“Bleep” is the title of one of our entries in this week’s “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery. The PSA promotes safe and courteous driving–but the significance of the project goes well beyond the subject matter.
“Bleep” is the latest spot from The Kangaroo Project, now in its fourth year. Sponsored by the nonprofit, Minneapolis-headquartered Sean Francis Foundation to mentor promising creative and filmmaking talent via the production of a public service TV spot that’s guaranteed airtime, The Kangaroo Project is a two-pronged annual competition.
The first leg of the competition is to come up with a concept to address a chosen public service issue. Established as well as up-and-coming creatives from around the country submit their concept entries, which are then judged by a cross-section of agency creatives and filmmaking artisans.
Once the winning concept is selected, aspiring directors submit treatments. Judges assess these treatments and select a helmer–this year’s winner being George Andrew “Andy” Basore, who’s been working as a production assistant in New York.
What makes The Kangaroo Project special are the opportunities it affords not only up-and-coming creative and directorial talent, but also crewmember hopefuls who are looking to gain experience and mentorship. A coterie of apprentices, called Joeys, work on The Kangaroo Project PSAs, so that they can learn about the business and gain on-the-job training and counsel from crew professionals. Prospective Joeys apply to work on the public service fare by logging onto The Kangaroo Project Web site (www.kangarooproject.com).
Part of The Kangaroo Project initiative is that the public service work that’s created actually gains airtime thanks to sponsorship from related organizations. This year’s PSA has secured support from the National Auto Dealers Association. Past Kangaroo Project public service causes have included organ donation and motorcycle safety. In fact, the latter PSA is still in demand as the Sean Francis Foundation recently received requests from five other states and Australia for permission to use “Oblivious Guy” in their motorcycle safety campaigns. It seems that a motorcycle enthusiast found the humorous spot on a demo reel online and passed it along to his friends and colleagues via the Internet, helping to generate renewed interest in the work.
Project organizer Julie Hartley, a veteran producer and production manager, teamed with members of the Minnesota production community to form the Sean Francis Foundation, named after her 20-year-old son who died in a motorcycle accident in 2000. From the group sprung The Kangaroo Project.
Francis was a production assistant and an aspiring producer. But with Francis’ life cut short, The Kangaroo Project was initiated to make an ongoing positive filmmaking contribution in his memory through nurturing and opening up opportunities for deserving creatives, directors and crewmembers–in some cases, helping them to start their careers.
The Kangaroo moniker grew out of the fact that the animal nurtures its baby in her pouch. The apprenticeships parallel this in that experienced crewmembers help Joeys take a hop forward in their chosen professions. The Kangaroo designation was also chosen because Francis was born in Australia.
Stage and Film Actor Tony Roberts Dies At 85
Tony Roberts, a versatile, Tony Award-nominated theater performer at home in both plays and musicals and who appeared in several Woody Allen movies โ often as Allen's best friend โ has died. He was 85.
Roberts' death was announced to The New York Times by his daughter, Nicole Burley.
Roberts had a genial stage personality perfect for musical comedy and he originated roles in such diverse Broadway musicals as "How Now, Dow Jones" (1967); "Sugar" (1972), an adaptation of the movie "Some Like It Hot," and "Victor/Victoria" (1995), in which he co-starred with Julie Andrews when she returned to Broadway in the stage version of her popular film. He also was in the campy, roller-disco "Xanadu" in 2007 and "The Royal Family" in 2009.
"I've never been particularly lucky at card games. I've never hit a jackpot. But I have been extremely lucky in life," he write in his memoir, "Do You Know Me?" "Unlike many of my pals, who didn't know what they wanted to become when they grew up, I knew I wanted to be an actor before I got to high school."
Roberts also appeared on Broadway in the 1966 Woody Allen comedy "Don't Drink the Water," repeating his role in the film version, and in Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" (1969), for which he also made the movie.
Other Allen films in which Roberts appeared were "Annie Hall" (1977), "Stardust Memories" (1980), "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" (1982), "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986) and "Radio Days" (1987).
"Roberts' confident onscreen presence โ not to mention his tall frame, broad shoulders and brown curly mane โ was the perfect foil for Allen's various neurotic characters, making them more funny and enjoyable to watch," The Jewish Daily Forward wrote in 2016.
In Eric Lax's book "Woody... Read More