Press release from Sticky Pictures
Me and My Monsters, a 26 x 30 minute live action children’s entertainment series from Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd, The Jim Henson Company Ltd and Sticky Pictures Pty Ltd is currently in pre-production in Sydney, Australia with production scheduled for early May 2010.
The series has been commissioned by BBC CBBC in the UK, ZDF (Germany) and Network Ten and Nickelodeon Australia. Distribution is being handled by BBC Worldwide.
The Jim Henson Company (UK) and Tiger Aspect Productions are working in partnership with Australia’s Sticky Pictures on this UK/Australian co-production.
"Me and My Monsters" tells the story of the Carlson family who have recently relocated from Australia to the UK to discover there are three out of control and hilarious monsters living in their basement. For ten-year old Eddie Carlson, these houseguests are the best three friends a kid could have, but they are also three more rowdy kids for Eddie’s working Mom, a constant source of chaos and stress for his highly-strung Dad and an ongoing embarrassment for his teenage sister.
"Me and My Monsters" is created by Mark Grant ("Perfect World," BBC and "Star," ITV). The comedy stars human actors and three monster puppets developed by the world-renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop(tm) ("Where the Wild Things Are," "Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy"). The series is Executive Produced by Tiger Aspect’s Greg Brenman and Rebecca de Souza, The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and Donna Andrews of Sticky Pictures. Sticky Pictures ("Pearlie", "Dennis & Gnasher") and Baker Coogan Productions will produce.
The series has attracted some of the best comic writing talent in the UK including Mark Grant himself, Larry Rickard, George Sawyer, Huckerbee and Ostler, Tom Basden, Sam Leifer and James Bachman.
"’Me and My Monsters’ fits perfectly with the irreverent productions The Jim Henson Company is best known for," said Lisa Henson, of The Jim Henson Company Ltd "We especially love the challenge of creating outrageous and silly characters that through great performance and storytelling can connect with audiences of all ages around the world. Our team of artists and builders are already working to ensure that the series’ monsters meet our fans’ expectations and truly become every kid’s favourite playmates."
Greg Brenman, Executive Producer and Tiger Aspect’s Head of Drama said, "’Me and My Monsters’ is undoubtedly one of our most exciting projects ever. The international dynamic involving the collaboration of so many talented experts promises to deliver great characters, great stories and all-round fantastic entertainment with boundless global appeal."
Justine Flynn, Sticky Pictures’ Head of Live Action and Producer on ‘Me and My Monsters’ said, "We are very excited to be launching the Sticky Pictures Live Action slate with ‘Me and My Monsters.’ This is a wonderfully strong comedy project and we’re thrilled to be working with such incredible co-production partners."
Sue Nott, who is the executive for the series from the BBC, said: "It’s a comedy that hinges on the relationship between the young boy in the family and the monsters. It’s very visual and it’s got that Henson look, which will work right across the CBBC age range."
"This is an exciting collaboration between some of the world’s finest producers of children’s television, which Nick kids are bound to embrace," said Katrina Southon, General Manager of Nickelodeon Australia. "The concept of following ex-pat Aussie kids’ adventures in the UK gives the series a unique international appeal. And of course, with Henson’s puppet mastery providing the very entertaining monsters, we’re confident that ‘Me and My Monsters’ is a hit show in the making."
Cherrie Bottger, Head of Children’s Programming, Network Ten, Australia said, "Network Ten is thrilled to be a partner in this high concept, fantasy, children’s comedy ‘Me and My Monsters.’ It is a wonderfully entertaining series and with the combination of children and monsters playing such a major role in the narrative I have no doubt this series will be compelling viewing for our audience."
About Tiger Aspect Productions Limited
Tiger Aspect Productions is internationally recognised as one of the UK’s most successful and prolific independent television producers. The company portfolio includes animation, comedy, drama, entertainment and factual genres.
Tiger creates a wide range of critically acclaimed and award-winning programming for all the UK’s major terrestrial and non-terrestrial broadcasters. In addition the company’s creative output now enjoys an increasingly high profile in the USA through its commissions for major stateside networks.
Tiger’s production slate includes primetime mainstream successes for BBC1 and ITV such as Robin Hood (3 series), Murphy’s Law (4 series), Mr Bean, The Vicar of Dibley, Benidorm, The Catherine Tate Show, Harry Enfield and Charlie and Lola (www.charlieandlola.com)
Other hits have included Ross Kemp In Afghanistan (a follow-up to the BAFTA-winning Ross Kemp On Gangs for Sky One), Horne and Corden (BBC3), Ladies of Letters (ITV3) and Abi Morgan’s BAFTA-winning drama White Girl for BBC2.
Tiger’s programming is built on our relationship with the best on offer in UK talent. The company’s belief in nurturing and supporting creativity on every level means that Tiger consistently attracts the UK’s ultimate in on-screen, writing and production talent.
About The Jim Henson Company Limited
Together with its sister company, The Jim Henson Company Inc, it has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, the Henson group has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy(r) nominated "Sid the Science Kid," "Dinosaur Train" and "Pajanimals." Features include "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables" and television productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series "Farscape."
Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, The Jim Henson Company Inc is also home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop(tm), a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Jim Henson Company Inc most recently launched "Wilson and Ditch: Digging America," a online experience for PBSKIDS.org featuring the Company’s Emmy-winning animation technology. The Jim Henson Company Inc has also announced the April 1 premiere of its live show "Stuffed and Unstrung" from Henson Alternative at Union Square Theatre in New York City. http://www.henson.com
About Sticky Pictures Pty Ltd:
Sticky Pictures is a creative-driven Australian production company dedicated to the development, financing and production of innovative, high quality animation and live action properties for the world market.
Recent productions include the international hit series "Pearlie" (26 x 24 mins), a co-production with Nelvana Studio for Network TEN and YTV Canada, and "Dennis & Gnasher" (52 x 12 mins) based on the iconic UK comic strip in association with Red Kite Animation UK for Nine Network and BBC UK.
Sticky Pictures is a founding partner in Australia/Asia distribution company Mango Distribution. Mango focuses on children and family properties and currently distributes a small slate of exceptional programs including Word World, Invisible Network of Kids (I.N.K.) and Pearlie throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Further information on Sticky can be found at: www.stickypictures.tv