Kindle Entertainment
 | |
| Industry | Children's television production |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | ITV Kids (ITV Productions) |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Key people | Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes |
Kindle Entertainment is an double BAFTA award winning independent television production company based in London, England. Kindle Entertainment was formed after ITV Kids (a section of ITV Productions) was closed, and current personnel includes Anne Brogan, the former controller of ITV Kids and ITV Kids, Head of Development Melanie Stokes.
Kindle Entertainment have most recently produced: the second series of Leonardo, a show that re-imagines Leonardo Da Vinci as the teenage action hero; The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby a modern adaptation of Dickens' classic; and Get Well Soon a preschool show for children about going to the doctor for CBeebies.
Kindle's previous productions include: a series of behind-the-scenes documentaries about Harry Potter series, shown before cinematic release on ITV; a live-action children's comedy My Spy Family, which was shown on Boomerang; three series of the multi-award winning puppet show Big & Small; the Emmy Award winning Dustbin Baby, adapted from a book written by Jacqueline Wilson; Jinx following the story of Lulu Baker, a teenage girl who is able to cast spells from her magic cookbook; the Kidscreen award winning Some Dogs Bite; the first series of the multi-award winning Leonardo; and the two part mini-series, Treasure Island Starring Eddie Izzard and Elijah Wood for Sky One.
Kindle Entertainment are currently in production with preschool show Dinopaws.
History
Kindle is an independent company that was formed upon the closure of the Kids department of ITV Productions. Kindle's director, Anne Brogan, who was formerly controller of ITV Kids, formed the company with her colleague Melanie Stokes, who was formerly Head of Development at ITV Kids.
Kindle are Currently in production with Dinopaws
Synopsis: Three young dinosaurs discover the world and "things" for the very first time. Running Time: 52 x 11’ for CBeebies (BBC, UK) & Treehouse (YTV, Canada) Genre: Preschool Co-Creators: Jon Doyle, Alan Gilbey, Melanie Stokes Head Writer: Alan Gilbey Script Editor: Sheena Bucktowonsing Producer: Jon Doyle, Amy Robson, David Collier Executive Producers: Mary Bredin, Anne Brogan, Jackie Edwards, Frank Falcone, Jamie Piekarz, Melanie Stokes, Karl Woolley Distributor: BBC Worldwide
Kindle Entertainment’s pervious Productions, in order of most recent.
The life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby (A contemporary adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Classic) Synopsis: Packed with the wit and spirit of Dickens’ original novel, this modern reimagining of Nicholas Nickleby marks the bicentennial of the nation’s best-loved novelist with an entertaining, thought-provoking exploration of what “care” means in modern Britain. This contemporary take on Dickens’ classic tale relocates the original’s boarding school setting to a care home for the sick and elderly, to explore how the novel’s theme – a world that values profit over people – still resonates in 21st century Britain. Writer Joy Wilkinson’s adaptation (Land Girls, Doctors) sees our young hero Nick packed off to Dotheolds Care Home by his villainous uncle Ralph after the death of his father, where he uncovers abuse and mistreatment of the residents. Befriending and rescuing the enigmatic Mrs Smike, Nick sets off on a mission to right the wrongs of his uncle’s corrupt empire, while also falling in love with single mum Madhi. Running Time: 5 x 45’ for BBC Genre: Drama Writers: Joy Wilkinson, Dominique Moloney Director: David Innes Edwards Producer: Susan Breen Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes Distributor: Indigo Film and Television Cast: Andrew Simpson, Linda Bassett, Adrian Dunbar, Bronagh Gallagher, Jayne Wisener
Leonardo (series 1 & 2) Action Invention Adventure Synopsis: Full of action, invention and adventure, Leonardo follows the tale of young Leonardo da Vinci and his friends as they thwart the plans of the cunning Piero de’ Medici who yearns to steal Leonardo’s notebook of designs and harness them to take over Florence. After an explosive end to the first series, where Leonardo and the gang rise to Piero’s threats with “bring it on”, we return to Florence for a second series full of more action, more invention and more adventure. Will the devious and cunning Piero prevail or will Leonardo and the gang stop him once and for all? Running Time: 13x30’ Series 1, 2011 - 13x30’ Series 2, 2012 CBBC Genre: Action/Adventure Writers: Pia Ashberry, Alex Perrin, Brian Jordan, Brian Lynch, Kirstie Falkous, Danny Peak, Tom Mason, Dan Danko Directors: Beryl Richards, Luke Watson (series 1) Rob Evans, Steve Hughes (series 2) Producer: Bernard Krichefski (series 1) Lucy Martin (series 2) Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes, Pia Ashberry Distributor: BBC Worldwide Cast: Jonathan Bailey, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Colin Ryan, James Clyde(Series 2), Alistair McGowan (Series 1) Awards: Kidscreen Awards – Best Show, Best Music & Best Design for non-animated/mixed series for Tweens/Teens (2012) Festivals/Nominations: Rose d’Or (2012) | Prix Jeunesse awards (2012) | BANFF World Media Festival (2012) | Ivor Novello – Best Soundtrack (2012)
Get Well Soon Be happy be Healthy and Get Well Soon Synopsis: Get Well Soon is a preschool show which aims to enlighten children about health and medical issues in an exciting and informative way. Presented by real-life paediatrician Dr Ranj Singh and practicing nurse Morag Calder, the series will help children understand their bodies and see the medical world as a safe and stimulating environment. Covering insight and tricky medical conditions like constipation, diabetes and asthma. Running Time: 30 x 14’ for CBeebies Genre: Preschool Co-Creators: Dr Ranj Singh, Melanie Stokes Writers: Bar Ben-Yossef, Clare Bradley, Simon Hickson, Trevor Neal Dystin Johnson & Nicole Davis Director: Jack Jameson, Jerry Smith Producer: David Collier Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Michael Towner Distributor: Cake Entertainment Presenters: Doctor: Dr Ranj Singh Nurse: Morag Calder
Treasure Island All pirate lore starts here… Synopsis: A new adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, following the story of young Jim Hawkins who is drawn into the world of piracy when he discovers Captain Flint’s treasure map. However, with Long John Silver preparing to lead a mutiny to get hold of the treasure himself. Running Time: 2 x 90 minutes for SKY 1 Genre: Action/Adventure Writers: Stewart Harcourt Director: Steve Barron Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Mark Grenside, Rabert Halmi Sr., Ann Harrison-Baxter, Alan Moloney, Melanie Stokes Producers: Laurie Borg, Alan Moloney Distributor: Sonar Entertainment Cast: Eddie Izzard, Toby Regbo, Rupert Penry-Jones, Daniel Mays, Philip Glenister, Donald Sutherland, Elijah Wood, Shirley Henderson, Nina Sosanya, David Harewood, Keith Allen Nominations: Kidscreen Summit 2013 awards nomination - best Live action/mixed mini-series/TV movie for tweens/teens | Two International Emmy nominations for miniseries or movie - outstanding cinematography & outstanding costume | IFTA awards – best costume design.
Big & Small Fun comes in all shapes and sizes Synopsis: Big & Small follows the comic adventures of two unlikely best friends, and features the voices of Lenny Henry and Imelda Staunton. Lenny voices both characters, whilst Imelda voices their friends Ruby (a mouse) and Twiba (The Worm who lives in Big’s Apple). Big and Small live in a house in the countryside with two front doors, one big and one little. It is the perfect world for adventures. There is a pond where two frogs live, a garden shed, an apple tree with a swing and even ‘mysterious’ woods at the end of the garden. Funny, fast-paced, engaging stories, with a song in each episode, young viewers are encouraged to see the world from very different perspectives. Running Time: Series 1, 26x11’ (2008), Series 2, 26x11’(2009), Series 3, 26x11’ (2011) for CBeebies Genre: Adventure/Comedy Writers: Kathy Waugh, Martha Atwater, Ken Olshansky, Glen Berger, Carol Noble, Andrew Viner, Gentry Menzel, Andrew Bernhardt, Jonathan Greenberg, Glenn Eichler, David Ingham, Peter Bakalian, Connal Orton, David Collier, Mark Slater, Jason Hopley Director: Jason Hopley, Jamie Shannon, Wayne Moss, Robert Shaw, Laurence Mirkin Producers: David Collier, Sharon Summerling Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Jack Lenz, Sarah Colclough, Jamie Piekarz, Colin Williams Distributor: Kindle (UK, North America) Studio 100 (Rest of World) Cast: Lenny Henry, Imelda Staunton Awards: Kidscreen Summit 2013 Awards - Best Writing | The Hugo Television Awards - Gold Plaque for Children’s Series (2012) | Royal Television Society – Best Children’s Programme (2012) | BAFTA – Best Interactive Content (2010) Festivals/Nominations: Kidscreen Summit 2013 awards best live/mixed action preschool show | BAFTA best preschool live actions 2010 | NY International Childrens Film Festival (2010) | 16° Festival Internacional de Cine para Niños (2010) | 27thAnnual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (2010) | Little Big Shorts Film Festival (Australia, 2009)
Some Dogs Bite It’s a crime to steal a baby… but what if he’s your brother? Synopsis: H (18), Casey (14) and baby Severino have been split up after their mother’s death. Casey is determined to keep the family together - running away from care, Casey snatches Severino from the baby’s foster parents, steals H’s stash of money and posts the cash to a PO Box in Inverness in the north of Scotland. His goal is to find his estranged dad, who moved back to Inverness years ago, a long way from London. To ensure his older brother’s help on the journey, Casey makes sure H will need to sign for the money - if H wants it back, he’ll have to join them on their road trip north. It is the start of a life-changing journey, in which the brothers meet other teenagers whose lives are similarly touched by hurt, but who also have the potential for change. Running Time: 1 x 85 minutes for BBC 3 Genre: Drama Writer: Lin Coghlan Director: Marc Munden Producer: Sara Feilden Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes Distributor: Vanguard (US), Tomcat (Rest of World) BBC (UK) Cast: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Aaron Taylor, Michelle Asante, Mandeep Dhillon, Aymen Hamdouchi Awards: Kidscreen Best TV Movie/Mini-series Tweens/Teen (2012) | Audience Award, Nantes, British Film Festival (2010) | ECFA-Jury Award (European Children’s Film Association) at the 16th International Film Festival for Children & Young Audience, Schlingel (Germany), 2011 Festivals/Nominations: Woodstock Film Festival NY (Premier) (2010) | Brisbane International Film Festival (2010) |Interactive Website Nominated: British Universities Video and Film Council (2011) | BANFF World Media Award (2011)
Dustbin Baby April is about to lift the lid on her past Synopsis: Based on the Jacqueline Wilson novel, Dustbin Baby is afamily drama which tells the story of teenager April, who sets out to discover where she came from and who her parents were. Running Time: 88 minutes for BBC1 Writers: Helen Blakeman Director: Juliet May Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes, Sue Nott Producer: Julia Ouston Distributor: ITV Global Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Juliet Stevenson, David Haig Awards: International Emmy Winner (Children and Young People’s) 2009 | BAFTA Winner (Best Writer) 2009
Harry Potter Behind the Magic Synopsis: Broadcast coincided with the launch of Warner Bros. film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Both programmes were presented by GMTV’s Ben Shephard, and produced and directed by Catherine Whelton. The production team had unprecedented access on the Harry Potter set and the programmes included interviews with the cast including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Helena Bonham-Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Imelda Staunton. Behind the Magic was watched by 3.4 million viewers. Running Time: 45 minutes per doc ITV Gerne: Documentary Producer/Director: Catherine Whelton Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Melanie Stokes Distributor: Warner Brothers Presenter: Ben Shephard
Jinx It’s a recipe for trouble Synopsis: Jinx is a sitcom based on the Lulu Baker trilogy of books, written by Fiona Dunbar. The series follows the life of Lulu Baker, a teenager who is able to cook spells. However, her fairy godmother, Cookie, stops things from going smoothly. Running Time: 13 x 30 minutes for CBBC Genre: Comedy Writers: Paul Alexander, Mark Oswin, James Griffiths, Carol Noble, Steve Turner, Hannah MacKay, Matthew Broughton, Zoe Gardner, Phil Porter Directors: Angelo Abela, Matt Bloom Executive Producers: Melanie Stokes, Connal Orton Producer: Bernard Krichefski Distributor: DRG Portman Cast: Amber Beattie, Chizzy Akudolu, Gia Lodge-O’Meally, Ben Davies, James Ainsworth
My Spy Family Do you Parents Bug you… with tiny microphones? Synopsis: When Master spy, Dirk Bannon, fell in love, with his arch-rival, Natalia Knockemoff, things could only get complicated. Now they’ve been decommissioned, and are supposed to be living a normal life with their three children, Spike - the wannabee secret agent - Elle, happily retired - and a rather odd and sweaty Boris. Running Time: Series 1 26 X 30’ for CBBC (2007) Series 2 20 x 30’ for CBBC (2008) Gerne: Comedy Production Credits Writers: Paul Alexander, Daniel Peak Directors: Angelo Abela, Dominic Macdonald, Tom Poole, David Sant, Frank Smith Producer: Bernard Krichefski Executive Producers: Anne Brogan, Daniel Lennard, Connal Orton, Cecilia Persson Distributor: Turner Cast: Milo Twomey, Natasha Beaumont, Joe Tracini, Alice Connor,Ignat Pakhotin
Personnel
- Anne Brogan - Co-Director
- Melanie Stokes - Co-Director
- Valerie Ames - Director of Production
- Lance Crossey - Director of Finance
- Pia Ashberry - Head of Development
- Richard Pink - Commercial Director of Big and Small
- Jacqueline McGee - PA and Development Researcher
- Nina Metivier - Development Executive
- Sheena Bucktowonsing - Script Editor
- Munir Malik - Digital Media Editor
References
- "Meet the Kindle team..." Kindle Entertainment. Retrieved 4 March 2010.