The Adventures of the After Math Crew, a 13-part children's television series to be aired on TV Ontario in the fall of 1999, started production on PEI last week. The series is hosted by Richard Zurawski, well-known for his work on the highly successful children's series Wonder Why, and takes its young audience on an exciting, fun-filled journey into the world of math.
"We want to tell the story of math. Why it's so much more than numbers and homework. Why it's actually behind much of what we see and do in our everyday lives. And, most importantly, why it's fun," said Zurawski.
The After Math project will include the production of an Interactive CD-Rom intended for use as an educational supplement. The show will also be available in the home retail market and on the Internet. Zurawski believes the combination of TV and CD-Rom will strengthen the message, helping both parents and teachers make math more fun for kids.
"Kids often lose interest in math at about the age group we're targeting. For some kids, somewhere between age eight and 12, math can stop being fun and starts becoming a chore. We believe that by telling the story of what lies behind the concepts, and how it relates to their world, we can help keep them interested a lot longer - hopefully, all their lives."
The After Math TV series is produced with financial assistance from a number of public and private sector investors. Enterprise PEI is providing a repayable $200,000 equity investment into the production. Producers Zurawski, Niall Burnett and Larry LeClair are quick to praise the cooperation and level of expertise found within the province.
"This is truly a Maritime production, with production centred in Sydney, Halifax and Charlottetown. With the support of Enterprise PEI, we have been able to take advantage of a growing talent base here on the Island to produce a series in which we can all be proud," said Burnett, who helped found Points East Productions of PEI in the early 1980s.
"It is indeed a pleasure to support this type of educational programming," said Don MacKinnon, Minister of Development for PEI. "Not only does the production employ Islanders in the fast growing film and television industry, but the end result is a fun, educational program for youth."
The After Math TV series is scheduled to be in production at the Carrefour D'Îsle Saint Jean in Charlottetown until the end of February. The series employs 21 Islanders as part of the production crew, and features more than a dozen local children in the cast.