Executive Summary

Gum Drop Productions Company will create educational and interactive “choose your own adventure” DVDs for children ages 3-10 covering a variety of subjects including dance, theater, music, literature, science, math, history, foreign languages, and fine arts. By engaging children with movement, speaking, and allowing them to input answers to questions, they will both be learning and be entertained. The DVDs will be sorted by both subject and level (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) that allows parents to identify a specific area in which their child may develop their skills.

Eventually, the DVD’s will include material sets, special remote controls, and books to allow for further study and easier navigation in each subject. For example, if a DVD about colonial times includes a “make your own basket” session, the set may include the materials to make a basket. Similarly, if a DVD on music included learning a short piece of music, a small keyboard remote control would be included in the set to facilitate performance.

We will begin locally by working with elementary schools in Urbana and Champaign to identify appropriate curriculum topics but plan to develop a nation-wide program. Our website will allow customers to not only purchase our DVDs but will allow them to preview short clips. However, the distribution goal is to eventually sell our products through a nation-wide retailer of educational toys, such as The Discovery Channel Store.

To reduce our initial costs, the DVDs will focus on dance and theater which include learning basic steps, simple folk dances, and lines and songs from well-known plays and musicals. By networking with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Parkland College, we will also be able to advertise age-appropriate performances. When we expand our distribution, we will continue to network with local theaters, artist organizations, and museums to encourage children and their families to further their hands on study.

Gum Drop Production Company is owned and operated by Anna Marie Coronado, Rosemary Robertson, and Vienna Willems who have extensive experience in video, dance, theater, childhood psychology, and education.