Film Info5 minutes
World By Charlie Productions for Nat Geo KiDS Available for Free screenings ONLY Synopsis: “Nature Boom Time!” is an educational show about nature and the environment produced by World By Charlie Productions and currently airing on Nat Geo WILD. The show follows Charlie, Kirby, and Patrick - three perpetually enthusiastic best friends - as they travel around the United States to learn about trees and what makes nature incredibly awesome. Science and history are explained with paper cutouts and goofy girl Casey back at headquarters! |
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Filmmaker Q & A
What inspired this story?
Growing up I loved watching nature shows. I would go outside and pretend to be a jungle explorer, slashing down vines and trudging through the amazon. More recently when I began to produce some of my own material I realized there was a disconnect between a lot of these nature shows and the viewer. They were always hosted by a biologist, in a far off corner of the world talking about some animal or habitat I would never visit in my entire life. So I set out to make a show that would inspire kids to be curious about their own world. I wanted to show them that they didn’t have to travel to Africa or South America to make wonderful discoveries. They didn’t have to pretend. Everything was waiting for them right outside their front door.
Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film?
Our budget for this show was incredibly small. We were a three-man crew – me, my sister, and my best friend. Editing, shooting, recoding audio, everything was learned in the field on the fly. We spent 55 continuous days on the road shooting, camping in the same tent, and surviving on a strict oatmeal and mac n’ cheese diet. No one took a paycheck. We spent weeks without showering. Voice overs were recorded in a basement closet. And I think we would all agree, it was an absolute blast.
What impact do you hope this film will have?
I worked hard to make this show as relatable as possible. It almost reads like a souped-up school project. I hope kids will watch this and be inspired to do their own natural investigating. I hope they watch the show and see a group of friends getting jacked up about the environment, and think that they could do the same.
What next?
Currently I’m writing, producing, and hosting a 30-minute STEM show for National Geographic Kids called “Weird But True” that borrows a lot from the style and feel of Nature Boom Time! Kirby (camera) cohosts “Weird But True” and is pursuing a degree at Brown. Patrick (camera and PA) is working towards a career in Marine Biology.
Anything else you would like people to know?
Nature Boom Time! airs today because a wonderful group of people at Nat Geo Kids were open-minded and willing to take a gamble on a kid with a pair of scissors. Too often, science media starts looking the same. It’s an honor to be nominated alongside some great media makers that are pushing beyond the cookie cutter format and creating new and inspiring stories. I look forward to meeting some of you over the next few days.
Growing up I loved watching nature shows. I would go outside and pretend to be a jungle explorer, slashing down vines and trudging through the amazon. More recently when I began to produce some of my own material I realized there was a disconnect between a lot of these nature shows and the viewer. They were always hosted by a biologist, in a far off corner of the world talking about some animal or habitat I would never visit in my entire life. So I set out to make a show that would inspire kids to be curious about their own world. I wanted to show them that they didn’t have to travel to Africa or South America to make wonderful discoveries. They didn’t have to pretend. Everything was waiting for them right outside their front door.
Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film?
Our budget for this show was incredibly small. We were a three-man crew – me, my sister, and my best friend. Editing, shooting, recoding audio, everything was learned in the field on the fly. We spent 55 continuous days on the road shooting, camping in the same tent, and surviving on a strict oatmeal and mac n’ cheese diet. No one took a paycheck. We spent weeks without showering. Voice overs were recorded in a basement closet. And I think we would all agree, it was an absolute blast.
What impact do you hope this film will have?
I worked hard to make this show as relatable as possible. It almost reads like a souped-up school project. I hope kids will watch this and be inspired to do their own natural investigating. I hope they watch the show and see a group of friends getting jacked up about the environment, and think that they could do the same.
What next?
Currently I’m writing, producing, and hosting a 30-minute STEM show for National Geographic Kids called “Weird But True” that borrows a lot from the style and feel of Nature Boom Time! Kirby (camera) cohosts “Weird But True” and is pursuing a degree at Brown. Patrick (camera and PA) is working towards a career in Marine Biology.
Anything else you would like people to know?
Nature Boom Time! airs today because a wonderful group of people at Nat Geo Kids were open-minded and willing to take a gamble on a kid with a pair of scissors. Too often, science media starts looking the same. It’s an honor to be nominated alongside some great media makers that are pushing beyond the cookie cutter format and creating new and inspiring stories. I look forward to meeting some of you over the next few days.
