Welcome to Al and Kai’s Faboo News

“Make Your Own Work” is a Wise and Repeated Refrain from Media Insiders. And They’re Right. So I Did. Here’s the Scoop,…

Trailer from the Pilot Episode: “Water”.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/al-and-kai-s-faboo-news-positive-news-for-kids#/

In February 2023 I happened to be chatting to a producer friend when the subject of things I’d “always fancied making” came up. My mind went back to a time, as a child, when I’d wished that there was a news chanel or newspaper that only concentrated on the stuff that was going right. After the enormous fuckups that were Brexit, Trump and COVID, the idea had been prickling me.

When the *CENSORED FOR SENSITIVE DISPOSITIONS* Andrew Tate came into my eyeline upon his arrest, the idea focused further.

So much of what we see in the media is focused on clickbait doom-mongering and endless wars that, as a father, I worry deeply about the effect this has on my children when I chat these through with my wife, and when they stumble across mentions of news stories elsewhere.

Seeing what Tate had done to his audience of largely adolescent young boys, who had lived through the turmoil of the last decade and soaked in the hopelessness of it all, I was – putting it mildly – livid.

We need to do better as a society. We needed to offer our children a little bloody hope.

I mentioned this and he instantly lit up at the idea I was pitching: a news show for children that told the reverse of the mainstream durge. A show that demonstrated that actually, if you scratch beneath the surface, a lot of things are going really, really well. His enthusiasm heartened me.

When rumblings that there would be a lull in opportunities began to appear, due to the breakdown in talks between SAG/AFTRA and US Studios, I designed and commissioned two puppets from the brilliant Joe Peek and set to planning.

In July 2023, Collette Knowles and I started shooting outside broadcast footage for a pilot.

Other work interfered a bit (Pooh 2) and there was a mountain of trial and error on the technical side of thing so it was September before the Pilot wrapped. Al and Kai’s Faboo News existed.

So what exactly is it?

Al – an excitable 10 year old Anteater – and his co-adopted sister Kai – a 5 year old Capybara – have roped in their TV Producer Dad and crafts-person “Mom” to help shoot their own TV show in their basement. Combined with crafts, storytelling, outside broadcasts and a heap of anarchic Muppet-style mishaps, they somehow get a new show on the road every week, bringing only positive news stories to life.

The 27 Minute Pilot was a test bed for the idea, which we then took to other creatives and, essentially, tried out on kids, to refine what was working and not working in the concept. Investment sprang up and fell away as inflation bit so we decided to Crowdfund the show.

Which is where we come to now.

And why I am going to point you back to this link, just launched, where you can watch the Pilot, see a scene we remounted based on feedback and see just what goes into making a show like this. And if you can, and you love the idea of the show as much as I do, join us in launching Series 1 by backing the show and picking up a perk.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/al-and-kai-s-faboo-news-positive-news-for-kids#/

Al and Kai will be having a sit down chinwag with Zippy from Rainbow at the May Fayre in Covent Garden, London, on the 12th of May so come along for that too.

And yes,… I’m still auditioning for other bits and bobs. Including a movie role I had to sign and NDA for,… so I can’t tell you about it. hum.

Updates will keep flooding in. Stay Frosty!

Tim

Breakout TV Role,…

So Near,…

Photo by Martin Lopez on Pexels.com

Well it has been a newsworthy start to the year! Let me catch you up on some details and then head into the main headline.

First up, in January I was seen for The Dukes Theatre’s nationally recognised Play In The Park (This year: “Around The World in 80 Days”) I pitched for the bad guy and had a lot of fun with it, sneering and stabbing a cane at Fogg’s feet. In the end, they went with someone else but it’s always fun to work with the terrific Sarah Punshon – even if just for an audition.

A lovely afternoon and wonderful feedback.

Jobs that would have taken me to Alton Towers, the Caribbean, Edinburgh and beyond zipped into my audition inbox. Some have, sadly, clashed with other work, others have been taped with gusto. A good mix of Theatre, TV, Film and Adverts!

I’m still waiting to hear back on three of those jobs but, while we wait, let’s talk about the headline news.

When Channel 4 Come Calling,…

In early March I got a call from my agent to ask for my availability across the whole of May – apparently, Channel 4 wanted to know. This piqued my curiosity as it’s rare to have a month set aside for any TV unless it’s something big. A month on set is far more than is needed for a guest role or day player so I was being sounded out for something more.

Now, the show itself hasn’t yet been officially announced and there are a lot of legal bits and bobs to observe so I’m not going into any specifics on the project or the part. What I can say is, however, that I was being approached for the lead role – on a prime time miniseries for network TV.

Which is kinda mind-blowing.

I’ve auditioned for a good chunk of TV over the years but my first small screen role has eluded me. To have a Casting Director ask to see me for a lead role on TV without any TV on my CV is virtually unheard of. But here it was: a tape request in my inbox.

No pressure.

Reading the casting brief helped me to see what it was about me specifically had caught their attention – I was ticking a couple of boxes. My job was to demonstrate that I was worth their interest.

I read the sides, made my choices, polished my accent and taped one of my most confident dramatic auditions. I felt good, I felt right for the part: I was more than happy with the work I put on screen.

Turns out so were they.

A few days later news came through that they wanted to see me for it – I had a recall.

Down to London, new sides to learn – directors and producers to persuade.

I could feel the character – something in my bones connected with the part – but I was aware that there were other ways to approach it. I took my run at it, my instinct as an actor leading me, but also kept alternative ideas bubbling away.

When it came to my time in the room I presented 4 takes – my take, two alternatives from Director’s notes and one from the Producer. I’d prepped, I was ready.

I gave it my very best shot and the feedback couldn’t have been more complimentary. I practically danced away from Spotlight Studios that day,… But I knew the biggest hurdle was out of my control.

I had no TV credits,… and the producers higher up at Channel 4 had to give their perspective. It was between me an another and it was more than likely my compatriot had more TV experience.

I was a risk. An unknown. Frankly, a Nobody on the grand stage.

Producers have a lot of money riding on projects like this. They have to trust that the person they hang a show on is going to work out. Thats entirely logical and perfectly understandable.

I’d done my bit to persuade them but I knew that I was pushing uphill. I had to trust that my work would be enough to overcome their concern. Would it be enough?

Sadly, A week later the news came through that they’d “gone in another direction” (a sweet way of letting us actors down gently). But I’d got so close.

I could get upset or moan or get depressed. Certainly, I wasn’t the happiest bunny the next day. But what is the good of that? Moping gets you nowhere and you need a thick hide as an actor!

I learned from the experience. I was proud of my work. I know that I’d proven to the creatives in the room that I COULD lead a major TV miniseries. That kind of recognition and self-belief is priceless.

With renewed confidence in my ability, I reached out to Casting Directors and met with my Agent.

This is just the start.

I don’t have the TV credits to land a lead? Okay – I redouble my efforts to get them. No use being proud or big headed about it: I need guests roles and day player parts. I need time in front of cameras at TV speed so that’s what I’m going to do.

A Lead role might not land again for me for years but I’m damn sure going to be ready for it when it does.

Subscribe and follow me on all the socials (@timaustin2k on Twitter and tim_john_austin on Instagram) to see what happens next,…

Stay frosty,

T x