I really am a believer.

Last evening I wrote the proposal for SCN Broadcasting. They've asked me to include a financing plan - that way they can evaluate whether or not we'll make it to the 13 episodes needed for a season.

Between the tax credit calculations and the licensing fee we are in really good shape.

The proposal looks good. What SCN was so jazzed about was the entertaining way kids were going to be learning about things. That's why it fits so well with what they are looking for. Shea visits with the Maoris, the Masai village, the Nubian village - it's a great fit. Once we have the SCN deal inked we'll be approaching the other public/educational broadcasters in Canada. (And we don't neet to pay out the 35% sales commission)

Unky Duck sent over the Egypt opening and it's just so captivating. Can't wait to see the rest of the show.

Denise is toiling on the NZ split - we've been re-working the script and the intro works really well. Shea will be doing a re-voice today to give Denise something to cut to. It looks fabulous - (we have the advantage of being able to peek at what Denise is doing from time to time which is nice to watch the progress.)

Ken is having an ongoing game of phone tag with HMV. As long as the guy keeps returning the calls - it would seem like he's interested in a sponsorship. Once we're signed on the SCN and any other public broadcasters we can aggressively look for other sponsors. Any ideas/contacts welcome.

Wasn't able to catch Joseph yesterday, but I'm liking the idea of getting the public broadcasters in Canada onside on our own.

Kumuka is working out a best case plan for 3 episodes in Asia in March.

I believe a real corner was turned when we decided to double up on the episodes. SCN had no problem with that whatsoever. Big thanks to Ken for his enthusiasm, commitment and for being such a great sounding board.

And really, a big thanks to the ensire SRWT (and Picante) team who've been an inspiration all along. Each one makes such a contribution.

What a team!

It would appear we have LIFT OFF!

I had an excellent meeting today with SCN the public broadcaster in Saskatchewan. They are very interested in the show. They don't pay a lot for content, however, their commitment will qualify us for tax credits. That should ensure we can afford to complete the 13 week series.

This will be big news for Sandra and Joseph. (I'll wait til I get their commitment in writing to commit to anything but it looks like it's going to be a go.)

This could be a very big deal but I don't want to jinx it.

I also heard from the tour company looking after the Asian tours and they are just waiting for a letter from Sandra Carter indicating interested markets and then we'll start hammering out the details. I'm hoping to do 3 episodes in a little over two weeks - possibly China, Thailand and then maybe a quickie in Hong Kong.

That's the latest news.

Welcome Denise!

Denise is onboard. She'll be editing like crazy for the next several months along with Unky Duck who will be doing likewise. She's joining Picante full time tomorrow on a term basis while we get SRWT up and running. We love having her around and know the show is in good hands with a great team working together.

In fact, this weekend we've taken a stab at re-writing quite a bit of NZ and it's been worked into two episodes (it was ridiculously easy) and we have a plan for Kenya and Hawaii as well.

Unky Duck has completed the opening for Egypt and it looks just amazing. Shea seems very poised and professional....even she likes it....which is very high praise.

Side note: Shea won her volleyball championship yesterday morning in a game which started at 8:30 am. The girls were very impressive.

Things are definitely on track now.

They love the idea.

I heard back from Joseph who had discussed the double episode concept with Sandra and they both love it. As mentioned previously (many times) they really want us to give them 13 episodes. They are very confident of sales with the complete season.

Now everything is going to be happening very fast. There is a ton of new creative and new editing that needs to be done.

I kept dreaming last night that every show opened with Shea eating Captain Crunch.

So the important thing is that we retain the integrity of the show but take advantage of the potential especially as we work on getting it off the ground the first season.

Allan has started working on a game for the website. I'm just thinking about entertaining in-show segments.

All ideas welcome. All reasonable ideas submitted are worth 1 beer (or libation of your choice) at the next SRWT meeting.

One more good sign - last night I received our $400 us deposit back from our first accommodation in Honolulu. Every two to three weeks I'd write him and remind him he still owed it to us. It Arrived!

By jove, I think we've got it.

Much happened at the meeting, however it was after the meeting that the real solution was born.

We were really facing a dilmma as costs to produce are high, difficult to get sponsors before broadcaster, difficult to get broadcaster without guarantee of 13 shows.

We met Sandra and Joseph. We were particularly impressed with Joseph - at least I was.

He's going to try to hook us up with Randy in Toronto. Things may move more smoothly in the Canadian market then. Randy also may be interested in co-producing.

However, we still felt we were facing a big challenge getting 13 shows together.

As had discussed the successful "Shop the World" and compared production costs etc. It is now in its 4th season. What became apparent (on the train to Newark Airport afterwards) was that Shop the World does not do 13 different locations. Many of their shows are 2 parters - 1 show from Rome and then another show from Rome. And then a show from Milan.

We have been talking about adding an interactive element to the show...Shea's travel tips,.. trivia, quizzes, marketing the website or a charitable element - but the shows were too jam packed for that. Now we're thinking we have the answer.

Several of the shows have really good segments that have ended up on the cutting room floor. We'll resurrect some of them, add in some interesting stuff and make two shows from one.

We think this will work with New Zealand, Kenya and Hawaii.
(we don't want to overdo it.)

Everyone agrees that the shows are jam-packed and terrific the way they are. But, unfortunately, we are not going to see the revenue in the first season to pay for the luxury of 5 or 6 days shooting per show. (Shop the World shoots in 1 or 2 days) We know our goal is to get back to that but right now it's just not feasible.

Hence - tons more editing. DENISE WE NEED YOU!!

Unky Duck will certainly have his work cut out for him but at the post-trip fiesta last night he gamefully agreed to see what he could do.

I encourage everyone who is interested to submit ideas for the added segments....a call in segment from a viewer with a question for Shea....whatever....keep the ideas coming.

So in a wrap-up - we're looking at
Episode One - New Zealand
Episode Two - New Zealand
Episode Three - Jamaica
Episode Four - Kenya
Episode Five - Kenya
Episode Six - Egypt
Episode Seven - Hawaii
Episode Eight - Hawaii
Episode Nine - Costa Rica
Episode Ten - China
Episode Eleven - China
Episode Twelve - India
Episode Thirteen - Best of Wrap Up

And voila - thirteen shows.

I'm going to run this idea past Joseph today and get his feedback.

Your comments are of course, welcome!

Thanks to P and Ken for a great trip. It was well worth it.

Feeling the Force

Yes, it's true. The first leg of the journey is complete. We're all in Chicago - P has left to his own gate heading to La Guardia. Ken is with me here at Gate B5 - at least he was until a moment ago when he vanished while talking on the cel. Go figure.

Felling all the looove and support of the SRWT team back home.

Looking forward to reporting back... xxxoooto all.

Thanks to the team at Picante for holding the fort in my absence.

Start spreading the news!

Ken, Laura and P take a bite out of the Big Apple.

Ken and Laura welcome the Executive Producer along to the meeting with Sandra Carter. Rumour has it that to save costs there's only going to be one room so everyone bring pyjamas k?

Many of us viewed the first version of Hawaii. It is absolutely fantastic! Unky Duck's right though - she's growing up too fast.

Costa Rica plans nearly completely finalized. I managed to get Robin booked this evening so there'll be a big reunion in the Houston Airport on Christmas Day.

I wrote to an amazing tour company yesterday called Kumuka. (check 'em out at kumuka.com)

They wrote back saying they are very interested in working with us on some fantastic tours they have. If you get a chance check out China - Kites, Warriors and Pandas. And India - Tigers, Temples and the Taj Mahal.

It's clear they really "get it" and have indicated "serious involvement" with some opportunity for promotion. We'll be back to them after the meeting in NY.

Robin finishes his big commitment towards the end of March so a China/India or China/Thailand double episode tour may be in order.

Allan made significant headway on the tax credit front. More on that later.

Thanks for tuning in.

Shea Kelli gearing up for Costa Rica

In an effort to mentally prepare for the Costa Rican bungee, the diminutive Shea Kelli began early training with the completion of a different sort of high altitude adventure - installing Christmas lights on the Hawkins family homestead.

Shea was the obvious choice to ascend the heights of 38 Caldwell to attach light to shingle and eavestrough. Appropriately supervised by Production Manager, Funding Manager, Sound Guy and sometime Psychologist Allan, Shea was successful in placing the highest strings.

Bravo Shea Kelli. The bungee will be a piece of cake now...and much warmer.

Allan's on a roll.

He's been working for the past two days on tax credits and grant applications. It is really encouraging. He's taking it on a little like it's a video game he needs to conquer (at least that's how it seems to me.)

We took a break last night to go see the film Borat. Not sure what to say about that.
a. don't take your children (of course, we did)
b. go to it prepared to squirm (we certainly did)
c. be prepared to laugh out loud (sometimes it's a very embarassed laugh)
d. watch how someone is going to make boatloads of money by having no shame whatsoever.

Plans are coming together for Costa Rica although I believe our tour host wishes he'd never heard of Shea's Rockin' World Tour. It's been quite difficult with Christmas season overcrowding - but we're getting darn close to an itinerary we can live with.

Will post the itinerary here as soon as it's finalized.

If Allan is successful with the tax credit and grant stuff I'd like to suggest Thailand for Spring Break. (of course much will depend on the meeting with SC next week and the results from NATPE in January.) Just thought I'd throw the Thailand possibility out there for those who like to dream.

Episode Six - Costa Rica - All Systems Go!

Through a weird twist of fate, a tour operator in Costa Rica has come up with a plan for us that greatly reduces our costs. With the decision to travel on Christmas Day rather than Boxing Day we are able to shave more off. So - we're going to go.

We were quite reassured with our conversation with Joseph yesterday and as posted here earlier will be meeting with Joseph and Sandra next week. By outward appearances it seems the show has a great shot.

So, being a believer, we're going to make it happen.

Footage from Egypt looks fantastic and Hawaii is coming together really well. Bot Denise and Unky Duck are hard at it, getting things together as quickly as possible.

So, as seems usual in the SRWT world, we're planning and finalizing and preparing for Number 6.

Yippee Yi Yo Kyyay.

Been awhile since I blogged.

Although it's been quiet there's been lots going on behind the scenes.

Still working hard to get a real context for progress, success and potential financial possibilities.

Joseph from Sandra Carter continues to sing the praises of the show. Has now seen the Kenya episode and loves it even more than the others. He says they still really believe in the show.

Having heard all the compliments and predictions we thought it was time to meet face to face to get the real poop.

So Ken and I are off to NYC next week to meet with Joseph and Sandra herself.

We're off Wednesday and will be back Thursday eve. Maybe drinks at Grapes Leons after we return? We can talk about it.

Blogging from Saskatoon

Denise from Paradise Air in Hawaii called me yesterday. Just wanted an update and to say Hi to everybody. So...hi from Denise!

Our other Denise and Unky Duck are both toiling away. The other two episodes will be finished in no time.

Had a good chat with Joseph on Wednesday. We are to hear back from him shortly after he has a discussion with Sandra Carter. Will report in then.

Bad news. Shea lost her back molar so her Orthodontist wants me to make a decision re: braces. Likely will put a spacer in until we finish Costa Rica.

That seems to be coming together really well. I have a band lined up and the full itinerary planned. Will make a final decision before the weekend is up.

Allan has taken on the tax credit gauntlet. He's much smarter about those kinds of things than I am. He will continue working that through with Lisa. It is a mountain of paperwork but it does look like we can qualify.

That's all the new I have for now.