HOW CAN A NO STRINGS VIDEO HELP MY ORGANIZATION?
No Strings Productions will work with your organization to produce a video or video series that is uniquely entertaining and compelling. We can be involved in any part of the production process from the conceptualization and script writing to the filming of the video(s) and development of the outreach program.
CAN WE JUST HAVE A VIDEO AND NO OUTREACH?
Yes, we recommend outreach, but it is not required. We will work with you to create a custom program or on any part of the process that you are interested in. This can include puppet building and the manipulation workshop to a fully conceived and produced program. Our goal is to help you fulfill your mission. For further information, please contact us.
DO I HAVE TO BE A NOT FOR PROFIT TO MAKE A VIDEO?
No. We have No Strings Productions for all not for profit work but we also have another company called Little Ping Productions which can make any video that is for commercial or other use.
HOW CAN WE CONTACT YOU?
To contact us about your project, please go to our contact page.
HOW DO AUDIENCES SEE THE PRODUCTION?
The funding or commissioning organization and their partners are responsible for making the videos available to audiences in the beneficiary countries. No Strings Productions Pilot Projects will develop new works to show in many types of venues or media.
HOW LONG ARE THE VIDEOS?
The videos can be any length, but we have found that short segments ranging from 5 to 15 minutes are most effective, particularly with young children.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PRODUCE?
The production time depends on the complexity of the material and the number of episodes in the series. We generally estimate from 4 to 8 months to conceive of, write, produce and edit and single video or short series.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES NO STRINGS REACH?
This number varies depending on location.
For example, In Afghanistan, up to 5,000 people are shown the video per week through a fleet of five media motorbikes fitted with video players, plus many thousands are exposed through other media.
In the test province of Rizal, Philippines 5 No Strings workshop graduates have trained hundreds of their own colleagues, each working in very large schools in a region threatened by a range of natural disasters. The Department of Education aims to reach every child in every elementary and secondary school in the country with the No Strings’ Tales of Disasters series over the coming years.
Many additional training sessions led by former workshop participants have taken place in South East Asia, most notably Burma , but also in Indonesia and East Timor, and sub-Saharan Africa (Zimbabwe being a particularly dynamic region) so that new facilitators are able to reach target numbers of children, young people and community members on an ever-growing basis.
HOW MUCH INPUT WILL MY ORGANIZATION OR I HAVE IN THE CONTENT, DESIGN AND STORYLINE OF THE VIDEO ?
Your organization will determine the primary message of the video(s) and will continue to have input throughout the process, including the approval of scripts, character design and the development of follow-up materials. Our purpose is to provide you with an end product that meets your needs.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST PER VIDEO?
The cost per video will vary depending on the complexity of the material. In addition, designing puppets and sets for a single video or series is a fixed cost, so the more videos produced using the same sets and puppets, the lower the cost per video. No Strings Productions will work with your organization to create a video or series that works within your budget.
IN WHAT COUNTRIES ARE NO STRINGS PRODUCTIONS SHOWN?
NO STRINGS videos are being screened in: Afghanistan, Indonesia, East Timor, the Philippines, Cambodia, Burma, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Syria and Iraq.
INTO WHAT LANGUAGES HAVE NO STRINGS PRODUCTIONS BEEN DUBBED?
Afghanistan: Dari and Pashtu
Haiti: Creole and French
Indonesia and East Timor: Bahasa Indonesian, Timorese, and Acehnese
Philippines: Tagalog, Bisaya, Ilocano, and Waray
Cambodia: Khmer
Myanmar: Bamar, Kachin, Shan and Karen
Sub-Saharan Africa: Luganda, Swahili, Kikongo, French, Lingala, Portuguese and Shona
Syria: Arabic
ISN’T ANIMATION CHEAPER THAN PUPPETS?
Yes, it’s true that low-end, computer animation is now cheaper than live action puppetry. However, with the live puppets there can be follow-up workshops using the messages of the videos and the art of puppetry to drive home the video’s content. A child can’t hug a cartoon on a screen, but can hug a puppet! The puppet can hug back and talk with kids. This interaction is the difference. Children and even adults tend to fully open up when engaged with a puppet. Kids can also make their own puppets, learn to do their own shows and explore the material further. Click here for more information on our workshops.
WHAT AGE GROUP ARE THE VIDEOS FOR?
We specialize in videos designed for children from ages 5 to 15 and their families. Additionally, we have also developed videos for adult audiences.
WHAT KIND OF ISSUES CAN A NO STRINGS PRODUCTION ADDRESS?
A No Strings Production can address any important issues affecting the well being of children and their families.
WHAT KINDS OF SUPPORT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE VIDEOS?
Aside from the production itself, we provide unique, one of a kind training workshops, complete with training manuals that are easy to reproduce along with a model puppet complete with building instructions. You can choose what best suits your needs.
WHAT SUBJECTS HAS NO STRINGS PRODUCTIONS ADDRESSED?
Afghanistan – Landmine Awareness and Safety, “ChuchiQhalin, Adventures of the Little Carpet Boy”
Indonesia – Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Series, “Badu” “Tales of Disaster” – Flood/landslide, Earthquake, Volcano Tsunami, Cyclone, “Two Gardens- Peace Building
Africa – HIV/AIDS, Kibii Kabooka Kibing, “24 Hour Challenge” – Gender Inequality, “Will this be your Life” – Stigma, “Do you Know It All” – Transmission
Haiti – “The Wishing Ring” – Child Protection, “Magic Heart” – Trauma, “Amazing Machine” – Public Health
Syria – “Out of the Shadows” – Trauma, “Red Top, Blue Top” – Resolving Social conflict and Peace Building
WHERE IS NO STRINGS BASED?
No Strings Productions is based in New York City, N.Y. Field Operations / Outreach is based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK. Both organizations are registered charities in their base country.
WHO DECIDES ON THE KEY MESSAGE OR CONTENT OF A PRODUCTION?
No Strings Productions will work closely with your organization, assisting you with the subject matter of the video or video series.
WHO HAS PARTNERED WITH NO STRINGS?
No Strings International (No Strings Productions and No Strings UK together) has partnered with international non-governmental organizations, their local partners and government networks. Trocaire, a leading Irish development organization, has to date been a key partner, as has CRS (the Catholic Relief Service) along with agencies such as Plan International, Save the Children, Unicef, Caritas, World Vision and Oxfam.
WHY ARE PUPPETS AND VIDEO BETTER?
Puppets are non-threatening and symbolic. They can approach dark and scary subject matter in a way that can be easily assimilated by children. They are also ‘real’, unlike animation and children can make and use their own simple puppets to extend their learning. A video can travel easily, be dubbed into any language and reach audiences of all ages almost anywhere in the world.
HAS NO STRINGS PRODUCTIONS DEVELOPED A PROJECT FOR THE USA?
As of now, we have only worked with NGOs in other countries, however we are planning to develop video projects in the USA. Some of the subjects we are considering are bullying, girls rights, HIV/AIDS, understanding autism, teen pregnancy, depression, tolerance and many others. If you would like to help us in these efforts, please consider making a donation.