, PUNKY, in the Mansion House. Produced by Monster Animation, PUNKY will be aired on RTEJr from May 3rd, twice daily on weekdays for four weeks. After four years of hard graft, the idea I conceived is finally ready to be gorgeously birthed!
This has happened thanks to the determination of the producer Gerard O’Rourke who believed as firmly as me that it had to be made.
Why? ‘Cos it’s different. It is the first mainstream cartoon ever – as far as we can ascertain – to be centred around a main character with special needs. Punky is feisty, fun, frustrating and loveable. She lives in the moment and she also happens to have Down syndrome. She is voiced by Aimee Richardson who has brought the character to life. Aimee also has the Down syndrome and is an ambassador for Down Syndrome Ireland, who have been behind the project and excited about it since I first contacted them in early 2008 after getting development funding from the Irish Film Board.
But it all began in early 2007 with a ten minute animated script called Bookcraft where a dog got changed into a rooster and Punky’s brother got changed into a girl…
(Yup, it had a lot going on. Chaos seems to follow me into scripts whether I want it to or not but we’re in serious discussions. Chaos has now promised to stay for inspiration processes only but then slip into a separate file on the desktop and try not to sulk. I’m sure it will sulk though and we’ll probably suffer separation anxiety for a draft or two of each project. We’ll come out stronger!)
But here’s the thing: That short script has since proven to be the germ for an animated feature, a live action feature, this series PUNKY, another short that will go into competition soon and another series idea that will, hopefully, follow Punky’s esteemed footsteps in due course. So the chaos works, it just has to be channelled right!
So, if Bookcraft still hasn’t been made, I can’t complain. Maybe its role was a bit like those magic beans Jack brought home? Meanwhile, I have the bottle of Jameson primed to celebrate Punky’s arrival on the small screen. Though seems a little odd to be celebrating the arrival of a pre-school series with hard liquor, I think I can handle it!
http://upstart.ie/blog/?p=1013
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