It’s February 2020, and the crowds have started to gather in the ballroom for Camp Southern Ground, Zac Brown’s summer camp for kids. Stan Tucker is the outreach director at the camp. However, tonight, he’s hosting a fundraising gala for his non-profit, Leap For Literacy. The twins, Matthew and Jared, haul their cameras around the large room conducting interviews with joyful guests, many of whom are already willing to support the cause.

“I think a program like this allows students who traditionally may not be encouraged to read, to do so,” a man says on camera.

But despite the hopeful atmosphere, there is an undercurrent of fear in the room. In fact, it’s the same sense of anxiety one might find at any large gathering around the world. The new, novel Coronavirus is spreading at an alarming rate. In fact, there have already been talks of possible shutdowns and quarantine measures.

If this were to happen, it could mean that the schools Stan is scheduled to visit in the coming months might no longer be open. (To be continued…)

It’s February 2020, and the crowds have started to gather in the ballroom for Camp Southern Ground, Zac Brown’s summer camp for kids. Stan Tucker is the outreach director at the camp. However, tonight, he’s hosting a fundraising gala for his non-profit, Leap For Literacy. The twins, Matthew and Jared, haul their cameras around the large room conducting interviews with joyful guests, many of whom are already willing to support the cause.

“I think a program like this allows students who traditionally may not be encouraged to read, to do so,” a man says on camera.

But despite the hopeful atmosphere, there is an undercurrent of fear in the room. In fact, it’s the same sense of anxiety one might find at any large gathering around the world. The new, novel Coronavirus is spreading at an alarming rate. In fact, there have already been talks of possible shutdowns and quarantine measures.

If this were to happen, it could mean that the schools Stan is scheduled to visit in the coming months might no longer be open. (To be continued…)

“Due to government regulations, we will be closing the school for the foreseeable future,” an email from another school reads. Stan closes his laptop and breathes in a deep sigh of frustration. He glances over at his Read N’ Roll bus, which sits just outside his window. A thick blanket of Georgia’s famous snot green pollen gathers on the windows.

“Man, this is hard,” he reflects.

Even before he left his teaching job, it was Stan’s dream to spread his love of literacy to kids. In fact, he had been riding a huge wave of momentum since his appearance on the Ellen show back in October of 2019. During the program, she’d gifted him $25,000 for Leap for Literacy.

“Now what,” he murmurs to himself.

After a few minutes of some well-deserved self-pity, Stan gathers himself and sets to work solving his problem. After some reflection, he comes up with an idea that just might work. However, he can’t do it alone. He pulls out his phone and thumbs through the contacts for a bit before finding the number he’s looking for.

“I hope they go for this,” Stan says to himself as he punches the call button…

“Do we need this?” Jared asks his brother as he holds up yet another unidentifiable piece of film gear. The room was littered with relics from a bygone era of movie production. 

With the world shut down and nothing but free time, Matthew and Jared had decided it was time to clean out the studio they’d owned for nearly a decade. However, years of accumulated props and equipment have turned the ample space into something more akin to a Hollywood junk closet. 

“If we don’t need it, get rid of it,” Matthew replies. “We have to be ruthless.”

Despite everything, the pandemic had provided the twins with the rare opportunity to do a hard reset. For years, the brothers dreamed of returning to their production roots: children’s shows. In fact, back in their 20’s, the brothers had made a modest name for themselves producing content for the likes of Phil Vischer (Veggietales). But somewhere along the way, life and bills had gotten in the way, just as they always do. 

As Matthew hauls another mysterious load of junk to the dumpster, his phone vibrates. “Matthew, it’s Stan Tucker. I need your help with something.” (to be continued)

Stan, Jared, and Matthew sit across from each other in the Brothers Young Studio. 

"So, you want to do a YouTube show where you just read children's books?" Matthew asks. 

"I need a way to keep reaching out to kids while the world is shut down," Stan replies.

After some additional discussion, the three agree to start a channel called Stories with Stan. The premise is simple: Stan will read books on camera. They keep the filming really easy as well, using just a plain, gray background and a two-camera setup. One camera will focus on Stan, while another will be placed overhead, pointing down at the book. 

"Who knew that something so simple could be so frustrating to light?" Jared comments to Matthew. "It’s taken an hour just to get rid of the shadows.” 

“So what book is first?” Matthew asks Stan. 

“Oh I got a good one, a really good one,” Stan replies behind a smile.

t’s been a few weeks since Stan read “When You’re Feeling Sick” by Coy Bowles, for the first ever Stories with Stan episode.The filming set up has become routine, maybe even a little boring.

It’s been a few weeks since Stan read “When You’re Feeling Sick”  by Coy Bowles, for the first ever Stories with Stan episode.  The filming set up has become routine, maybe even a little boring.

“So what book do we have today?” Jared asks Stan.

 Stan now holds up a beautifully illustrated book. 

“It’s called, ‘What Do You Do with An Idea?’ and it’s one of my favorite books,” he says. “It’s written by a fella named Kobi Yamada. I reached out to him on Instagram, and he said I could read it.”

Matthew thumbs through the book, “The artwork is amazing.”

While the crew sets up for filming, Jared has an idea. Something that could add a little whimsy to the show.

“What if we built you a set?” Jared asks. 

“What type of set?” Stan replies with curiosity.

A carpenter stands in the center of the studio. He’s working diligently on two simple flats, extending his tape measure to ensure he has the correct height.

“It just has to be tall enough for our low-angle shots,” Matthew says. “We don’t want to see the ceiling in the studio.” 

Stan has commissioned the twins to build a simple set for Stories With Stan. After a little thought, Jared described his vision as “a colorful writing room nestled in a cozy countryside.” 

“And make sure you put wheels on it,” Matthew adds. “We have to move this thing every time we film.” 

The Brothers are in a bit of a rush. Stan has already booked the show's first guest, and he arrives next week. 

DeCorey Hale sits on a stool next to Stan, watching as a crew member makes some last-minute adjustments to the lighting.

“I think we’re about ready,” Jared says as he presses record on the camera. “Just look directly into the lens and say your name and where you’re from.”

The small crew spends the next two hours filming an interview between Stan and his first guest author. The author’s book, “Ebenezer The Sneezer,” lays comfortably in his lap

“Man, this set looks a lot bigger on camera,” DeCorey says. 

“I know. I have to be careful how much I move,” Stan replies. 

After the filming is finished, Stan pulls the twins aside.

“I want to show you something I’ve been working on,” he says. 

Stan pulls a flier from his bag and shows the twins. They look at one another the way twins do when they’re thinking the same thing. 

Matthew looks at Stan, “I think you might have something here.”

“Woah, it’s so cool,” Jaxon calls to his Mom as he admires the tiny set in the modest studio.

“I want ya’ll to meet my friend, Jaxon,” Stan says. “He wrote a book about his favorite football player, Julio Jones.”

At just six years old, Jaxon is one of the first graduates of Stan’s Share Your Story program, an eight-week course designed to teach kids how to write their own books. Jaxon’s book, If I Could Meet Julio Jones, was eventually chosen to be featured on Stories with Stan.

After some time, Jaxon finishes reading his book. He looks at Stan, and the two turn to the camera.

“You ready?” asks Stan.

Jaxon nods, and the pair say in unison, “Remember to always be kind and never judge a book - or a person - by their cover.”

Matthew, Jared, Stan, and the small crew watch as Connie Crawley reads her book, Amazing YOU!

The film lights illuminate the set behind her, and the room is incredibly quiet. In fact, it’s as if the camera itself is mesmerized by the story.

Connie finishes her book and softly closes it shut.

“How was that,” she asks.

Matthew and Jared both wipe the small tears from their eyes. The twins cry a lot.

“That was amazing, so beautifully written,” Matthew says.

“And the way you read it,” Jared adds.

Connie blushes, “Aw, thank you. Lots of practice reading books as a teacher.”

Connie Crawley spent 15 years as an elementary school teacher. Now she writes books and acts as a consultant at an educational company. However, it was plain to see that her authenticity could be something special – especially if harnessed appropriately.

Much like Stan, Connie was the real deal, and the world needed to see it.

That’s when a lightbulb went off in Jared’s head.

“Hey,” he asked Connie. “Have you ever acted before?”

Matthew and Jared Young have always enjoyed making things. As twins, it’s hardly a surprise that they make a pretty good team. Back in the first grade, they won a county-wide milk cart stacking competition. Of course, this was mainly due to the other team’s tower falling over at the last minute. Still, a win’s a win.

Both attended the University of Georgia, and - coincidentally - both fell in love with acting in the fall of their senior year. They had gotten the “bug,” so to speak. Sadly, college was coming to an end, and it was time for them to enter the “real world.”

Luckily for everyone concerned, the twins decided to forgo the corporate thing and continue painting houses until something more interesting presented itself.

“It’s called Youtube, and you can just put videos on it,” Jared says to his brother.

“And people watch them?” replies Matthew.

“Theoretically,” Jared concludes.

Always creatively restless, the brothers found a public outlet for even their wildest whims. So, for the next few years, they painted houses while also making videos for various characters they created, specifically Bill and Charles Peterson (Warning: you can still find these on Youtube).

But as the years went by, the two started to see more and more bills coming in the mail every month. And so when commercial video work called, the twins answered.

10 years later, the phone is ringing again. Once again, the twins will answer.

“This is where the door would go, and then your desk could go over here,” says Jared as he paces around the empty room.

It’s been a few months since Stories with Stan began filming. In that time, Matthew, Jared, and Stan have developed real chemistry, which, in turn, has served to spark the trio’s creative juices.

Now the group is eyeing something a little bigger: a real children’s show. Cleaning the studio has opened up some space, and with more space comes more ideas and opportunities. After all, Matthew and Jared not the types to pass up the chance to make something bigger and better.

“We can do a three-wall set, maybe 12 feet deep,” says Matthew. “That should give us plenty of space for guests to move around the room.”

With Stan’s blessing, Matthew and Jared will begin work on a brand new set.

“So, what’s the premise of the show?” Stan asks.

“No idea,” the brothers reply.

It’s 2013, and Stan Tucker is standing at the front of his second-grade classroom doing roll call. It’s his first year teaching, and he’s still getting used to the joyful chaos the mornings bring.

“OK, everyone, it’s just about book fair time,” he says. “I want ya’ll to go ahead and line up—”

Before Stan can finish, there is a tug at his shirt. A boy named Juan gathers his words.

“Mr. Tucker, um, my Mom didn’t have any extra money for books,” he says hesitantly. “So, should I just stay here?”

It was in that moment that Stan realized how important it was to eliminate financial barriers between a child and literacy. A seed had been planted inside his heart. However, he couldn’t possibly imagine where it would take him once it began to grow.

“So there’s this ancient library in the middle of this old forgotten forest,” Matthew continues. “And the legend is that the library contains every book ever written.”

Stan and Jared nod as he speaks.

“Stand wants to find this library. So he searches and searches. But when he finally gets there, it’s in shambles.”

Matthew has spent the last few days conceptualizing the premise for the trio’s new children’s show. He wants to loosely base the idea on what Stan was already doing with his Read N’ Roll bus. However, he wanted to give the concept enough room for growth.

“So, you decide to rebuild the library into a flying contraption,” Matthew says to Stan. “That way, you can visit authors all over the world.”

“I love it,” Stan replies. “And what would you call the show?”

“Stan’s Flying Book Mobile!” Matthew proclaims.

Jared, never one to mince words, curls his lips into a skeptical frown. “Meh. Name needs work.”

The “naming” process was proving to be more frustrating than anticipated. It wasn’t that Matthew, Jared, and Stan couldn’t think of anything interesting. It’s just that their options weren’t original or imaginative enough.

“I’ll bet Connie would have some ideas,” Stan suggested. “She’s pretty good with that kind of stuff.”

If you know Connie Crawley, then you know her imagination affords her the unique ability to pull interesting words from seemingly nowhere. In Stan’s mind, she was the perfect person to bestow an appropriate moniker on the new show. So that night, he typed up an email and fired it off to his friend.

The very next day, he received a list of unique possibilities.

“Here are some ideas you can play with,” read the subject line from Connie’s email. The 22nd option on the list jumped out immediately.

Matthew, Jared, and Stan all agreed - this was a name they had never heard before.

The set for “The Very Airy Library” was beginning to take shape. Fortunately, The twins were able to repurpose some materials from previous productions. This expedited the creation of some of the more elaborate set pieces.

Matthew pointed to an odd-looking lamp they had acquired from their landlord, Rip Potter. Rip was a master carpenter who, at one point in his youth, was known for designing some of Atlanta’s swankiest dance clubs. In this case, the “lamp” resembled something like a 70’s Time Machine made for little people.

“This can be the gobbler,” Matthew suggests.

“The what?” Jared replies.

“The Gobbler.” Matthew reiterates the name as if it should’ve been obvious to his brother. “Not sure what it does yet. Maybe it’s for putting books in? Or maybe spitting them out?”

“I trust you’ll figure it out,” Jared responds, mimicking Matthew’s matter-of-fact tone.

Jared smiles before turning his attention to a bank of empty shelves he’d recently finished installing the set walls.

“The more pressing issue is, how are we going to fill these?” he asks aloud.

“You’ll figure it out,” Matthew replies with a smirk.

When building a “library” set, there is one key ingredient: books!

The trio’s initial thought was to collect them from anywhere they could - personal book collections, Goodwill, and perhaps some garage sales. The twins love a colorful set, so Jared suggested that the books they source all be very colorful.

After all, he didn’t want The Very Airy Library to look like your typical local public library.

However, even after spending weeks amassing as many books as possible, finding enough to fill the shelves of the library was proving to be difficult.

“This isn’t nearly enough,” Jared said to Matthew. “We need hundreds more than this. Unfortunately, buying them all from Goodwill is going to be too expensive.”

Matthew pulls out his phone and opens Facebook Marketplace. After some quick finger tapping, he announces that he might have just found the answer.

Jared piles books onto the set. The brothers had been meticulous in choosing books with colorful spines. Still, Jared seems dissatisfied.

“It just doesn’t look right,” he says. “I think I’m gonna have to paint them.”

“How are you gonna paint every single book?” Matthew asks. “There must be hundreds of them here.”

“How do you eat an Elephant?” Jared replies.

Jared has always enjoyed designing sets. In fact, he believes it’s the little details that can really sell the vision.

“Obviously, nothing is real,” he says. “Still, we want the viewer’s mind to convince them otherwise. In the end, it’s the details that do that.”

Jared steps back and examines the set. There is still a lot of work to be done. He turns to Matthew.

“Have you thought about how you’re going to make the digital puppet?”

“Hello, I am the Codex,” Matthew says into the tiny transmitter in his hands. “I am the vast accumulation of the eternal library’s knowledge.”

Matthew has hooked up a RODE wireless transmitter to an iPad Pro, and the mic is transmitting a signal to an oscilloscope app. From here, it converts the sound waves to visual audio waves.

Pro Tip: When creating a show for children, always have a few simple puppets you can cut to at any given time. This makes editing much easier and allows you to fill story gaps after principal photography is wrapped.

“I think this should work,” says Matthew. “Crude but effective.”

“I wonder if we need another one right next to him,” suggests Jared. “So they can play off of each other.”

Matthew gives him a look, “What did you have in mind?”

It’s August 2021. Sam Carter knocks at the studio door. His arms are filled with various puppets he’s built over the past few weeks.

Sam looks every bit the part of a creative, thanks to his bushy curled mustache and calloused hands. The twins have always enjoyed Sam’s style, so he was the obvious choice to build the show’s only hand puppet, Philo.

“I also brought some concept art,” Sam says as he produces a drawing. “Are you thinking something like this?”

Sam shows the twins a sketch in his signature style. Matthew looks at Jared and smiles.

“She's perfect! When can you get started?"

Stan surveys the set. He hasn’t been able to take the smile off his face.

Things are really starting to take shape. Jared has almost completed his massive book painting project and Sam has delivered Philo, the puppet.

“So what’s left?” he asks the brothers.

Jared considers the questions. “Well, we need to finish the floor and the lighting needs to be completed. I also need to finish constructing the housing for Cody and Daknee (the digital puppets that live on the back wall).”

Stan paces over to the large window in the center of the set. Poking his head through, he can’t help but notice the large empty space.

“What about the window? Have you thought about what the backdrop will be?” asks Stan.

“Have you seen the Mandalorian?” replies Matthew.

Even Though the brothers enjoy using real sets and real props, they understand the necessity of marrying technology with the practical. Unreal Engine is growing in popularity as a tool for filmmakers to create complex environments. (hint: check out the making of the Mandalorian on Disney+). Matthew and Jared decide to call in a friend that has some experience in the technology department.

Chance White stands in the center of the room wearing a VR headset. He is attempting to connect the device to the beast of a computer he’s brought.

“I can see two of them but I’m having trouble finding the third,” Chance says as he spins in a slow circle.

“Do you think we need the VR component or can we just use the background?” Matthew replies.

Chance considers it and the three decide that maybe its best to ease into this world rather than dive head first. The hook up the computer to the 85” tv positioned just outside the set window. The image is exactly what they hoped for.

“This is awesome,” says Jared. “Can we run the program from our laptop?”

“You’re gonna need a really powerful computer like the one I brought,” replies Chance.

“And how much does that cost?” asks Matthew.

“Well…”

“I’m going to build a model of the library.” Matthew stated.

“Ok, how?” Jared asks.

“I’m not quite sure yet. I’ll probably watch some Youtube videos.”

Matthew had never sculpted anything before but he had unreasonable confidence that he could figure it out. “How hard could it be?”

It was really hard.

Matthew would spend the next month, using armatures, air dry clay and stubborn determination piecing together the model of the Very Airy Library. But he was almost done.

“I think you need to keep working.” Andre Freitas, the brothers friend and studio neighbor, scrutinized the piece. He is a renowned special effects artist and sculptor. His opinion matters.

“I would carve some more detail into the wood here and using some darker paint for the low lights. That will bring out the depth.”

“Will you do it?” Matthew asks through his exhaustion.

Andre furls his brow, considers the question…

After considering Andre’s suggestions, Matthew puts the final touches on the model. It’s almost as if everything is falling into place.

Connie enters the studio through the black double doors. “This is just amazing,” she says as she strolls through the colorful set.

“We’d like for you to play a character on the show,” Stan says. “We want you to be the Antiquarian, the bringer of books.”

“I’m flattered,” Connie replies. “But I don’t have any real experience.”

“Neither do I!” laughs Stan. “But you are the real deal. Plus, we think it will bring a little extra magic to the show.”

“The Antiquarian’s job is to locate and bring rare books to the library,” Matthew interjects. “I see her as a bit like Amelia Bedelia meets Indiana Jones.”

Connie seems to consider this for a moment.

“So, what do you think?” Matthew asks cheerfully.

“I think I need to start putting together a costume,” Connie replies.

The set is really starting to take on a life of its own. Jared has put a lot of effort into the little details, but the last (and arguably the most important) detail is not yet in place: the lighting.

Pro Tip: Lighting is everything. It can give a mundane set life, but it can also ruin one. Never skimp on your lighting!

After some 20 years in the film industry, the brothers have made many talented friends. That said, Tom Pritchard might be among the top. His attention to detail when it comes to light is hard to match. It’s almost as if he can see things others can’t.

“So what are you thinking?” asks Matthew. “Maybe a big soft key here? Maybe put the fill on this corner?”

Tom steps back from the set and considers his options. “Yeah, that could work. How many lights do you have?”

“Well, a lot,” Matthew replies.

Tom nods without looking at Matthew. It’s clear that the vision is coming to life in his head.

“Good,” he replies. “Were gonna’ use all of them.”

Like all good 80’s / 90’s children, Matthew, Jared, and Stan grew up on shows like Mr. Rogers, Reading Rainbow, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and a myriad of other live-action Saturday morning programs. And one of the things these shows all had in common was that they would take you to another world – a place far away from the monotony of day-to-day life. They were all about imagination and fantasy, really taking advantage of the power of television.

“Do you remember how Mr. Rogers had that trolley that would take viewers into the ‘neighborhood of make-believe?’” Jared asks Matthew.

“I loved that segment,” Matthew recalls.

Jared gestures toward a small portion of the set directly left of the front door. “I think this area would be the perfect place to build a little village. We could have a train pass by, and that can transition us into an animated segment.”

“You thinking Michael?” Matthew asks.

The twins have known Michael Foster for almost 15 years. If you’ve seen something animated in anything they’ve created, it’s likely Foster was behind it. He’s remarkable not only for his rare creativity, reliability, and sense of humor but also for his willingness to participate in an artistic endeavor with no promise of reward.

In other words: he has a good heart and a boatload of talent.

“I’m thinking Michael,” Jared confirms.

Donald Hamrick sits behind a monitor, carefully scrutinizing the scene. He considers things for a moment before finally speaking.

“I wonder if he should use a different word,” he says. “Maybe something more accessible to a younger audience.”

Matthew and Jared have asked their longtime friend and collaborator to participate in filming the pilot of the Very Airy Library. Donny, a director and writer himself, is an extremely patient and detailed-oriented filmmaker. But – more importantly - he understands the twins better than almost anyone, having mediated more than a few of the brothers’ arguments.

“So you think we should simplify the line?” Matthew clarifies.

“I think the phrasing is a little complicated,” Donny replies. “I’m just trying to consider the perspective of the viewer.”

“Anything else?” continues Matthew.

The studio is dark except for a large TV illuminated with a colorful purple forest. The completed Very Airy Library model sits on a table directly in front. Chance White steps behind the TV and makes an adjustment to the back light.

“How’s that look?” he asks Jared, who checks the monitor.

“Perfect,” he replies. “Let’s go ahead and record a few frames of this setup, then we can change it up.”

But before they continue, Chance moves one last light for a minor tweak.

“One second,” he says. “I think it’s a little hot on the left side of the model.”

Matthew and Jared consider Chance to be one of their closest friends as well as one of their best creative collaborators. He has an impeccable sense of quality and loves a creative challenge.

So is this gonna’ look good?,” Jared asks.

“Eventually,” Chance responds with his typical dry charm.

“Hi there, Yasmein! I hope this finds you well. Question for you - are you still in the acting game?”

Matthew finished the email to his old acting friend, Yasmein Ziyad, and hit “send.”

The twins had been working with Yasmein in one way or another for more than a decade. When deciding on who should voice the puppet, Philo, her name quickly rose to the top of the list.

“I want Philo to be relatable but - more importantly - funny,” Matthew recalls.

Puppets in children’s shows can often lack depth and humor. But if you pick the right actor, any line has the potential to be funny. After all, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Matthew and Jared have always loved Yasmein’s inherent ability to make them laugh, and they simply couldn’t imagine anyone else doing Philo’s voice.

“Hi, Matthew! Yes, I am still in the acting game…”

Acting is one of the only art forms where people think the only prerequisite is to say, “I’m an actor!” loudly and often. However, as with any craft, acting takes a long time to master.

It’s a complex art form designed for expression and storytelling. To be a convincing actor is very difficult, and even the most talented individuals still have to practice to perfect their craft.

“Can you hear me?” Rob Pralgo asks through his computer screen.

Stan offers a thumbs up, and Rob begins his lesson.

It would be easy for Stan to be flippant about his creative duties as the host of The Very Airy Library. After all, it’s just a kid’s show. But Stan wants this show to be the best it can possibly be, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

The twins have contracted their long-time friend and actor, Rob Pralgo, to give Stan and Connie some lessons.

“How much acting experience do you have?” Rob asks.

“You should probably start from the top,” replies Stan.

Previous29. Philo Needs a Voice (Part 29 of 34)Next

Stan was just eight years old when he lost his Father. He even wrote a book about it. The loss left a hole in his heart that he has chosen to fill with kindness, love, and, most notably, the possibility of hope for others. How? Books.

One of Stan’s favorite occasions as a boy was the scholastic book fair. Though all the kids enjoyed picking up new things to read, Stan saw every single book as representing a new possibility. To him, there was nothing quite like the anticipation of picking the perfect book.

What adventure will you embark upon? What characters will you meet? What histories will you learn?

Remembering that feeling inspired Stan to come up with his own unique vision – a vision of a new kind of book fair composed entirely of books written by children. Yes, children.

Stan sees authorship as a way of helping kids accomplish all sorts of amazing things.

Through Leap for Literacy and the Share Your Story program, Stan has guided kids through the authorship process for over three years. In fact, a select few kids have even had their books professionally illustrated and published.

The Very Airy Library is proud to feature some of those kids and even more proud to promote Stan’s dream.

But the question remains, will we make our goal?

The modern filmmaking era has ushered in many advantages for creators. Lighting and Camera technology have made professional production cheaper and more accessible. In addition, the internet has given rise to numerous streaming channels and distribution outlets. But in the words of Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

So like Spider-Man, Stan and The twins are on a mission to defeat evildoers. Just kidding, but they are on a mission to produce a show that stands the test of time. The Very Airy Library is not just entertainment for a rainy Saturday but an inspiration for a generation of storytellers.

We are eternally grateful to those of you who have supported this campaign. We are almost at the finish line. Please help us see this thing through to the end so we can continue making a show that doesn’t stink.

George’s parents had noticed early on that something was “different” about their son.  He appeared to process the world uniquely, and it took him a long time to say his first words.

“He has autism, most likely level 2,” The Psychologist said at his evaluation.

The news did not come as a surprise but as a relief. George’s parents felt they could now focus on getting their son the resources he needed to reach his full potential.

It would be dangerously simplistic to lump all neurodiverse children into one category. The reality is their means of expression and processing are as diverse as the colors of the rainbow.

Matthew places the microphone closer to George. “Repeat after me, ‘Yes, Mayor.’

“Yes, Mayor,” George says into the mic.

Matthew smiles; he will never grow tired of hearing his son’s voice.

The Very Airy Library is proud to include folks from all walks of life and backgrounds. And neurodiverse children will always hold a special place in the hearts of the show's creators.

You want to do a Kickstarter?” Matthew asks.

“Yeah, why not?” Stan replies. “I think it would be a great way to raise money for the show and invite people to help us.”

“Do you know how hard it is?” Jared interjects. “We’ve done a few, and they can be brutal.”

Stan, Matthew, and Jared sit around their makeshift conference table, weighing their options. As the breadth of the show has grown, so have the expenses.

“You have to beg your friends and family for 30 days straight,” Matthew says.

“Not to mention the number of posts you need to make, just to remind people to pledge,” Jared adds. “People tune you out at the end.”

“But there are a lot of things we want to do, and we are gonna need funds to do them– such as plane tickets and accommodations for high-profile authors. Kickstarter gets us the resources we need,” replies Stan. “We can’t keep paying for everything ourselves, right?”

“You think we can get enough support?” Matthew asks.

“I think so,” Stan confirms.

(The Kickstarter was a success, THE END.)