For over a decade, RTÉ's Young People's Programmes department has produced ‘Kidspeak’, an evolving series of short interstitials featuring children in Ireland.
Now it is seeking submissions from independent companies to produce the next series of ‘Kidspeak’ the RTÉ-owned format.
Over 1,200 beautifully-made short films have been aired across RTÉ's children's schedules, and rebroadcast many times, amounting to a record of life for contemporary children of real archival value. These films are transmitted in-between programmes and help identify RTÉ's children's schedule, and particularly the RTÉjr channel, as an engaging, exciting, relevant and informative service for its young audience living in Ireland.
No. of Episodes/Duration: 150 x 30 seconds
Budget: Up to a maximum of €150,000
Closing Date: Monday 27 March 2017 at 12 Noon (Strict Deadline)
RTÉ Young People's is now seeking submissions from independent companies to produce the next series of this RTÉ-owned format. RTÉ are looking for short films of the highest quality to be made specifically for children up to 7 years of age - with resonance also for those co-viewers who often watch alongside the core audience. All films must be suitable for broadcast on the RTÉjr channel, that is, for viewers aged 7 years and under.
RTÉ are looking for a proposal which updates and adds to the scope of the many hundreds of shorts already made. The films must feature the diverse lives of children living in Ireland and be engaging and insightful. Across the series, RTÉ want to see children alone and in groups, in simple and complex settings, in urban, semi-urban and rural environments, doing ordinary or sometimes extraordinary activities, saying ordinary or extraordinary things - but always, wanting to see children as they are.
To date, films in ‘Kidspeak’ have taken a range of approaches, from performance-to-camera to classically observational, and a few were targeted at slightly older children. This year, we would like to commission these interstitials for RTÉjr exclusively.
RTÉ are keen to see proposals that allow fresh scope for at least some of the children featured to share their ideas about their world, to allow us discover something of their artistic, social and philosophical leanings beyond the routines and physicality of their lives.
Previous series of ‘Kidspeak’ embodied high visual and aural standards and accordingly this series will need to be shot on HD video.
Below is a previous ‘Kidspeak’ episode entitled ‘Painting Shells’.
Other samples of the last series of 'Kidspeak' interstitials can be viewed here.
As a whole, the series must reflect the values of RTÉjr, which aims to explore and reflect the world in which youngsters in Ireland are growing up. Therefore, the series must be highly inclusive, it must feature children from all walks of life and backgrounds and it has to substantially embrace the different cultural origins/ethnicities, understandings and ability levels of children currently living here.
Submissions should demonstrate the company's ability to deliver in the following areas:
1. An understanding of, and a creative response to, the series brief as outlined above. This must include a research and casting strategy, a clear visual/aural treatment and a breakdown of proposed subject areas which gives a clear idea of the nature and range of content
2. An understanding of RTÉ's Young People's programming (including previous series of ‘Kidspeak’) and of RTÉ's youngest (RTÉjr) audience
3. The company including key personnel (producer, director and research roles) proposed for this series must demonstrate a proven track record in the production of programmes for children/young people
4. The proposal must demonstrate the capacity to deliver a large volume of distinctive, high-quality shorts that thoroughly address the requirements for diversity, inclusion and geographical spread, at the proposed level of cost
5. Delivery deadlines for the series are: first 50% of the completed programmes by Friday 18th August 2017 and the remaining 50% by Friday 29th September 2017.
RTÉ ask, in the first instance, that producers submit ideas into the eCommissioning system: https://e-commissioning.rte.ie/SWIFT.Web/skins/rte/login.aspx
under the programme category Young People Programmes Young Peoples "Kidspeak jr 2017"
Closing Date: Monday 27 March 2017 at 12 Noon (Strict Deadline).
For more information on the ‘Kidspeak ‘series proposal call out and other details of RTÉ's Young People's Programmes Commissioning briefs visit the RTÉ commissioning website.
