The Parksville Qualicum Beach News Tuesday, December 9, 2014
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ARTS &LIFE
A23
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65 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE
Ballenas grad has a hit with Pancake Manor Doing kids’ shows both ‘fun’ and ‘positive’ and influenced by alt-rock
how children’s programming was “quietly sustainable” instead of subject to going viral one minute and disappearing the next. Plus, a children’s show would allow Reid, who admires Jim Henson, to use a couple of JESSICA SKELTON reporter@pqbnews.com puppets he had designed years When Ballenas Secondary before. School graduate Reb Stephen“It felt right and exciting,” Steson and her Victoria-born part- phenson said of when they set ner Billy Reid started filming a on their path. YouTube children’s program, Reid’s puppets are now they had no idea if it would be at named Zach and Reggie and all successful. are the stars of Pancake Manor. Three years later, their musi- The orange and purple brothers’ cal video series Pancake Manor (both voiced by Reid) main job has received 65 million views is to sing original songs written from around the world. by their creators. “I didn’t think it would be Stephenson and Reid also possible,” said Stephenson. “It’s occasionally make cameos in a small production coming out the films to speak or sing a line of our basement.” or two. Stephenson said the idea Unlike traditional kids songs, all started in Ontario in 2011 which Stephenson describes as when she and Reid decided they “sing-songy and repetitive,” the wanted to combine their talents music of Pancake Manor is inand create something that was fluenced by alt-rock. uniquely theirs. “We wanted to make someThey were both already “dab- thing parents didn’t mind lisbling” in making videos — he tening too,” explained Stephenwas making son. I didn’t think it would be musical videos She said possible. It’s a small for teens and their influproduction coming out of ences she was making vary our basement travel pieces for from her love her column in of 80’s soundREB STEPHENSON the Toronto Star ing pop to his — so they knew love of altthey wanted to rock bands go that route. Content, however, like the Ramones and Weezer. was another question. The couple record all of their Stephenson said neither of music in their home in Victothem wanted to get into making ria, where they moved in 2012. videos for an adult audience as That’s also where they do all they didn’t want to produce the their video recordings in front edgy and controversial material of a green screen using a DSLR that they believe does well in camera with video capabilithat market. So they looked to a ties, and edit their work on Mac younger audience. computers. Kids’ shows were “so much It wasn’t until 2013, however, fun,” said Stephenson. that Stephenson and Reid de“It’s so positive.” cided to arm themselves with a She said that they also saw plan and a vision for the show, We Have Happy Advertisers! Contact me today.
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PHOTO SUBMITTED BY PANCAKE MANOR
From left, Reb Stephenson, Zach, Reggie and Billy Reid are the stars and creators of Pancake Manor. The YouTube musical video series, which Stephenson and Reid entirely create in their basement, has received 65 million views from around the world in the past three years.
quit their day jobs and focus on the project. “It got to the point where we both felt we needed to be there 100 per cent,” said Stephenson. “It was frightening, but you have to take a leap of faith.” She also said that their income is now based on advertising revenue produced each time someone views their videos on YouTube, and they’re at the point where they “don’t have to worry.” They also make revenue off
of DVD and CD versions of their show. Stephenson said they never expected to make physical copies, but there was a demand to meet. Qualicum Toy Shop owner Shelly Ross, who carries the Pancake Manor DVD and CDs in her store, also sees this demand. In particular, she said parents are looking for kids’ music to play in the car. “You can’t seem to buy a CD anymore,” she explained. And for Ross, the fact that
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Stephenson is a former local was an added bonus. As for the future, Pancake Manor continues to grow. Stephenson and Reid just released their third album, Colours, which includes a new character named Lulu. Voiced by Stephenson, Lulu the puppet will make her YouTube debut on Pancake Manor sometime in 2015. “It’s a slow build,” Stephenson said of their journey, but “it’s incredibly rewarding.”
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