Producer

A huge amount has been achieved since the formation of the Inland Waterways Association and the various groups dedicated to different aspects of boats and waterways. The formation of “Explore” to encourage children is encouraging. The first I really learned about canals was on a children’s TV magazine programme which sparked my interest. “Rosie and Jim” by Ragdoll Limited sparked interest in canals to another generation. Boat operators now say that it is the parents who remember “Rosie and Jim” as it is not regularly broadcast. When I got dismayed by the stresses of my work place I got a job as a canal boat captain working a trip boat on northern waterways. There were always many children who wanted to help with the boat and to work the locks and swing bridges. The children were usually bright and enthusiastic. I also met many characters that were comical. This led to the idea for a children’s TV series that would promote canals in a humorous way and teach how to steer boats etc. Ideally there would be a parallel live actions series showing real children taking part in these situations. My background is in art work for theatre, film and TV and I have written for publication as well. It looks as though I am in a good position to get the series developed. I have a thorough knowledge of operating both commercial and pleasure boats. I have an experienced writer to take my ideas and make them into useable shooting scripts. The story boards for the pilot episode have been drawn. The problem, as ever, is money. TV companies no longer fund the full costs of making a programme. Typically they fund between 5 and 20% of the costs. The costs of production has risen from typically £150 for an episode of “Ivor the Engine” made by stop frame animation using cardboard cut-outs in the 1960s, to modern HD, stereophonic, computer-generated productions demanded by broadcasters which costs anything up to £50,000 for a single reel episode. Over a year of my (unpaid) time ha been spent on developing the ideas. The Canals and Rivers Trust has been encouraging but so far no organisation has come up with any means of financing it. Suggestions have been made that I should buy the software and do the work myself or that I should start by publishing a book and hope that it will lead to a commission by a broadcaster. The danger is that what promises to be a very good promotional idea never gets beyond the ideas stage. People like the gentle humour, the children being encouraged to have adventure and not sitting in front of a computer. It is unusual is that it is not about men in cat suits fighting each-other. It also sends-up foibles of waterways users. (Do not think that this is unpopular; there was a film that mocked Morris Dancers that I went to see at the Picture House in Stratford but the largest auditorium was sold out. It was full of Morris dancers…) Is there anyone on the forum who can think of a way forward, please? It has been suggested that a commercial company might be willing to pay for it as part of its web presence. This would be better-funded than children’s TV which is short of funds now that they are not allowed to advertise sweets. All ideas welcome.