Six months and 15 days following Superstorm Sandy’s destruction, many families in communities across the Jersey Shore have yet to return home. In an effort to help children still experiencing the emotional affects of being displaced by the storm, Small Factory Productions in Fair Haven, NJ organized one of its Emmy-Winning Kids Kare Create-a-Cartoon workshops to bring together a small group of area kids for a day of healing and creative fun. The workshop was made possible by a generous grant from the Jay Dooley Memorial Foundation.

On May 4-5 the children, who ranged in ages from 5 to 12, worked as a group to create their original animated cartoon short. The workshop began with the group learning about how a cartoon is created, then Small Factory’s Executive Producer Chris Dudick and Dr. Alison Block, a licensed psychologist from Little Silver, NJ, worked with the children to develop their individual characters by asking them questions that got ideas forming and imaginations flowing.

Each child brought his or her individual character to life with colors, sounds and a script. Characters include the narrator Buffalo the Dog, Lauren the Mom, Bob the Dad, Andrew the Boy, Autumn the Girl, the helpers Sean and Charlotte, Bobo the Cat, the House, Joe the Construction Worker and Hurricane Sandy. Villain Sandy damaged the house, but the children were quick to add that she was only doing her job as a storm. The children unanimously titled the cartoon, “Storm Sandy: Staying Afloat.” Following the creation and recording of the children’s voices, the group also wrote and sang an original theme song.

Small Factory’s animators are in the process of creating the final cut of the cartoon. Visit  www.mysmallfactory.com shortly for news on the date, time and location for the cartoon’s red carpet premiere. Family, friends and the community are invited to attend. “Storm Sandy: Staying Afloat” will be available on www.mysmallfactory.com.

In an ironic twist of fate, in August 2011 the New York City Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) contracted Small Factory Productions to create cartoons based on the principles of “Ready Schools” to teach school children about preparing for emergencies. Over the course of two weeks, staff from OEM and Small Factory helped children in grades 3-5 at the Police Athletic League in the Rockaways to create original cartoon characters, scripts and songs for two cartoons entitled “Ready, Set, Prepare” and “Emergency Experts.” Both debuted at OEM’s “Partners in Preparedness” reception on September 26, 2011 at the American Museum of Natural History.

About Small Factory Productions
Since 2008, Small Factory Productions, located at 560 River Road, Suite C in Fair Haven, NJ, has helped to build innovative young minds through its Emmy-Nominated children’s arts and technology programs. Small Factory’s instructors have created exciting arts programs that meet NJ and NY Core Content Standards for Language Arts, Literacy and Visual and Performing Arts. Students in classes at Small Factory’s production studio, and at more than 30 public and private schools across New York and New Jersey, have improved, both academically and socially, thanks to Small Factory’s unique curriculum.

Dudick compares his system of levels to karate belts or scout badges for young artists. His students proudly boast VIP lanyards and white, red, blue and black colored shirts featuring the titles Production Assistant, Director, Producer and Executive Producer. “It’s awesome to see the excitement the kids have about the new levels. We have some students who have been with us for a few years now and to see them proudly wear the Small Factory Executive Producer shirts around the studio is what it’s all about,” said Chris Dudick, Small Factory Productions. “I want to give them the confidence to follow their passions and dream big. I know we have the next Stephen Spielberg in our studio!”

Dudick opened Small Factory Productions in 2007. The space is based on a professional television and music production studio and combines traditional art, music and storytelling with cutting edge software. Dudick graduated from Monmouth University with a degree in Graphic Design and Photography and a Master’s Degree in Education. He has worked on children’s shows for Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Cartoon Network and AOL.

Today, his studio has succeeded at thinking big, celebrating an Emmy and Telly win in 2012 and offers a robust schedule of classes, workshops and camps for toddlers to teens. Recently, one of Small Factory’s students was accepted into New York University. Dudick helped the teen to create a strong portfolio of work based on her animated studio projects created over the years at Small Factory. Dudick could not be prouder.

Small Factory Open House, Saturday, April 13th, 1:00-6:00 p.m.
Interested students can visit the Small Factory Productions studio on Saturday, April 13th from 1:00-6:00 p.m. for its Open House. They will be giving out info on Summer Camps and the new levels program, plus plenty of other fun activities. Visit anytime throughout the day. A schedule of activities is available on the website.

Bring a donation of art supplies and receive a free Kids Night Out Pass ($25 value). Donations will be presented to the ArtWorks Foundation, which, in partnership with Small Factory, brings creative arts workshops to children in NYC and NJ hospitals.

Small Factory is located at 560 River Road in Fair Haven and features a professional recording studio, computer and music rooms, and an open space perfect for lounging, rocking out, making art and watching movies.

Register for the Open House at smallfactory@mysmallfactory.com or call 732-212-1088.

Every Sunday in April
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
$12 an hour, $20 for 2 hours
Siblings receive a 15% discount

Space is LIMITED
Call to Register 732-212-1088

Come earlier for Minecraft from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
for an additional $20

Minecraft Every Sunday in April
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
$10 an hour

Creative Mode only!
Space is LIMITED
Must Pre-Register
Call 732-212-1088

Stay for Bricks 4 Kidz open play
from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm for an additional $20

Come and join us Saturday April 13th for our Open House. We will be giving out info on our Summer Camps & our new Levels Program, plus plenty of other fun activities!

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Foreign language activities, music & fun with LEGOs (Ages 3 – 7)

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Q&A with parents about Levels Program & Arts Enrichment. Activities in Animation, Video, Music Production and Acting (Ages 5 & up)

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Social Skills Activities for All Abilities (Ages 5 – 17)

• Get a $25 Off Coupon for stopping by! Use it with Early Registration by April 15th and you will receive $50 off any camp! One time only!

• Bring a donation of crayons, sketch pads, and markers and receive a complimentary Kids Night Out Pass as well! ($25 Value)!

• Donations will be presented to ArtWorks, The Naomi Cohain Foundation. Together, we provide creative arts workshops for kids in NYC/NJ hospitals.

• Space is limited! Register for the Open House! email us at smallfactory@mysmallfactory.com or call us at 732.212.1088

Small Factory Productions
560 River Road Ste C • Fair Haven, NJ 07704

Download Open House flyer >

Join our very own acting coach Miss Ellen as the class will help bring to life a children’s animated classic. During the eight week class our student actors will create, act, sing, and even dance a little while bringing the chosen childhood classic in a live performance. Students will also participate in the creation of costumes and props. The class will end with a production on stage for family members and friends to come and see!

Spring Class scheduled to start week of 4/12
Performance dates at end of session TBD.

$275 per 8 week session

Fridays
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Register >

April 1st – April 5th
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: $189
Ages: 6+

How do LEGO® brick model-designers come up with their ideas? Where do they begin, and how do the ideas go from concept to completion? This camp will explore the creative process of model design. Campers will learn the function of different LEGO® components and discover how those components can work together to create all kinds of solid structures and moving parts. At the completion of the camp, each child will have the opportunity to present his or her own design.

*All Campers take home a custom mini-figure at the end of the week.

Call 732-212-1088 to register

This is a bit about the program: The process of creating a cartoon begins with a group discussion of what goes into creating a cartoon, such as the characters, settings, sounds, problems and solutions. The Small Factory instructors then work with the children to develop the characters by asking them questions to get ideas forming so they can actually create the characters on their own. The instructors then explain that the characters cannot be something that already exists on television or in a movie. Characters will be developed their imagination.

From there, the children explain what kind of characters they would like to see in their story. Once they come up with a few different characters, the children vote on which ones will be used in the cartoon. Then, the instructors and children work together to decide who will create each character. Each child draws their character and then roles are established. The children and instructors work together to write a story and script, and then the children record their voices and theme song for the cartoon. Finally, we will host a Red Carpet event in the studio or off-site to showcase the young producers’ new cartoon. Family, friends and the community will be invited.

View sample cartoons from the Kids Kare series

Please email Jennifer Smiga at jen@inbloomcomm.com for more information.

The Holiday Express mission is to deliver music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Creative Kids Caring! Small Factory Preschoolers Donate to Holiday Express