“Education Through Entertainment”

The Slouch & Friends, Inc.

The Slouch In The Couch Educational Productions (SITCEP), is a subsidiary Company, that will produce the television program, video series, and all other below related educational productions for children.  The Slouch & Friends, Inc., is the parent Corporation for SITCEP and Brass Star Records, which produces the original Children’s music.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Studies have shown that, on average, children ages 2-11 watch television 23 hours per week and teenagers view nearly 22 hours,¹ it’s clear that TV consumes a young person’s attention-and does so in their most impressionable years. By the time the average American child graduates high school, he or she will have spent nearly 20,000 hours in front of a television-which is significantly more than the 12,000 to 13,000 hours that the child will spend in the classroom in the same stage of life.  As such, TV viewing has the potential to be the “teacher” with the greatest impact.

 

According to the American Psychological Association, televised violence affects even those who do not display violent behaviors.  They cite three ways:

 

             ·  Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence and increases mistrust of others.

 

             ·  Viewing violence increases desensitization of violence, resulting in callused attitudes toward violence    

                and victims of violent acts.

 

             ·  Viewing violence increases viewer’s appetites for becoming involved with violence or

                exposing themselves to violence.²

 

According to the Gallup organization, 83 percent of Americans believe TV programming contributes to violence in children.³   By the time the average child leaves elementary school, he will have witnessed 8,000 murders and 100,000 other acts of violence on TV.⁴  The average viewer witnesses 150 acts of violence and about 15 murders every week.⁵  Regarding Saturday morning programming, researchers found that children are exposed to 20 to 25 violent acts per hour.⁶  In addition, for those homes that receive cable (60 percent of American homes), even more graphic violence and sexual themes are accessible.⁷

 

With all of these facts, Stephen J. Hemenway founded “The Slouch & Friends, Incorporated,” whose theme is “Education through Entertainment”.  The Slouch & Friends, Inc. are proposing a television program and video series, which will be geared for children ages 5-9.  Various kinds of educational material, moral values, family importance, and nonviolence will be presented through live entertainment, fantasy and music.  We are seeking funds for three years of production costs, after which we project we will be self sufficient.

 

 Stephen is an accomplished author of children’s stories, composer and singer.  His “stories” are the series of “Slouch In The Couch” children’s learning books.  Using these stories (children’s books) as a base, he began developing “The Slouch In The Couch” Educational programs.  However, even with all these talents Stephen realized that he could not take on such a large project by himself.  Therefore, Stephen has put together a team of experienced, creative people who are dedicated to the production of “The Slouch In The Couch Uncut” and “The Children’s Corner” television program.  (This team is Stephen’s Executive Officers.  Their job description and qualifications are found in the appendix.)

 

AIMS

 

“The Slouch In The Couch Uncut”  is a video series, which will release five programs per year, utilizing live entertainers and “muppet” type characters.  Each programs’ theme will be presented through humorous skits, appearances by “The Slouch In The Couch” characters (same characters featured in “The Children’s Corner”), and special guests.  Intertwined between these skits will be three children, per show, that will perform a particular talent conducive to them, ( i.e. various forms of dance, musical instruments, singing, etc.) for the audience.  This makes the program not only a program for children, but performed by children as well (sample programming in appendix).  Since these will have a concentrated educational theme, they will be offered to elementary schools at no cost.  They will also be used as marketed product to produce income and utilized as promotional programs for “The Children’s Corner” television series.

 

“The Children’s Corner” will produce nine nonviolent educational programs the first year, with 24 episodes being produced each subsequent year thereafter.  (This is because “The Slouch In The Couch Uncut” will produce all fifteen videos the first year, bringing the total combined videos produced, at 24).  This program will take the children on adventures within the World of The Magical Couch.  The children will meet many characters such as:

 

             The Slouches - They’re lovable but live for the moment.  They never think of what the consequences may  

            bring.

 

             Melvin The Great - He entered the World of the Magical Couch 100 years ago and through experience 

            and knowledge, became very wise and learned. (Time stands still in this World).

 

             Mr. Buzzelli - (the alphabet man) - A cook that makes everything in the shape of letters. 

 

             The Alphatelli’s -  Mr. Buzzelli’s best friends and assistant cooks. (They are “little people”).

 

             Rick - An eight year old boy who would rather play and have fun than do his home work or chores.

 

             Mildred McGee (Milly) - An eight year old girl, who is loyal to her friends and is always willing to 

            help others and always bailing Rick out of trouble.

 

             Mary Hearken  - The head school teacher  in “Prominence Providence” a shire within fantasy forest.  She      

             performs sign language as she speaks.

 

             Boris Damean - The mayor of Stankwell.  Boris and the Stinkells are the bad guys.

 

These are only a few of the wonderful characters in “The World of The Magical Couch”.  The difference between “The Children’s Corner” and other type of children entertainment, is that we will include education, moral values, family importance, and nonviolent behavior.  The twist being, these programs are also geared to Parents and Adults!

 

FUTURE GOALS

 

Stephen plans to continue publishing the “Slouch In The Couch” series of  children’s learning books (nine written to date), in hardback book format.  Three books have already been published through Xlibris Publications (partially owned by Random Books.)  They are: “The Slouch In The Couch,” “Never Jump On A Grump,” and “The Stinkells in Stankwell.”  He also intends to continue producing original “Slouch” music CD’s, promoted through “Music Videos” to enhance CD sales.  Both Videos and CD’s are available through the Internet.  Currently, the main music distributer for “The Slouch & Friends, Inc.,” is CDBABY.COM.

 

CONCLUSION

 

We have done a test of the marketplace from three different angles.  First of all through the public schools with the Slouch In The Couch stories.  As mentioned above, letters from school teachers / educators (in the appendix), stating that children thoroughly enjoy the stories.

 

The Slouch In The Couch Children’s Corner Band has performed throughout Southern California, receiving several letters, (copies in the appendix) on their performances.  The music appeals to young and old alike.

 

Another means of testing the market was done by Trov USA, a.k.a. POGS in 1994, which manufactured 400,000 pogs, nationally distributed, using the Slouch In The Couch characters.  The pogs met with enormous success.

 

While our market testing was not done in the usual scientific manner, we do know that the results confirm that our stories, characters and music appeal to children and adults alike.  We, at “The Slouch & Friends, Inc.,” also realize that the time is right to make the maximum use of television potential.  With current technical advances as they are, hundreds of new television channels are slated to become available in the near future.  Producing television programming which includes education, moral values, family importance, and nonviolent behavior, which is presented in a humorous, adventurous format, shall give parents alternative viewing for their children.

 

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

 

In order to realize our above goals, we need the revenue required for video and music production.  We have been successful so far, using our own resources, which has enabled us to publish three books, 3 music CD’s, 2 educational interactive computer CD’s and three Music Videos.  Please click on the word “Donation” below to help us produce future projects as well as “The Children’s Corner” educational television program.  This will direct you to Paypal.  Our merchant e-mail address is: stephenj@slouch.org.  The other Icons will take you to the “Slouch” webpage,  the “Slouch Books” order page, the “Slouch In The Couch Children’s Corner Band” website, and the CD’s ordering page.  Thanks for taking your time to consider helping us. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

 

 

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