The Junk Drawer
New York City, New York | Film Short
Animation, Family
A preschool show where anything and everything has value! We need your help to build a show unlike any other, with complex puppets, high quality animation, and an incredible musical number.
The Junk Drawer
New York City, New York | Film Short
Animation, Family
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $12,311 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
110 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
A preschool show where anything and everything has value! We need your help to build a show unlike any other, with complex puppets, high quality animation, and an incredible musical number.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our Big Picture
The Junk Drawer is a pilot presentation for a new preschool series about one simple idea: everyone and everything has something special to offer. Focused on collaborative storytelling and recycling, we follow the special family that runs a very unique little store: two siblings, a talking cat, and a King.
It is part puppet show, part animation, all made entirely with recycled materials and found objects!
Every day, new objects are dropped off at the store, things that nobody has any use for anymore. Through their collaborative powers of imagination and invention, the family makes it their purpose to find creative uses for things nobody wants -- and more importantly, discover how those things WANT to be used.
The show is a zany smorgasbord of quirky characters and magical adventures. It also looks like nothing else on Earth. We're telling stories about imagination and empathy, but we're also demonstrating to kids exactly how we can take better care of our world - all it takes is being a little more thoughtful.
And maybe making a puppet instead of throwing away that old box.
Our Team
The people making The Junk Drawer are an eclectic group of artists with backgrounds that span many worlds. We've got kids' TV professionals, theatrical artists experienced with creating beautiful stage shows, teachers who have worked extensively with children, and comedy writers out the wazoo.
We've all worked for high level organizations and are striking out on our own in this indie passion project to creative the show we really want to see, drawing from our vast experience to entertain and engage kids in a way we know that only we can.
Our World
The store sits on a busy street. Their mail carrier is a pirate. Some people get around by elaborate rope and pulley systems. The world of The Junk Drawer is filled with all sorts of fun and bizarre details.
The store itself is a warm and inviting place, where there may be some conflict, but it's always resolved in the best way. The characters use their imaginations to solve problems and tell each other stories. It's like sitting around a campfire with your funniest, weirdest friends, brainstorming ways you can reuse that old jean jacket.
They live by this ethos: We don't throw anything away! We find EVERYTHING a home! EVERYTHING has a use!
It's a fun, radically accessible world where almost everything is a Rube Goldberg Machine.
We begin each episode in the store, where a character might mention a problem they've been having. A customer would then arrive to drop off an unwanted object, be that a broken umbrella, a clock, or anything else.
Then it's up to our kids: Ella, a tinkering genius full of energy. Reed, her musical brother who takes on any problem with a grin. The King of the Store, who looks like the most regal person on Earth but is actually the littlest kid of all. Trinket, their all-knowing cat.
The characters let their imaginations run wild, and we transition into their fantasy where they tell a story centered around that object -- for example, a broken umbrella might become a space ship, and the space ship has crash landed on a mysterious alien planet. This fantasy section is represented as distinct from the "real world" of the store through a change in art style and the fact that it is a musical, with chanted rhymes over a mega catchy beat.
We transition back to the store where, inspired by their story, they find a new use for the object so it doesn't go to waste. The space ship umbrella in our first story ends up being the new peg leg for the mail pirate, whose old one has unfortunately been eaten by termites he picked up on his mail route.
Our Style
The shows looks is rooted in the cardboard-and-trash building style that co-creator Dan Jones has developed over a decade as a theatrical designer, teaching artist, and puppeteer.
"Reuse is at the heart of everything I do -- partly for environmental reasons, partly because it is so dang fun! We must all remember that there is no vehicle in the world more magic than a big fridge-sized box."
We are drawing inspiration from artists like Wayne White (Pee Wee's Playhouse), super-resourceful designers like costumer Machine Dazzle, and pop-up book makers like Robert Sabuda. We believe that this will all culminate in something unlike anything else out there.
Our Ask
We want to tell stories that kids will love, stories that help them feel safe and heard and like the world is a beautiful place where they, their ripped up teddy bear, and everything else is super important. A lot of stuff gets thrown out and that stuff is not so good for our planet, so we also want kids to know that there are better ways to treat our world. It's an environmentalist story that engages kids by their imaginations and senses of wonder.
We need you to help us make it a reality. Puppets have gotta be built, old cardboard and springs need to be shaped into a real, miniature version of the store. Then we've gotta film the whole thing. With your help, this world can come to life and help us make a better real world out of only bits of string and trash we dug out of our neighbor's bins.
We hope to see this show on TV, on streaming, everywhere. With the money from this campaign, we can make that a reality -- and every dollar extra will go towards making the show look, sound, and feel more incredible!
Please share this campaign so we can make trash into something beautiful! You can also share our Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/thejunkdrawer_show/
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Space!
Costs $2,000
We need space to build and film. The tiny corner we're working with now can't contain all of The Junk Drawer
Equipment!
Costs $1,500
We need to rent lots of gear to make this show look the best it can -- the better our equipment, the better the show will look!
Crew!
Costs $3,500
A show like this requires a lot of helping hands - and we'd like to pay them what they're worth.
Meals!
Costs $300
Making this show will be hungry work -- help us feed our crew!
Post-Production!
Costs $2,200
After we've filmed everything, we need resources to put it all together!
Trash
Costs $500
While we've collected (and made) a ton of trash to build puppets and sets, we're gonna need a whole lot more!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Marc Hecht | Co-Creator
Marc Hecht is a Writer and Producer at Nickelodeon, previously working with Science Channel and the History Channel. He was the writer, producer, editor and director responsible for dozens of educational shorts on Noggin and Paramount+, including Noggin Knows, Word Play, Imagination Trips, and many more.
Dan Jones | Co-Creator
Dan Jones is a Queens-based writer, designer, educator, and multi-disciplinary theater maker. Plays include The Halloween Tree, a contemporary adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, which was developed through the New Victory Theater’s LabWorks program and recently premiered at Minneapolis’ Southern Theater. Dan's design work in puppetry has been seen at theaters across the country, including the American Repertory Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Playwrights Horizons, Everyman Theatre, and many more, in addition to fabrication for countless Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. As a teaching artist, Dan specializes in creating immersive spectacle from reused materials, inviting participants to see both everyday objects and the natural world with new eyes.
Faye Chiao | Composer
Faye Chiao is a composer of musical theater, opera, and concert music. Chiao has received awards from The Presser Foundation and OPERA America. Chiao’s works have been commissioned, produced, and developed by The New Victory Theater, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Saratoga, Syracuse Stage, The Duffy Institute for New Opera, Boston Chamber Symphony, O’Neill National Music Theater Conference, NAMT Festival of New Musicals, American Music Theatre Project, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Manhattan School of Music, Prospect Theater, The Playwrights Realm, and Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Chiao holds degrees from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and serves on faculty at BerkleeNYC.
Matt Prigge | Producer
Matt Prigge is an NYC based producer and creator specializing in live comedy. He is the Managing Producer at the recently launched Brooklyn location of The Second City, where his producing credits include original sketch revues such as Ruthless Acts of Kindness and Wreck the Halls. Previously, Matt served as Producing Artistic Director at The Peoples Improv Theatre (The PIT), where he curated and created dozens of original sketch and improv comedy productions. In addition to these leadership positions, Matt has extensive experience in arts education. Most notably, Matt was a teaching artist with The Story Pirates, and provided creative writing instruction to elementary school students through the application of process drama and improvisation. Matt’s work has long lived at the intersection between comedy, theatricality, and youth education, which is why he is thrilled to be onboard with The Junk Drawer.
Dana Osburn | Art Director
Dana M Osburn (they/them) is an artist and filmmaker whose work has spanned animation, puppetry, live action and the experimental mix of all of the above. Their film work has screened in such places as Tribeca Cinemas, Electronic Arts Intermix, and NYC Webfest. This work has also brought them into collaboration with brands such as Nickelodeon, Kidz Bop, Complex Networks and The Harlem Globetrotters.
Matt Kenny | Producer
Matt Kenny is a writer and producer living in New York City. Matt’s screenwriting has made him a Finalist in the Austin Film Festival and a Quarter-Finalist in NBC's Writers on the Verge program. He is a Headline Contributor for The Onion and wrote jokes for The ESPY Awards. His sketch comedy is regularly featured at The Second City New York. Matt has producer credits on over twelve seasons of broadcast television for Amazon Prime, ABC, Showtime, National Geographic, and other major networks. Matt majored in screenwriting at Emerson College where he received the Jeff Arch Screenwriting Award, given to graduating seniors who "demonstrate dedication and excellence in the art of screenwriting." He loves dogs and will always stop what he's doing to pet one.
Easton Carter Angle | Director of Photography
Easton Carter Angle is a transgender Director of Photography based on the East Coast, specializing in narrative and documentary.He got his start at Temple University studying media arts and visual anthropology. He found himself drawn to documentaries and focused on issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. Upon graduating, He was awarded the Lavender Award for his documentary work. His short films and docs have been in film festivals and museums including; Black Star Film Festival, Outfest, Newfest, Frameline, the Brooklyn Museum and the Whitney Museum. His commercial work includes brands such as Shopify, Big Think, and Subaru.Easton was also recipient of the ASC Vision Mentorship for emerging cinematographers and is now receiving mentorship from Jonathan Freeman, ASC.
Kedren Spencer | Ella
Kedren Spencer has appeared on and off stage and in tv/film since 2012. She graduated with her MFA from Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in 2018. She made her Broadway debut in the 6x Tony nominated play Aint No Mo’ and was nominated for her work in the titular role of Toni Stone (Alliance Theatre, Milwaukee Rep). Kedren was most recently seen onstage as Undine in Fabulation; or, the Re-education of Undine (The Billie Holiday Theatre) and has been featured in several short films including the award winning Pen, Again. On TV she was most recently seen on Law & Order (NBC), Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (HBO), Bull (CBS) and New Amsterdam (NBC). She made her directorial debut on her first short film, the award winning Last Call, which she co-wrote with her creative partner.
Kate Owens | Reed
Kate Owens is a NYC-based actor, comedian, and award-winning clown known for her fearless commitment to characters and audacious physical comedy. Broadway: "Melissa Etheridge: My Window" (Circle in the Square Theatre). TV: "The Other Black Girl" on Hulu. Kate was named a ‘New Face of Comedy’ at the Just For Laughs Festival, and has screen tested for Saturday Night Live. She earned a spot on the highly coveted Cirque du Soleil roster and has studied with the French master clown, Philippe Gaulier.
Amara James Aja | Trinket
Amara James Aja is a Brooklyn, New York-based actor and teaching artist. His acting credits include Love's Labor's Lost (Smith Street Stage), The West End (Cincinnati Playhouse), The White Devil (Red Bull Theater), The Blameless (The Old Globe) and In the Heat of the Night (Barter Theater). He has taught with the Community-Word Project, Epic Theatre Ensemble, Waterwell Drama Program, Powerhouse Theatre Training Program at Vassar College, and Montclair State University. He holds a BA from Cornell University and an MFA from USD/The Old Globe.
Josh Tobin | The King of the Store
An actor based in New York City, Josh Tobin has appeared on film, television, and Off-Broadway, performed as a house team member at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and worked in regional theaters across the country. Some of his recent credits include “The Gilded Age” and “The Other Two” on HBO, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fairview at Theatre for a New Audience, Characters Welcome and Harold Night at UCB, and 4000 Miles at Baltimore Center Stage, directed by Lila Neugebauer. He is also the creator and star of the original web series “Men in the Park,” which was featured in Vulture’s Funny Videos of the Month. Josh grew up in Houston, graduated from Davidson College, and received his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He loves Hot Cheetos, the Lord of the Rings, and the vastly underrated Star Wars "B-Wing" starfighter.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Our Big Picture
The Junk Drawer is a pilot presentation for a new preschool series about one simple idea: everyone and everything has something special to offer. Focused on collaborative storytelling and recycling, we follow the special family that runs a very unique little store: two siblings, a talking cat, and a King.
It is part puppet show, part animation, all made entirely with recycled materials and found objects!
Every day, new objects are dropped off at the store, things that nobody has any use for anymore. Through their collaborative powers of imagination and invention, the family makes it their purpose to find creative uses for things nobody wants -- and more importantly, discover how those things WANT to be used.
The show is a zany smorgasbord of quirky characters and magical adventures. It also looks like nothing else on Earth. We're telling stories about imagination and empathy, but we're also demonstrating to kids exactly how we can take better care of our world - all it takes is being a little more thoughtful.
And maybe making a puppet instead of throwing away that old box.
Our Team
The people making The Junk Drawer are an eclectic group of artists with backgrounds that span many worlds. We've got kids' TV professionals, theatrical artists experienced with creating beautiful stage shows, teachers who have worked extensively with children, and comedy writers out the wazoo.
We've all worked for high level organizations and are striking out on our own in this indie passion project to creative the show we really want to see, drawing from our vast experience to entertain and engage kids in a way we know that only we can.
Our World
The store sits on a busy street. Their mail carrier is a pirate. Some people get around by elaborate rope and pulley systems. The world of The Junk Drawer is filled with all sorts of fun and bizarre details.
The store itself is a warm and inviting place, where there may be some conflict, but it's always resolved in the best way. The characters use their imaginations to solve problems and tell each other stories. It's like sitting around a campfire with your funniest, weirdest friends, brainstorming ways you can reuse that old jean jacket.
They live by this ethos: We don't throw anything away! We find EVERYTHING a home! EVERYTHING has a use!
It's a fun, radically accessible world where almost everything is a Rube Goldberg Machine.
We begin each episode in the store, where a character might mention a problem they've been having. A customer would then arrive to drop off an unwanted object, be that a broken umbrella, a clock, or anything else.
Then it's up to our kids: Ella, a tinkering genius full of energy. Reed, her musical brother who takes on any problem with a grin. The King of the Store, who looks like the most regal person on Earth but is actually the littlest kid of all. Trinket, their all-knowing cat.
The characters let their imaginations run wild, and we transition into their fantasy where they tell a story centered around that object -- for example, a broken umbrella might become a space ship, and the space ship has crash landed on a mysterious alien planet. This fantasy section is represented as distinct from the "real world" of the store through a change in art style and the fact that it is a musical, with chanted rhymes over a mega catchy beat.
We transition back to the store where, inspired by their story, they find a new use for the object so it doesn't go to waste. The space ship umbrella in our first story ends up being the new peg leg for the mail pirate, whose old one has unfortunately been eaten by termites he picked up on his mail route.
Our Style
The shows looks is rooted in the cardboard-and-trash building style that co-creator Dan Jones has developed over a decade as a theatrical designer, teaching artist, and puppeteer.
"Reuse is at the heart of everything I do -- partly for environmental reasons, partly because it is so dang fun! We must all remember that there is no vehicle in the world more magic than a big fridge-sized box."
We are drawing inspiration from artists like Wayne White (Pee Wee's Playhouse), super-resourceful designers like costumer Machine Dazzle, and pop-up book makers like Robert Sabuda. We believe that this will all culminate in something unlike anything else out there.
Our Ask
We want to tell stories that kids will love, stories that help them feel safe and heard and like the world is a beautiful place where they, their ripped up teddy bear, and everything else is super important. A lot of stuff gets thrown out and that stuff is not so good for our planet, so we also want kids to know that there are better ways to treat our world. It's an environmentalist story that engages kids by their imaginations and senses of wonder.
We need you to help us make it a reality. Puppets have gotta be built, old cardboard and springs need to be shaped into a real, miniature version of the store. Then we've gotta film the whole thing. With your help, this world can come to life and help us make a better real world out of only bits of string and trash we dug out of our neighbor's bins.
We hope to see this show on TV, on streaming, everywhere. With the money from this campaign, we can make that a reality -- and every dollar extra will go towards making the show look, sound, and feel more incredible!
Please share this campaign so we can make trash into something beautiful! You can also share our Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/thejunkdrawer_show/
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Space!
Costs $2,000
We need space to build and film. The tiny corner we're working with now can't contain all of The Junk Drawer
Equipment!
Costs $1,500
We need to rent lots of gear to make this show look the best it can -- the better our equipment, the better the show will look!
Crew!
Costs $3,500
A show like this requires a lot of helping hands - and we'd like to pay them what they're worth.
Meals!
Costs $300
Making this show will be hungry work -- help us feed our crew!
Post-Production!
Costs $2,200
After we've filmed everything, we need resources to put it all together!
Trash
Costs $500
While we've collected (and made) a ton of trash to build puppets and sets, we're gonna need a whole lot more!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Marc Hecht | Co-Creator
Marc Hecht is a Writer and Producer at Nickelodeon, previously working with Science Channel and the History Channel. He was the writer, producer, editor and director responsible for dozens of educational shorts on Noggin and Paramount+, including Noggin Knows, Word Play, Imagination Trips, and many more.
Dan Jones | Co-Creator
Dan Jones is a Queens-based writer, designer, educator, and multi-disciplinary theater maker. Plays include The Halloween Tree, a contemporary adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, which was developed through the New Victory Theater’s LabWorks program and recently premiered at Minneapolis’ Southern Theater. Dan's design work in puppetry has been seen at theaters across the country, including the American Repertory Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Playwrights Horizons, Everyman Theatre, and many more, in addition to fabrication for countless Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. As a teaching artist, Dan specializes in creating immersive spectacle from reused materials, inviting participants to see both everyday objects and the natural world with new eyes.
Faye Chiao | Composer
Faye Chiao is a composer of musical theater, opera, and concert music. Chiao has received awards from The Presser Foundation and OPERA America. Chiao’s works have been commissioned, produced, and developed by The New Victory Theater, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Saratoga, Syracuse Stage, The Duffy Institute for New Opera, Boston Chamber Symphony, O’Neill National Music Theater Conference, NAMT Festival of New Musicals, American Music Theatre Project, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Manhattan School of Music, Prospect Theater, The Playwrights Realm, and Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Chiao holds degrees from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and serves on faculty at BerkleeNYC.
Matt Prigge | Producer
Matt Prigge is an NYC based producer and creator specializing in live comedy. He is the Managing Producer at the recently launched Brooklyn location of The Second City, where his producing credits include original sketch revues such as Ruthless Acts of Kindness and Wreck the Halls. Previously, Matt served as Producing Artistic Director at The Peoples Improv Theatre (The PIT), where he curated and created dozens of original sketch and improv comedy productions. In addition to these leadership positions, Matt has extensive experience in arts education. Most notably, Matt was a teaching artist with The Story Pirates, and provided creative writing instruction to elementary school students through the application of process drama and improvisation. Matt’s work has long lived at the intersection between comedy, theatricality, and youth education, which is why he is thrilled to be onboard with The Junk Drawer.
Dana Osburn | Art Director
Dana M Osburn (they/them) is an artist and filmmaker whose work has spanned animation, puppetry, live action and the experimental mix of all of the above. Their film work has screened in such places as Tribeca Cinemas, Electronic Arts Intermix, and NYC Webfest. This work has also brought them into collaboration with brands such as Nickelodeon, Kidz Bop, Complex Networks and The Harlem Globetrotters.
Matt Kenny | Producer
Matt Kenny is a writer and producer living in New York City. Matt’s screenwriting has made him a Finalist in the Austin Film Festival and a Quarter-Finalist in NBC's Writers on the Verge program. He is a Headline Contributor for The Onion and wrote jokes for The ESPY Awards. His sketch comedy is regularly featured at The Second City New York. Matt has producer credits on over twelve seasons of broadcast television for Amazon Prime, ABC, Showtime, National Geographic, and other major networks. Matt majored in screenwriting at Emerson College where he received the Jeff Arch Screenwriting Award, given to graduating seniors who "demonstrate dedication and excellence in the art of screenwriting." He loves dogs and will always stop what he's doing to pet one.
Easton Carter Angle | Director of Photography
Easton Carter Angle is a transgender Director of Photography based on the East Coast, specializing in narrative and documentary.He got his start at Temple University studying media arts and visual anthropology. He found himself drawn to documentaries and focused on issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. Upon graduating, He was awarded the Lavender Award for his documentary work. His short films and docs have been in film festivals and museums including; Black Star Film Festival, Outfest, Newfest, Frameline, the Brooklyn Museum and the Whitney Museum. His commercial work includes brands such as Shopify, Big Think, and Subaru.Easton was also recipient of the ASC Vision Mentorship for emerging cinematographers and is now receiving mentorship from Jonathan Freeman, ASC.
Kedren Spencer | Ella
Kedren Spencer has appeared on and off stage and in tv/film since 2012. She graduated with her MFA from Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in 2018. She made her Broadway debut in the 6x Tony nominated play Aint No Mo’ and was nominated for her work in the titular role of Toni Stone (Alliance Theatre, Milwaukee Rep). Kedren was most recently seen onstage as Undine in Fabulation; or, the Re-education of Undine (The Billie Holiday Theatre) and has been featured in several short films including the award winning Pen, Again. On TV she was most recently seen on Law & Order (NBC), Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (HBO), Bull (CBS) and New Amsterdam (NBC). She made her directorial debut on her first short film, the award winning Last Call, which she co-wrote with her creative partner.
Kate Owens | Reed
Kate Owens is a NYC-based actor, comedian, and award-winning clown known for her fearless commitment to characters and audacious physical comedy. Broadway: "Melissa Etheridge: My Window" (Circle in the Square Theatre). TV: "The Other Black Girl" on Hulu. Kate was named a ‘New Face of Comedy’ at the Just For Laughs Festival, and has screen tested for Saturday Night Live. She earned a spot on the highly coveted Cirque du Soleil roster and has studied with the French master clown, Philippe Gaulier.
Amara James Aja | Trinket
Amara James Aja is a Brooklyn, New York-based actor and teaching artist. His acting credits include Love's Labor's Lost (Smith Street Stage), The West End (Cincinnati Playhouse), The White Devil (Red Bull Theater), The Blameless (The Old Globe) and In the Heat of the Night (Barter Theater). He has taught with the Community-Word Project, Epic Theatre Ensemble, Waterwell Drama Program, Powerhouse Theatre Training Program at Vassar College, and Montclair State University. He holds a BA from Cornell University and an MFA from USD/The Old Globe.
Josh Tobin | The King of the Store
An actor based in New York City, Josh Tobin has appeared on film, television, and Off-Broadway, performed as a house team member at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and worked in regional theaters across the country. Some of his recent credits include “The Gilded Age” and “The Other Two” on HBO, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fairview at Theatre for a New Audience, Characters Welcome and Harold Night at UCB, and 4000 Miles at Baltimore Center Stage, directed by Lila Neugebauer. He is also the creator and star of the original web series “Men in the Park,” which was featured in Vulture’s Funny Videos of the Month. Josh grew up in Houston, graduated from Davidson College, and received his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He loves Hot Cheetos, the Lord of the Rings, and the vastly underrated Star Wars "B-Wing" starfighter.