Showco Flashbacks: Amber
[SUMMARY—Reflecting on the conference.]
(GBR) I think all the digital journalists would agree that ShowComotion provided an invaluable opportunity to speak to and learn from people working within the children's television industry. Additionally the conference also made me think about the role young people can play in the development of the media sector. Younger generations consume media at a rate and extent many adults would not even think was possible. From animation, social networking, game consoles, mobile phones, YouTube and MySpace etc. we've found ways to create our own identities and most importantly to be imaginative. So, there is actually a lot adults within the television industry can learn from children and young people about the changing world of the media…
I was pleased to witness a professional adult at the conference who recognised the importance of responding to children and young people. Co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba! (which will be screened by Nick Jnr in August), Christian Jacobs, in his session 'Creative Workshop' explained how his own children helped him explore and experiment with new ideas. He also discussed how young interns he'd taken on to help with the show had amazed and educated him and his team with their talent and knowledge concerning animation and computer graphics. Through responding and learning from his interns and children, Yo Gabba Gabba! was able to improve in content and quality.
Christian was not interested in creating a programme within a traditional blueprint of what 'works' in the children's television industry. Instead, he used his own interests as well as those of children and young people to create a completely original show. His creative vision came from a type of re-moulding and recycling of basic ideas which were taken predominantly from hip hop, dance, computer graphics, animation, crazy costumes and electro beats and it was ultimately this merging of influences from all areas of the media world which was so refreshing and exciting to watch (check out the trailer).
Christian also had the insight to realise the power of media tools such as YouTube and MySpace to promote his work. Posting up the trailer resulted in Nick Jnr being bombarded with emails requesting the future screening of the show. Watching Yo Gabba Gabba! taught me that if you want to create a media product be it a children's television show, a short film or a simple vodcast, inputting your own influences in order to encourage a new style can lead to original and exciting creations. Working with the Digital Journalists and receiving training from DK and Mark was a first step in this learning curve as we were given the opportunity to edit, film, blog and work with the internet to show the world what was happening at ShowComotion from a wide range of people's perspectives including our own.
Thanks to all the delegates who made the experience worthwhile and to DK, Mark, Ryan, Emily, Jess, Laura, Hanna and Cherish who made sure it was definitely always high in 'FUN!' content.
Related post: Showcomotion 07 Wrap-up
Filed by DK on July 12 2007
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