About this project
“The Adventures of Bucky and his Beantown Pals” is a series of trans-media stories for children pre-school to tweens, which uses action, comedy, music and imagination to address the real-world physical and social challenges that all children face. The Beantown Pals series is driven by a passion for story telling, providing children with tools they need to be successful in life. Beantown delivers humorous, compelling stories loaded with responsible, pro-social messages laced with life lessons, balanced diets and core values. With your pledges (we have very cool rewards) Beantown Pals will serve up a crock pot full of zany, Beantown Adventures!
The Myth...Some say “Jack and the Beanstalk” is just a fairytale. But what really happened to Jack’s left over magic beans?
This is their story…
Overview:
Welcome to Beantown, home to the descendents of Jack’s magic beans! It’s a whimsical food inspired community, where Beans live in skyscraper milk cartons, cozy teapots and gleaming cheese graters. Even their vehicles come right off the kitchen shelf. There are asparagus forests and broccoli shrubs growing beside graham cracker highways and macaroni cliffs.
Some of the series' many messages include the importance of knowing when to say no, the idea that an open mind is the key to conquering prejudice, the concept that being clean and tidy makes an easier life for oneself and others, and the importance of always telling the truth.
Among the many life lessons our 'Beantown' pals experience, we learn that you can overcome any obstacle if you believe in yourself and others.
Beantown is made of food, providing a subtle, underlying message that good diet and an active lifestyle equals better health.
Through Beantown's leading protagonist, Bucky Bean, and his job at the Beantown Garage and Pre-Owned Spoon Lot, the underlying message of the importance of physical activity is highlighted.
The repairs are more than mechanical, the healthier the bean, the faster and farther his or her spoon will travel. And with Spoon Racing, the equivalent to NASCAR, as a popular event in Beantown, everyone wants his or her spoon to be the fastest.
Like Popeye with his spinach, Bucky fortifies himself before each race by going to the 'Double Dip' restaurant for a wholesome meal, so the connection between having a well-balanced diet and Bucky's racing success is easily understood.
Other leading "Beantown" characters include Bucky's friend Betty Bean, a Beantown pop star and manager at the Double Dip who sings about nutritional information, and Beantown's leading villain, Vain.
"How vain is Vain? When he hears that Betty is throwing someone a surprise birthday party, Vain does everything he can to sabotage it, including dumping all the presents into the molasses swamp and substituting mashed potatoes for frosting on the cake. Then he discovers that the surprise birthday party was meant for him. Another message in "Beantown" is that Vain's name and character also brings light that vanity can blind someone to what is truly beautiful.
A New Kind of Book:
As traditional publishing gives way to new digital platforms, the collaboration of this team brings together a number of exciting innovations. The magic is supplied by Augmented Reality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK59Beq0Sew It works like a barcode – a “marker” is printed on the page, and when it’s held up to the webcam, The interactive Beantown Pals book unlocks the animation and brings the inanimate characters to life. This marriage of print to the Internet turns each Beantown Pals book into a multi-media platform. And like a television series, the interactive books will endow the Beantown characters with likeable personalities, which will further drive sales.
A New Kind of Storytelling:
To cite a few examples, characters in the interactive Beantown books could engage the reader in a sing-along, make them laugh by telling corny jokes, give them clues for a treasure hunt, or take them on an exciting spoon race. To underscore our pro-social messages, Beantown characters could ask the reader some thought provoking and age appropriate questions about the story they’ve just read.The interactive element is integrated into the story and induces kids to read the entire book, the same way as illustrations are designed to enhance the text.
Our Team:
Beantown Pals Founder Thomas Hayes completely epitomizes the "Can Do" Role Model. With an iron will forged out of the tragic experience of losing a leg to an extremely rare form of cancer (only 5% survival rate) in childhood, Hayes has built an enviable career. Tom is a first rate comedian - a ShowTime Cable Network "Funniest Person" award winner! He is passionate about sharing his positive, life lessons as a motivational key note speaker for children and adults alike. Tom’s real life “Can Do” story is the basis for his new trans-media book series “The Adventures of Bucky and His Beantown Pals!”
Tom Hayes (Founder and Beantown visionary) and his story has attracted the attention of Emmy award winning story teller Rick Siggelkow (TV Producer of Thomas the Tank Engine and ‘Beantown Pals’ Creative Director). Together they are ready to produce the first in a series of trans-media storybooks.
A leading figure in children’s television, award winning producer Rick Siggelkow comes to Bucky and his Beantown Pals with two internationally acclaimed children’s series’ to his credit: Shining Time Station, which introduced Thomas the Tank Engine to American audiences, and Noddy, which aired daily on PBS for over three years. Shining Time Station and Thomas the Tank Engine earned five Emmy nominations including a win for Best Direction and a Gemini Award for Best Children’s Series, and Noddy picked up an Emmy Award and a Gemini Award. http://www.beantownpals.com/about-us.html
Our passion for delivering the highest quality, meaningful, and age-appropriate children’s content to a global audience reflects the entire team’s dedication to seeing Bucky and His Beantown Pals come to life.
Our dream is to entertain, inspire and empower kids of all ages by providing award-winning entertainment that instills positive social values and “Can Do” mentality, builds self-confidence, promotes self-expression and inspires them to help make the world a better place.
Allocation of the funding goal is comprised of the following:
- Kickstarter / Funding & Admin fees; $2,800
- Book Series script layout, design, editing; $6,500
- Illustrator – complete / create sets; $4,000
- E-book production for tablet and portables; $2,500
- E-book distribution; $500
- Printing 1,000 Limited Edition books; $6,000
- Marketing / promotional costs; $9,700
- Shipping and handling of premiums to Supporters.; $3,000
If we raise money beyond the $35,000 goal, several things will happen:
- Up to $45,000, we will begin to enhance our book's multi-media platform to support additional books.
- At $55,000 we will continue book series and bolster our promotional campaign.
- At $60,000 we will continue book series production.
- At $80,000 we will create enhanced phone apps for each book in the series.
- We will use anything above $80,000 to further enhance our book's multi-media experience and marketing campaign.
“Like ‘Thomas the Tank Engine,’ ‘Bucky and his Beantown Pals,’ has a range of appealing, collectable characters,” says Siggelkow. “They live in a community where each character has a role to play, and they impart positive, pro-social values. I believe ‘Bucky and his Beantown Pals’ has the potential to be as big as ‘Thomas.’
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
26
Backers
$1,188
pledged of $35,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on February 2.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
A Beantastic "Thank You" email loaded with karma, and a "Thank You" on our web site supporters page.
Pledge $3 or more Pledge $3 or more
A snail-mail "Thank You" post card signed by Bucky & Betty.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
A limited edition Collectible Bean. The cost of production is high for these, this is a real deal! Children relate to the books by using their beans to play act the stories.
Pledge $6 or more Pledge $6 or more
A Limited edition Collectible Bean character key chain. These are the same molded durable plastic Beans, beautifully spray masked functionality of a key chain.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A digital copy of the first "Bucky & His Beantown Pals" enhanced e-book for iPod, iPhone, iPad and Android etc. When available it will include picture book images, "Beans Are Gonna Boogie" song, and a bedtime reading by Tom Hayes and Rick Siggelkow.
Pledge $12 or more Pledge $12 or more
Limited Edition set contains Collectible Spoon Racer with a color coordinated Collectible Bean. Each is designed with ultra-fine detail and the spoon racer/bean combination create high play value.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
4" Limited Edition Bean plush. Kids love to sleep with these adorable characters and carry them on their Beantastic adventures!
Pledge $18 or more Pledge $18 or more
Limited Edition CD of the first "Bucky and His Beantown Pals" book read by Tom Hayes and Rick Siggelkow. The CD also features the song "Beans are Gonna Boogie" and a bonus track of Tom Hayes reading the children's jokes and riddles from Beantown Pal's Comedy Club, "The Crock Pot." Very funny stuff about Beantown, it's citizens, and their world at large.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
4" Original Bean plush and a key chain
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
4" Pitch character plush in a vintage "Boston Baked Bean" coffee mug from our humble beginnings along with a collectible Bean key chain and 2 rare collectible Beans that are exclusive to this reward.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
Limited edition of the first "Bucky & His Beantown Pals signed by both Tom Hayes and Rick Siggelkow. Along with the CD of the book being read by Tom and Rick, the song "Beans Are Gonna Boogie," Tom reading jokes and riddles from "The Crock Pot," and the e-book.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Your name printed on the acknowledgment page of the first Limited Edition "Bucky & His Beantown Pals" book signed by both Tom Hayes and Rick Siggelkow. Along with a CD of the book being read by Tom and Rick, the song "Beans Are Gonna Boogie," Tom reading jokes and riddles from "The Crock Pot," the e-book and a key chain.
Pledge $700 or more Pledge $700 or more
A Bean mascot appearance at your child's birthday party, school assembly, or other private function of your choosing. A book signed by Tom and Rick, the CD and a book reading by the mascot's assistant. (Within 150 miles of Boston.)
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
A Bean Mascot appearance with the same package as above with a book reading and hilarious family magic show by author Tom Hayes. (Within 150 miles of Boston.)
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
The 4 Foot Original Stuffed Bean that appeared with Tom Hayes in the Boston Globe and on their television commercial.
Pledge $1,200 or more Pledge $1,200 or more
Private Comedy Night with author Tom Hayes! Tom will perform at the venue of your choice and bring 20 signed books with CD's and e-books.
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
Create a Beantown Character (within reason, and the guidance of the Beantown team) to appear in one of the books and possibly a webisode/tv episode. This is your chance to work with the Beantown creative team, including Tom and Rick, to imagine and design a new character that will live in Beantown forever. Once the character is created, we never know in how many of the stories, games, webisodes, TV series, movies he or she may appear!
Pledge $4,000 or more Pledge $4,000 or more
Comedy Night with Tom Hayes and some of Boston’s Best Comics. This is a really good time! Three of our friends who own comedy clubs are willing to lend their clubs for this event. This means that you will be able to throw a personalized comedy night at one of three Boston area’s best comedy clubs. The club is yours for the night. Invite your friends, ex-spouses, people you really dislike, republicans or democrats and we will roast the beans right out of them. All you pay for is food and beverages. We will give out 20 copies of the signed book, CD’s and E books.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Corporate or Organizational Presentation by Tom Hayes for your next business meeting or convention. Tom will tell his inspirational, hilarious and poignant story to your group, customized to the meeting’s theme. He will relate his award winning life story, the creation of Beantown Pals, and speak of leadership, teambuilding, branding, marketing and entrepreneurship. Again, Tom will bring his years of sales, marketing and management experience and cancer survival skills to enlighten and entertain your group. This is a very funny and moving event. Again, signed books, CD’s and Ebooks will be distributed within reason.
Project By
Connected as Thomas Hayes (303 friends)
Thomas Hayes completely epitomizes the "Can Do" Role Model. With an iron will forged out of the tragic experience of losing a leg to an extremely rare form of cancer (only 5% survival rate) in childhood. Tom is a first rate comedian - a Show Time Cable Network "Funniest Person" award winner! He is passionate about sharing his positive, life lessons as a motivational key note speaker for children and adults alike. Tom’s real life “Can Do” story is the basis for this new trans-media book series “The Adventures of Bucky and His Beantown Pals!” A collaboration with Emmy Award winning TV producer, Rick Siggelkow producer of "Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends"
