Students Pitch Original Animated Series Idea to Disney Execs

Emmy award-winning Storyboard Supervisor Kyle Menke speaks to students about creating story-driven animatics.

Innovative ‘Pilot Project’ Leads to Students Pitching Animated Series Idea to Disney Animation Exec

This past summer, Imagination Up Productions (iUP Productions), DiscoveryOnstage, and Providence High Arts produced a groundbreaking endeavor, The Pilot Project. Eighteen young people ages 13-18, comprised of existing and prospective PHS students, embarked on this immersive, hands-on experience collaboratively participating in the process of developing an actual, viable television pilot from inception to final product.

“It was exhilarating for us to seize on an engaging interdisciplinary opportunity,” said Cinema Arts Focus Program Director Chris Schaefer. “By combining Providence Theater and Cinema Arts we were able to create this innovative workshop.”

Within the walls of Providence’s brand new, state-of-the-art Cinema Arts Center, participants wrote, performed, produced, and pitched, all with the hopes of launching iUp Productions’ very first television series celebrating the power of the creative spirit and the impact of process participation.

The students were split into three teams and engaged in the process of developing an animated television series from each team based on ideas generated from younger students at Providence High Arts Summer Acting Camp produced by DiscoveryOnstage. Once their stories were developed, each of the teams were tasked with creating a full length animatic of their pilot episode including a fully produced voiceover track (in which they performed alongside a team of professional actors) recorded at a professional studio and animation elements in the style of their choosing.

Additionally, each team had to generate a pitch package for their series which included their animatic along with writing and

visual art elements such as log lines, series synopsis, character compositions, atmospheres, etc. They then had to produce a pitch script and prepare to present it to a panel of industry professionals

Students were guided by a team of industry professionals including PHS Drama Directors Jeremy Kent Jackson and Dominic Catrambone, Chris Schaefer, and a slate of mentors, including the creator of Nickelodeon’s animated series Rugrats, the executive producers of Disney XD’s series Lab Rats, a Disney animation producer, a casting director, and three award-winning actors: Hal Sparks, Maile Flanagan, and Angel Parker.

“After the program was over and I looked at the list of people who participated, I was so excited to see just how many ‘Providence people’ were hired or volunteered to be involved,” said Schaefer. “This demonstrates how much the alumni and Providence community members stay involved and give back to our school.”

Kyle Menke, PHS parent to Carl ‘19 and alumni Olivia ‘15 and Grant ‘16, is an Emmy award-winning writer and storyboard artist who has worked on Rugrats, Phineas & Ferb, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates, among many other animated television shows and is currently the Storyboard Supervisor for Disney’s new animated series, Milo Murphy’s Law, participated in the Pilot Project as a mentor.

“I was very impressed with the professionalism of the Pilot Project,” said Menke. “During the time I spent with the students, I saw firsthand how engaged and excited they were to bring their animated stories to life. This was a great summer learning opportunity for students interested in a career in animation.”

The winning pilot, Knuckleberry Park, was produced by Sophie Collins ‘18, Frances Gross ‘18, and David Power ‘20, along with three non-Providence High School students: Brooke Beaird, Lori Khashaki, and Chase Tachau. The animated series centers around a quirky group of theme park employees and the shenanigans that ensue at the park. The students were selected to pitch their original animated television series to pilot to Disney animation development executive Daniel Wineman on September 29, 2016.

Frances Gross ‘18, Chase Tachau, Sophie Collins ‘18, Lori Khashaki, Brooke Beaird, Mr. Jeremy Kent Jackson, Mrs. Chris Schaefer, Mr. Dominic Catrambone, and David Power ‘20 at Disney Animation Studios where they met with a development executive.

“My experience with the Pilot Project was unlike any other,” reflected Collins. “Being able to pitch to Disney executives truly gave me an insight into the entertainment industry, and was an experience that I will definitely never forget.”

“The pitch was a success, positive feedback was provided, and we are now exploring next steps for a show that illuminates our unique creative/educational process and/or gives voice to the original content it generates,” added Jackson.

Thank you to the following industry professionals and past and present Providence students for guiding the students along the way throughout the Pilot Project.

ANIMATION MENTORS & INSTRUCTORS Jeff BrAdfield, Animation Post Supervisor Kyle menKe, Storyboard Supervisor, Disney zAc moncrief, Animation Director and Animator

BrAndon swofford ‘14 stePhen swofford, V.P of Digital Studio Services, Disney Brett williAms, Animator

PERFORMANCE MENTORS

mAile flAnAgAn, Actor mArthA mAyAKis, Voice Over Casting Director Angel PArKer, Actor hAl sPArKs, Actor PROVIDENCE ALUMNI PRODUCTION TEAM

mArio AdriAno ‘11 michAel greenwood ‘11 michAel sArKisiAn ‘16 chArles schAefer ‘13

STUDENT VIDEO PRODUCTION TEAM (who filmed every day to capture the whole experience)

emily ervolinA ‘17 isAiAh ferguson ‘17 Kelly fitzgerAld ‘18 milenA moorAdiAn ‘18

ADDITIONAL MENTORS BryAn moore, Creator EP Disney XD’s Lab Rats chris Peterson, Creator EP Disney XD’s Lab Rats