It is important that young people see themselves reflected in the media they consume. Our kid hosts represent a diversity of cultures, races, religions, gender identities and come from families of all shapes and sizes. The show teaches kids to identify, understand and respect differences.

 

THE STORY:

Ariel Poster grew up in Brooklyn, NY until the age of five when her family moved to a dirt road in the woods of Vermont. Even as a five year old she was struck by how different life in a homogeneous, mostly white, rural town, was from life in a big city bursting with people from around the world. All of a sudden being a Jewish girl who ate lox on her bagels and lit Shabbat candles on Friday nights made her different and weird.

 

All American Kids is a show Ariel would have wanted to exist when she was a child. She’s making this show to help expose kids to each other’s lives in a way that teaches them to celebrate and appreciate differences. America is a country of great geographic and cultural diversity, but kids don’t always have the opportunity to step out of their own neighborhoods and learn what life is like for other American children. Through this series young audiences will have the chance to do just that!

WHY NOW: The show approaches topical themes from a kid’s perspective. In the first four episodes we will meet a kid from an indigenous American community, a child who came to this country with their family as a refugee, a child who identifies as transgender, and a Latino child. These aspects of their identities tell only part of the story. We will also learn about what they like to do for fun, what makes them unique, and their hopes and dreams for the future. In an age when we are constantly bombarded with divisive messages, it is important to create children’s shows that teach love and understanding.  

 

PRE-PRODUCTION:

We began this project by talking directly to our audience– kids! We visited classrooms and after school programs to ask kids what they like to do for fun, how they would describe their neighborhood, where in the USA they've visted, and what they would like to know about kids whose lives are different from their own. We then filmed kids in Vermont and New York City to test out our ideas for the show and film a teaser.

 

Melina dreams of becoming a wildlife photographer when she grows up. We arranged for her to meet and interview Nikon Ambassador and National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale. Ami sat down with Melina to show her some of the stunning photos she's taken on her travels to more than 90 countries. And Melina showed Ami the beautiful photos she's taken in her Lower East Side neighborhood.

 

We filmed Zinabu and Senait feeding the chickens and collecting and packaging eggs with their dad on their small family farm in Vermont.

 

We filmed a scene in Brooklyn with Jasmine and her family cooking the Jamaican breakfast of saltfish, ackee, and dumplings.

 

We filmed Avah helping her mom and grandma collect fruits and vegetables for their family's farmstand in Vermont. 

 

SYNOPSIS: Each episode immerses the audience (ages 6 to 10) in a new neighborhood where they are greeted by a local kid host. Throughout the season the hosts reappear in each other's episodes to ask questions. This creates a video pen pal dialogue between kids that mirrors the questions of the viewers at home. Beyond this cross-cultural exchange with their peers, the hosts also meet and interview an adult who has their dream job. This unique experience makes the hosts’ dreams more attainable and exposes the audience to a range of careers they may never have considered. The show combines documentary footage with colorful motion graphics and animation. The animation will include a segment where the host's original artwork comes alive.

 

EDUCATIONAL GOALS: The show’s target audience is 6 to 10 year olds. This age group is curious about the world around them and needs quality educational content to help them grow into caring and respectful adults. The show teaches cross-cultural understanding, dispels stereotypes based in fear and lack of understanding, and encourages kids to respect differences and accept themselves for who they are.

 

FOCUS GROUPS:

We've started showing small groups of kids our test scenes to get their feedback and help shape the four episodes we're filming this summer.

 

THANK YOU:

This is a labor of love and we are not making a profit on this crowdfunding campaign. We are raising this seed money to ensure that we can pay our crew a fair wage and cover some of the production costs. We are starting with these four episodes to fully develop the idea. We plan on making many more episodes with kids across the country. The audience we build here will help prove that kids, parents, and educators want to see this show made. Thank you for supporting All American Kids!

 

And a BIG THANK YOU to the kids featured in this crowdfunding video (in order of appearance): Melina, Senait, Zinabu, Jasmine, Leilani, Avah, Owen, David, Gia, and Dashawn. And thank you to their parents for letting them be a part of this project!

 

A special thank you to National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale for being so generous with your time and sitting down to talk to Melina about her dream of becoming a wildlife photographer. Meeting and filming with you was a magical day for all of us. 

 

We licensed the song in this crowdfunding video, Rollin', from the singer Arlene Gould.