Cool kids dancing for a cool cause
Dozens of local kids cut up a rug at Buzzards Play Productions on Saturday as part of the filming of the finale to "Cool Stuff: Dolphins," an educational television and web program.
"Cool Stuff: Dolphins" is part of a series put together by Purple Turtle Productions, a Lakeville-based production crew that creates content for local non-profits and other organizations.
"Our goal is to provide exposure to non-profits that wouldn't have the funds to provide this information themselves," said Gregg Seibert, president of Purple Turtle Productions. "We want to showcase their mission."
The first installment of the "Cool Stuff" series was 2011's "Cool Stuff: Sea Turtles," a program that was filmed at and showcases the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay.
That video teaches kids about the sea turtles that live in the northeast and the importance of the rescue and conservation efforts of marine life. The video is also available for purchase from the National Marine Life Center with all proceeds benefiting the NMLC's marine animal rehabilitation programs.
"Cool Stuff: Dolphins" is a continuation of the educational marine life series and was mostly filmed on Cape Cod last summer. Saturday's session afforded kids the opportunity to be featured as extras in the opening and closing credits of the program.
The New Bedford-based Toe Jam Puppet Band provided the tunes for kids to sing and dance with during the film session on Saturday afternoon.
Seibert said he saw a production that was put on at Buzzards Play in the past and, after meeting Buzzards Play co-owner Janice Rogers, knew he wanted to bring his film crew there.
"Janice is sensational to work with," Seibert said.
"Everybody is local, the film crew, the band, it's great to help out the local talent," said Rogers.
Ashley Rodrigues, an associate producer of the program, said the eventual goal is to produce a number of videos in the Cool Stuff series and try to pitch it as a children's series to networks such as ABC Family or PBS.
For more information on Purple Turtle Productions, head to http://turtleone.com/