Millcaster Tales 'video' version vies for Archers fame 4

IT | 14 Apr 2010

KnowHow NonProfit has upgraded its Millcaster Tales soap opera from a written to a "video" production in the hope of becoming "the Archers of the voluntary sector", with the aid of one of ITV’s drama writers.

Advertised as "a docu-drama of everyday folk in the voluntary and community sector", the relaunch markets Millcaster Tales as "now in video"; however it lacks the fundamental element of a video…moving pictures.

KnowHow NonProfit is a charity information service and as a registered charity itself was granted a Big Lottery Fund grant in 2008 to fund its website communications.

The charity employed the skills of ITV drama writer Steve Trafford to develop a screenplay for the new “animated” version of Millcaster Tales in an attempt to popularise the series after 14 Tales and 30 written episodes.

But instead of the expected animations, the first of the new productions, ‘Broken Biscuits’, features a series of still images, and the occassional zoom or pan.

But despite the curious "animation", the series has been taken up by the Guardian’s society pages and will be shown on a fortnightly basis.

KnowHow NonProfit chief executive Sahara Quli told Charity Technology Trust she hoped Millcaster Tales could become "the Archers of the voluntary sector".

Directory: Big Lottery Fund | KnowHow NonProfit

Place a comment

Ciara
Student
N/A
14 Apr 2010

I think Millcaster Tales is a fantastic alternative learning resource.

It's a great way of attracting a younger audience to get involved with the charity sector.

[Reply]

Luke Chaput
Content Manager
KnowHow NonProfit
14 Apr 2010

Just to put everyone's minds at rest, Millcaster Tales is put together on a shoe string budget thanks to alot of pro bono input from a very talented creative team.

Millcaster Tales reflects KnowHow NonProfit's commitment to finding new and interesting ways to bring serious charity issues to the fore. Not everyone engages with important funding or governance issues through sobre report and analysis. Millcaster Tales is for these people - who are traditionally left out of important sector debate and discussion.

So, whilst fun and occasionally light-hearted, Millcaster Tales is first and foremost a springboard for discussion on key issues in the sector.

As for whether we should invest more or less in the animation, well it seems opinion is split! For now, we're very happy with what we are very comfortable to call a video.

[Reply]

Shiree Kelly
N/A
N/A
14 Apr 2010

So this 'film' has been funded by a grant from the Big Lottery Fund? What an interesting choice of 'good cause' for BIG to support - I assume this means there are no more diseases to cure, no more poverty to eliminate or vulnerable people to look after in the world? That's a relief!

Seriously though, could someone please enlighten me as to what the public benefit is of such a project?

[Reply]

John
Chair
BMC
14 Apr 2010
Response to [Shiree Kelly]

I just watched and enjoyed Broken Biscuits and would have left it at that had I had not seen the comment below asking about the public benefit of this project. It seemed not to allow for such a joyful and lighthearted representation of the serious issues many charities face. "Are there no diseases to cure no more poverty to elminate" reminded me of Dickens when Ebeneezer is approached for a small donation towards some comfort and cheer, demanding "are there no prisons, are there no workhouses?"

[Reply]

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