Another TV show if you're interested... Here's the announcement:
Leopard Films USA is currently looking for male-run daycares, stay-at-home dad networks, and "Daddy and Me" playgroups to profile and feature in a new day-in-the-life documentary series for a top cable company. For this family-friendly TV show, we are looking for dads who are willing to share their day to day experiences as a stay-at-home father, or as a dad who actively runs a daycare/playgroup. If you or your organization is interested, please contact Elyse Wilson at elyse.wilson@leopardfilms.com
Update 11/20/20008...Here's some additional description I got from them (this also matches with Mike Stilwell's comments below). This sounds encouraging and worth supporting:
This is 100% an observational documentary series that follows the group and tells the story from their perspective. What would be exciting is the compelling narratives told from the fathers themselves, for a new perspective into what it's really like for a father to take on the role that has been "traditionally" left for the mom. This show would look to break down these stereotypes in a way that hasn't been shown on television yet. Along the lines of Jon and Kate plus 8 and Little People, Big World - this show would not look to make fun of or embarrass people that are regular, everyday people but who can be in a sometimes different situation than the majority.
If you participate or find out more, please post a comment here.
productions
List of Leopard Film's productions here:
http://www.leopardfilms.com/productions.html
Couple of Things
We were contacted by this company to submit a profile tape for this show they are working on. The description the producer told me was for a show that TLC was working on, similar to; Little People, Big World - My 17 kids - Jon & Kate Plus 8. Our group was also contacted by a development director from TLC/Discovery Productions with the same information and advice on how to submit a video tape of your group.
The TLC director explained that the piece would be a tastefully done show promoting dads, but I know that some in our community would have a little trouble with the dad run daycare aspect that the producer used, but the TLC director said they really want an ahd dads group to use for the show. The director also said that the show is in the very early development stage and nothing is certain at all. I know that the Milwaukee dads submitted a tape as well as our group.
With all these things you have to go in with a fair amount of skepticism, but you never know, it could be a good show. I like Little People, Big World, it's a good show. It's possible that a show about an ahd group could be done well, could be, right?
Mike Stilwell
Daddyshome, Inc.
DC Metro Dads
I'd be extremely wary
I've done a few interviews, and one magazine photo shoot, which involved very contrived setups of me folding laundry, searching the fridge with a phone to my ear and an empty pot in one hand -- yeah, all very stereotypical, like a male "Rosie the Riveter." Never again.
TLC is not alone in it's digital updating of the classic midway freak show, but it is definitely one of the pioneers. Show about a family on a farm? Not interesting, but wait! Their dwarfs! Ooooooo! Get yer tickets right here, folks! Step inside to see the family with 17 kids! And their evangelical creationists, too! Ooooooo! See the 1000-pound man, followed by celebrities in rehab! It's ok to stare, folks -- it's is all in the name of e-d-u-c-a-t-i-o-n!
Now, so as not to get a bad nose bleed from up here on my ivory tower, I must say I too like to watch a good cable tv freak show now and then, I just don't want to be one of the freaks.
That Homeschooling Dad
Homeschool Hut