Giving kids the tools to create what they imagine
At My Small Factory children design shows, cartoons and videos
BY CARA SCHULTZ Correspondent

"Edward! Elephant Trainer to the World" (an Isabella production)

FAIR HAVEN - The red velvet ropes draped between brass rods that cordon off a VIP red carpet are just like those in Hollywood, but this time, they're for pint-sized producers and creative types.

The movie premiere props set the scene at My Small Factory Production, a unique business launched just five months ago in Fair Haven by locals Chris Dudick and Tim Bennet.

My Small Factory Productions allows children to run away with their imaginations and create and produce their own cartoons, TV shows and rock videos. The unique business, which combines traditional art, music and storytelling with cutting-edge software, has a Web site: www.mysmallfactory.com.

"We're a TV and music production studio for kids; basically, they are the bosses, they are the executive producers, they are the head of everything," Dudick said.

Dudick, 27, of Fair Haven, is an illustrator, cartoonist, graphic designer, animator and writer whose true passion is animation. He gained his production experience at Nickelodeon cable television network in New York City, where he was involved with both sound effects and music, and has worked on children's shows for Nickelodeon, Nicktoons and Cartoon Network.

"The Adventures of Hoppie Brown and Leapy Green" (an Anna, Gabby, Kate & Lexi production)

Bennet, 26, of Holmdel, has a solid background in today's music, whether touring with an indie band, writing reviews or working in the studio. He has a wide range of musical tastes, instrument skills and a passion for putting the fun and creativity back into recording and music.

The idea for the business sprouted from a babysitting experience, explained Dudick, who was spending time with his three younger cousins when he asked them to use their imaginations and draw characters. He then recorded their individual voices for the characters and put it all together; his cousins laughed with delight at the result.

"Hearing their voice come back out of a character that they made was incredible for them. That was kind of how it started," he said.

Tim Bennet and Chris Dudick

The atmosphere at Small Factory Productions is professional yet comfortable, encompassing a producer's lounge, a top-notch recording booth, a drawing station and several Apple computers with professional programs and software. A refrigerator with snacks is also provided to create a homey space.

The process at Small Factory Productions begins with children brainstorming ideas together, with an average group of about four children. They create and draw their own characters and fabricate their own plot lines with imaginative dialogue.

Every activity encompasses each individual child. The final product consists of several characters with each child's distinctive creative input.

The next step is the recording process. With the assistance of Bennet, the children take turns recording their own voices in a professional soundproof recording studio.

The young producers and creators range from 3 to 14 years old. The younger children are mainly involved with the creative process, while the older children aged 10 to 14 create animation on the computers themselves.

"Ducky the Duck" (a Lea, Billy, Jacob & Billy production)

The TV and music production sessions range from $40 to $50 per class. Parents can choose to enroll their children, in as many as seven classes at 45 minutes per class or as few as four classes at 90 minutes per class and other options are available.

Each child gets a copy of their own project on a DVD at the end of their session. The final projects are showcased at a celebritylike premiere where VIP members, consisting of family and friends, are invited to the studio and gather in the producer's lounge. Champagne glasses are handed out with sparkling apple cider and an official plaque is uncovered on the wall of fame.

"These projects are all broadcastable; you can actually put this on television," Dudick said.

Dudick and Bennet also work with autistic children. They help them add their own input to the sketches of the cartoon characters.

"They have a lot of input on everything, whether its an exact character or lines from the script," Dudick said.

"Fizz the Robot" (a Lea, Billy, Danny & Jacob production)

Small Factory Productions is also branching out to children in schools. Recently, the team visited a first grade class at Holy Cross School in Rumson. During the first class, Dudick and Bennet sat with the children, brainstorming ideas for a story. The next day they returned with scripts and music for the animated story. All 23 students were involved with either drawing or recording for the cartoon. The finished cartoon incorporated an original song written and sung by all the children in the class.

"Basically they have been watching television shows that adults have been making since the beginning of time and now they have access to create their own stuff," Dudick said. "Now they realize, 'It's time for us to rule the world, we can make anything and do anything here,' " Dudick said.