program profiles  

craig mediaworks
     

The first two host segments with Michael Learned were shot in a Hollywood studio while the remaining three segments were taped on location in Brentwood, California, White Plains, New York and Aurora, Illinois. 		  PARENTING TODAY is a series of five 40 minute programs produced for Aid Association for Lutherans that examine parenting techniques for the parents of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children and adolescents.

The shows are hosted by Michael Learned (The Walton's) and feature a guest appearance by Mason Gamble of Dennis The Menace fame.

Original music, special effects, humor, dramatizations and interviews with experts, parents and kids are all used to demonstrate and suggest a wide range of parenting skills. These programs have won four awards to date including a Silver Cindy for scriptwriting from the Association of Visual Communicators.

  • Craig M. Chapman, who wrote, produced and directed the five shows, worked closely with a team of child development experts to develop programs that would reassure and educate parents.
  • Each show featured 12 to 20 professional actors, experts on child care, interviews with parents and documentary footage of kids in action.
  • Working with children from 3 days to 15 years old was a challenge that tempered the director=s skill and gave him an inside edge on how to audition, cast and work with kids of any age.
  • All programs were shot on Betacam SP and transferred to 3/4SP for an offline that featured finished graphics, CG's and frame accurate effects. The off-line list was then translated for the on-line Betacam to D-2 edit.
Developing programs of this length and scope helped CRAIG VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC. gear management and production procedures for complex shoots and long-form programming.
In a single production day, Mason Gamble, from Dennis The Menace, The Movie, played a dare-devil bicyclist, a school-age cowboy, a tenacious negotiator and a back-seat driver, much to the chagrin of his on-camera mom.
Programs in the Parenting Today Series include:
  • Baby Steps; The First 12 Months
  • Small Steps, Giant Leaps: 12 Months To 3 years
  • Today's Steps, Tomorrow's Path; The Preschooler: 3 To 5 Years
  • Steps & Starts; The Middle Childhood Years: 6 Through 10
  • Stepping Toward Independence; The Adolescent Years: 11 Through 15
Here's a sample of letters sent to our client regarding the Parenting Today Series.

"Thank you for the first two tapes. They have become a wonderful resource and reminder."
Client member, Colorado Springs, CO

"The best videos I've ever seen on parenting."
Preschool Director, Grand Rapids, MI

"I've had an opportunity to view 'Baby Steps'. This video is excellent and will be a wonderful addition to our parenting class on infants and toddlers."
Family Resource Tutor, Wasilla, AK

"Many thanks . . . for providing these wonderful videos!"
Teacher, U of W Exchange

"These videos are of outstanding quality. Thank you for providing this service to our community.
Director, Partners in Education, Hickory, N.C.
     
  MIRACLES OF NATURE, MARVELS OF MAN features former WBBM newscaster and television personality and producer Bill Kurtis as host for this nature documentary and fundraiser for The Conservation Foundation.
     
These frames are from a commercial for the Indianapolis Pacers that featured the team, 8 actors, 300 extras, a custom arrangement of the song, Shout and 300 pairs of sunglasses.