Fairy's House
Portland, Maine | Series
Other
Fairy's House is a T.V. series specially made for toddlers that nurtures cognitive and emotional development. Thoughtful early programming can uplift an entire generation—shaping kinder, loving humans. In a world that needs loving connection more than ever, this is how we can shape a kinder future.
Fairy's House
Portland, Maine | Series
Other
1 Campaigns | Maine, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,539 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
91 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Fairy's House is a T.V. series specially made for toddlers that nurtures cognitive and emotional development. Thoughtful early programming can uplift an entire generation—shaping kinder, loving humans. In a world that needs loving connection more than ever, this is how we can shape a kinder future.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Once upon a naptime, a humble preschool Director began to notice a troubling trend: The shows her own toddler viewed on YouTube and other major streaming services … were BAD for him. As she watched him morph into a tiny screen zombie, she recalled something a wise person once said:
“Many children’s television shows are an overwhelming cacophony of scene cuts and movements that can overstimulate young children, achieving a reaction that is akin to drug withdrawal when the show is turned off.” (source)
Now, this kind and gentle preschool Director just so happened to have a magical superpower: She was an experienced film producer. So, she teamed up with a crew of creative wizards ...
... and woodland friends ...
... and together, with over 2.5 years of careful research and development, they created a whimsical, heart-centered show for toddlers called Fairy’s House.
And that, my friends, is where the real magic began.
And it was also where it ended because they did not have funding.
The End.
Unless … we change the ending.
Cue YOUR entry!
Why YOU?
PBS has long touted that their programming is made possible by people like you. That adage applies here, as well. You have the power to help bring Fairy’s House to toddlers globally. How? By sharing this fundraising page, and maybe tossing a few coins to the witchers.
Why NOW?
Toddlers are the fastest growing audience in the world, but there is a serious dearth of appropriate, thoughtful material for them to consume.
Toddler programming done right can actually enhance child development. The implication is significant: The amount of GOOD that can come out of this – or any project that is specially geared toward toddlers – has the potential to change the course of our newest human generations for the better.
Two great examples of this at the preschool level are Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. BUT- this is VERY IMPORTANT:
Preschool shows are NOT toddler shows.
Preschool programs emphasize the development of higher-order thinking skills (readiness for kindergarten). There is a chasm in the market of safe and educational material for toddlers and the bonus is that older children (even up to 6 yrs and beyond) will still be interested in Toddler-specific shows because their brains are developing and processing the information in a similar way to the younger children. (Adults and children process information differently to one another, and this is imperative to understand the WHY of this project.)
Our world needs the magic of SHOWING loving kindness now more than ever. **What we see MATTERS.** We can talk about kindness, but SEEING it is very different experience. The opposite is powerfully true, too.
AND SO….
The Fairy’s House team is so close to releasing this kind, calm, and magical experience for families and their toddlers. All 7 episodes are shot, and 3 have been edited.
This campaign will raise the necessary funds to complete audio editing for all 7 episodes, finish color correction, and edit the remaining 4 episodes.
pon completion, Fairy’s House will be available to toddlers everywhere on YouTube, and pitching to PBS for local and regional broadcast has already begun.
The goal is to release Fairy’s House by fall 2025. However, the team remains committed to taking the time needed to ensure the show is created with care, intention, and the highest quality.
After all, creating meaningful, loving programming for our world’s littles is kind of a BIG DEAL.
If the funding goal is exceeded on Seed&Spark, all additional contributions will be directed toward marketing the show at launch. Marketing is a critical factor in the early success of any show, and will help Fairy's House reach more families faster. The more support we receive, the sooner toddlers will be able to enjoy and benefit from the series.
Imagine being responsible for the betterment of human life experience.
Please Follow & Share!
Spreading the word is just as magical as donating.
And doing both? Pure fairy dust. ✨
Thank you for supporting Fairy’s House!
– The Fairy’s House Team
BTS photos courtesy of High Tide Media.
BTS photo of camera with cast in frame courtesy of Director, Jim Picariello.
Stock photo of Crying Baby from Deposit Photos.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Remaining Post-Production Editing
Costs $3,000
We need to pay our editor to edit the show. Otherwise there isn't a show.
ADR & Sound Editing
Costs $3,000
Our puppets and Fairy require audio capture in the studio, and that means we need to pay for studio time as well as the sound mixer.
Coloration
Costs $2,500
The image you see here is standard for raw film & is in log format. We need vibrant, engaging colors, & therefore must pay our colorist!
Title Cards
Costs $500
All those names in cool fonts you see floating around at the beginning of a show? Someone is paid to do that!
Pick-Ups
Costs $1,000
We have some pickups to capture-that means we need to film something that we couldn't get during principal photography. This budget is final
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We have an incredible team of filmmakers who are based in Maine, making magic happen every day. These individuals include:
Hollis McLachlan, M.Ed.
Executive Producer
Hollis McLachlan has a unique skillset as both a Master’s level Early Childhood Educator, and an experienced film professional. She co-owns the reputable Chickadee Childcare Centers in Maine, which have been recognized as the "Best of" in her state within the first 2 years of operation. Hollis and her business partner, Amy Crowley, have expanded their mission through the creation of "Fairy's House", furthering the impact of gentle, loving programming for toddlers. Hollis is also the Founder of the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, which has been operating for over 10 years.
Jim Picariello
Writer/Director
Jim Picariello is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker whose feature scripts have been optioned and are in the top 1% and 2%, of all time, on the screenplay ranking website, Coverfly. These scripts have also been highly placed in prestigious contests, such as The Black List, The Nicholl Fellowship, Stowe Story Labs, The Austin Film Festival, and many more. Jim's films have been selected by dozens of film festivals, and have won, in total, 15 top awards. Jim even wrote and shot a short for Sesame Street, which was aired and viewed by millions of children!
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers: Brian Torbeck, Erik Toerbeck, & Robin Erlandsen
Puppeteers
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers is a puppetry troupe based in Bar Harbor, Maine, and comprised of three siblings - brothers Erik and Brian Torbeck, and sister Robin (Torbeck) Erlandsen. Founded in 2000, Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers performs at festivals, schools, libraries and theatres in the United States and Canada. They write and create all the shows they perform, and have received three Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the highest national award in puppetry.
Amy Crowley, M.A.
Producer
Amy Crowley holds a Master’s degree in Child Development from Tufts University, and brings her research-based knowledge to the development of "Fairy’s House". She is the Co-Owner, along with Hollis McLachlan, of the Chickadee Childcare Centers in Southern Maine, which have recently been recognized as Best in State for their industry. With her extensive volunteer experience managing budgets for children's theatre productions in Maine, and her expertise as the Financial Officer of Chickadee, Amy is invaluable to the "Fairy's House" production team.
Anne Hentschel, M.A.
Producer
Anne Hentschel earned her Master's degree from the Tufts University Eliot-Pearson Depart of Child Study and Human Development, where she studied children's media. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a toddler teacher in Boston. Anne is also a 2024 Fred Rogers Writers' Neighborhood Fellow! She has been an integral member of the "Fairy's House" team since its inception in early 2023, and is a driving force behind the Early Childhood research and practical production development.
DJ Monteith
Assistant Director
D.J. Monteith is an early career Actor / Writer / Director from the great state of Maine, who is overjoyed to be on the Fairy’s House team as Assistant Director. Currently in Master’s school for Screenwriting, and with a background in theatre, D.J. brings a keen eye for detail as well as a passionate drive to his craft. Recent productions include: Boxed In (Directed by Charlie Stacey), Uncertainty (Brian Sanbourin), & In your Dreams (Mariah Larocque). With a handful of exciting, upcoming projects, D.J. is excited to watch Fairy’s House continue to blossom into the great early childhood education project that it’s meant to be.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Once upon a naptime, a humble preschool Director began to notice a troubling trend: The shows her own toddler viewed on YouTube and other major streaming services … were BAD for him. As she watched him morph into a tiny screen zombie, she recalled something a wise person once said:
“Many children’s television shows are an overwhelming cacophony of scene cuts and movements that can overstimulate young children, achieving a reaction that is akin to drug withdrawal when the show is turned off.” (source)
Now, this kind and gentle preschool Director just so happened to have a magical superpower: She was an experienced film producer. So, she teamed up with a crew of creative wizards ...
... and woodland friends ...
... and together, with over 2.5 years of careful research and development, they created a whimsical, heart-centered show for toddlers called Fairy’s House.
And that, my friends, is where the real magic began.
And it was also where it ended because they did not have funding.
The End.
Unless … we change the ending.
Cue YOUR entry!
Why YOU?
PBS has long touted that their programming is made possible by people like you. That adage applies here, as well. You have the power to help bring Fairy’s House to toddlers globally. How? By sharing this fundraising page, and maybe tossing a few coins to the witchers.
Why NOW?
Toddlers are the fastest growing audience in the world, but there is a serious dearth of appropriate, thoughtful material for them to consume.
Toddler programming done right can actually enhance child development. The implication is significant: The amount of GOOD that can come out of this – or any project that is specially geared toward toddlers – has the potential to change the course of our newest human generations for the better.
Two great examples of this at the preschool level are Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. BUT- this is VERY IMPORTANT:
Preschool shows are NOT toddler shows.
Preschool programs emphasize the development of higher-order thinking skills (readiness for kindergarten). There is a chasm in the market of safe and educational material for toddlers and the bonus is that older children (even up to 6 yrs and beyond) will still be interested in Toddler-specific shows because their brains are developing and processing the information in a similar way to the younger children. (Adults and children process information differently to one another, and this is imperative to understand the WHY of this project.)
Our world needs the magic of SHOWING loving kindness now more than ever. **What we see MATTERS.** We can talk about kindness, but SEEING it is very different experience. The opposite is powerfully true, too.
AND SO….
The Fairy’s House team is so close to releasing this kind, calm, and magical experience for families and their toddlers. All 7 episodes are shot, and 3 have been edited.
This campaign will raise the necessary funds to complete audio editing for all 7 episodes, finish color correction, and edit the remaining 4 episodes.
pon completion, Fairy’s House will be available to toddlers everywhere on YouTube, and pitching to PBS for local and regional broadcast has already begun.
The goal is to release Fairy’s House by fall 2025. However, the team remains committed to taking the time needed to ensure the show is created with care, intention, and the highest quality.
After all, creating meaningful, loving programming for our world’s littles is kind of a BIG DEAL.
If the funding goal is exceeded on Seed&Spark, all additional contributions will be directed toward marketing the show at launch. Marketing is a critical factor in the early success of any show, and will help Fairy's House reach more families faster. The more support we receive, the sooner toddlers will be able to enjoy and benefit from the series.
Imagine being responsible for the betterment of human life experience.
Please Follow & Share!
Spreading the word is just as magical as donating.
And doing both? Pure fairy dust. ✨
Thank you for supporting Fairy’s House!
– The Fairy’s House Team
BTS photos courtesy of High Tide Media.
BTS photo of camera with cast in frame courtesy of Director, Jim Picariello.
Stock photo of Crying Baby from Deposit Photos.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Remaining Post-Production Editing
Costs $3,000
We need to pay our editor to edit the show. Otherwise there isn't a show.
ADR & Sound Editing
Costs $3,000
Our puppets and Fairy require audio capture in the studio, and that means we need to pay for studio time as well as the sound mixer.
Coloration
Costs $2,500
The image you see here is standard for raw film & is in log format. We need vibrant, engaging colors, & therefore must pay our colorist!
Title Cards
Costs $500
All those names in cool fonts you see floating around at the beginning of a show? Someone is paid to do that!
Pick-Ups
Costs $1,000
We have some pickups to capture-that means we need to film something that we couldn't get during principal photography. This budget is final
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We have an incredible team of filmmakers who are based in Maine, making magic happen every day. These individuals include:
Hollis McLachlan, M.Ed.
Executive Producer
Hollis McLachlan has a unique skillset as both a Master’s level Early Childhood Educator, and an experienced film professional. She co-owns the reputable Chickadee Childcare Centers in Maine, which have been recognized as the "Best of" in her state within the first 2 years of operation. Hollis and her business partner, Amy Crowley, have expanded their mission through the creation of "Fairy's House", furthering the impact of gentle, loving programming for toddlers. Hollis is also the Founder of the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, which has been operating for over 10 years.
Jim Picariello
Writer/Director
Jim Picariello is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker whose feature scripts have been optioned and are in the top 1% and 2%, of all time, on the screenplay ranking website, Coverfly. These scripts have also been highly placed in prestigious contests, such as The Black List, The Nicholl Fellowship, Stowe Story Labs, The Austin Film Festival, and many more. Jim's films have been selected by dozens of film festivals, and have won, in total, 15 top awards. Jim even wrote and shot a short for Sesame Street, which was aired and viewed by millions of children!
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers: Brian Torbeck, Erik Toerbeck, & Robin Erlandsen
Puppeteers
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers is a puppetry troupe based in Bar Harbor, Maine, and comprised of three siblings - brothers Erik and Brian Torbeck, and sister Robin (Torbeck) Erlandsen. Founded in 2000, Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers performs at festivals, schools, libraries and theatres in the United States and Canada. They write and create all the shows they perform, and have received three Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the highest national award in puppetry.
Amy Crowley, M.A.
Producer
Amy Crowley holds a Master’s degree in Child Development from Tufts University, and brings her research-based knowledge to the development of "Fairy’s House". She is the Co-Owner, along with Hollis McLachlan, of the Chickadee Childcare Centers in Southern Maine, which have recently been recognized as Best in State for their industry. With her extensive volunteer experience managing budgets for children's theatre productions in Maine, and her expertise as the Financial Officer of Chickadee, Amy is invaluable to the "Fairy's House" production team.
Anne Hentschel, M.A.
Producer
Anne Hentschel earned her Master's degree from the Tufts University Eliot-Pearson Depart of Child Study and Human Development, where she studied children's media. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a toddler teacher in Boston. Anne is also a 2024 Fred Rogers Writers' Neighborhood Fellow! She has been an integral member of the "Fairy's House" team since its inception in early 2023, and is a driving force behind the Early Childhood research and practical production development.
DJ Monteith
Assistant Director
D.J. Monteith is an early career Actor / Writer / Director from the great state of Maine, who is overjoyed to be on the Fairy’s House team as Assistant Director. Currently in Master’s school for Screenwriting, and with a background in theatre, D.J. brings a keen eye for detail as well as a passionate drive to his craft. Recent productions include: Boxed In (Directed by Charlie Stacey), Uncertainty (Brian Sanbourin), & In your Dreams (Mariah Larocque). With a handful of exciting, upcoming projects, D.J. is excited to watch Fairy’s House continue to blossom into the great early childhood education project that it’s meant to be.