LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
#1
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LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...-child-everywh
http://gizmodo.com/levar-burton-enli...ium=socialflow
http://gizmodo.com/levar-burton-enli...ium=socialflow
You loved Reading Rainbow as a kid. Everyone did! But since the show went off the air in 2006, your ol' pal Levar Burton's now trying to bring it back via the internet. He just needs a little Kickstarter help to do it.
Two years ago, children's literacy hero and former PBS staple Burton came out with a Reading Rainbow iPad app to stave off kids' inevitable tablet brain rot. But now he wants to bring an unlimited library of books to a much wider audience. Not every kid has a tablet. And many schools don't have access to tablets, either. But many, many kiddos have internet access in their school or local public libraries.
Two years ago, children's literacy hero and former PBS staple Burton came out with a Reading Rainbow iPad app to stave off kids' inevitable tablet brain rot. But now he wants to bring an unlimited library of books to a much wider audience. Not every kid has a tablet. And many schools don't have access to tablets, either. But many, many kiddos have internet access in their school or local public libraries.
#2
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
Gee, no one has pledge this one yet:
Pledge $10,000 or more
The ULTIMATE STAR TREK "GEORDI'S VISOR" Package // You and a friend will be LeVar's personal guests for a PRIVATE DINNER in Los Angeles, and you will get to wear the ONE-AND-ONLY ORIGINAL VISOR that LeVar wore in ST:TNG. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Pledge $10,000 or more
The ULTIMATE STAR TREK "GEORDI'S VISOR" Package // You and a friend will be LeVar's personal guests for a PRIVATE DINNER in Los Angeles, and you will get to wear the ONE-AND-ONLY ORIGINAL VISOR that LeVar wore in ST:TNG. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
#3
Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
I might donate money to this. I really didn't like educational shows as a kid, preferring cartoon action like Transformers and GI Joe, but for some reason I really liked Reading Rainbow. I always was trying to find the books that appeared on the show.
#5
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
LeVar seems like a really good guy. I was a tad too old to enjoy R.R. when I stumbled upon it in the early-'90s, but I liked the theme song and pro-literacy philosophy.
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
I too was too old for the show, but I do remember seeing it when channel surfing. Its a great program and a neat idea to adapt it to the way kids now receive media (ie tablets, etc) as well as putting it into classrooms for teachers to use.
I got an email, because I marked it to watch, last night or early this morning that they reached the funding goal.
I got an email, because I marked it to watch, last night or early this morning that they reached the funding goal.
#7
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
While I think this is a great idea, my biggest issue with LeVar asking fans/the public for donations is that he could pretty much fund this whole thing himself via the residuals he gets from TNG every year (which I believe are in perpetuity, unlike the original cast).
On top of that, LeVar charges like $40 per autograph at all his public appearances...so why not use some of that money, Mr. Burton?
I mean, it's not like LeVar is a struggling actor - he's still doing TV shows, directing, and runs his own production company. He could easily make this happen without outside funding.
On top of that, LeVar charges like $40 per autograph at all his public appearances...so why not use some of that money, Mr. Burton?
I mean, it's not like LeVar is a struggling actor - he's still doing TV shows, directing, and runs his own production company. He could easily make this happen without outside funding.
#8
Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
I work at a TV station and one of my co-workers just asked if we could show "Reading Rainbow" and I had no idea where that question came from, but now I know. She gave money to this already.
#9
Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
While I think this is a great idea, my biggest issue with LeVar asking fans/the public for donations is that he could pretty much fund this whole thing himself via the residuals he gets from TNG every year (which I believe are in perpetuity, unlike the original cast).
On top of that, LeVar charges like $40 per autograph at all his public appearances...so why not use some of that money, Mr. Burton?
I mean, it's not like LeVar is a struggling actor - he's still doing TV shows, directing, and runs his own production company. He could easily make this happen without outside funding.
On top of that, LeVar charges like $40 per autograph at all his public appearances...so why not use some of that money, Mr. Burton?
I mean, it's not like LeVar is a struggling actor - he's still doing TV shows, directing, and runs his own production company. He could easily make this happen without outside funding.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...w-kickstarter/
#12
Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
After reading the article I was going to make a lengthy post but after reading the comments section over there I saw someone already made a much more concise response that shares my sentiments:
The idea that Reading Rainbow was superfluous because it didn't teach phonics and "reading fundamentals" was ridiculous in 2009 and is ridiculous now, in 2014. Phonics and reading fundamentals may teach children HOW to read, but they don't teach children to LOVE reading.
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
Nothing against the RR cause, but Levar Burton kind of confused me with a reading PSA that's been on for the last couple of years (maybe longer). He talked about his love for reading, and the first book he remembers reading ("Captains Courageous"), and he says something like "You know, when I'm really enjoying a book, I'll skip ahead and read the last page, because when a book is really well written, it'll have a great ending." And I'm thinking WTF?! How many kids are going to skip to the last page, find out how the book ends, and then stop reading it? I'm not condemning it as a personal habit for LB, but it seems counter-productive as part of an effort to encourage kids to read books.
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
While I think this is a great idea, my biggest issue with LeVar asking fans/the public for donations is that he could pretty much fund this whole thing himself via the residuals he gets from TNG every year (which I believe are in perpetuity, unlike the original cast).
On top of that, LeVar charges like $40 per autograph at all his public appearances...so why not use some of that money, Mr. Burton?
I mean, it's not like LeVar is a struggling actor - he's still doing TV shows, directing, and runs his own production company. He could easily make this happen without outside funding.
On top of that, LeVar charges like $40 per autograph at all his public appearances...so why not use some of that money, Mr. Burton?
I mean, it's not like LeVar is a struggling actor - he's still doing TV shows, directing, and runs his own production company. He could easily make this happen without outside funding.
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
Yes, they funded what's going to be a for-profit business:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...w-kickstarter/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...w-kickstarter/
What a horrible thing it would be if someone made money by teaching children a love of reading!
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
Yes, they funded what's going to be a for-profit business:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...w-kickstarter/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...w-kickstarter/
#17
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Re: LeVar Burton using Kickstarter to bring back 'Reading Rainbow'
1 Mill. goal currently sitting at 3.8 million ... that's a bit impressive
*noticed they added dvd add-ons including the "Complete" Series (152 of 155 episodes) but they want you to pledge $750 to get the series ... that's way out of the range of what I'd pledge on KS but it'd still be nice to have ..........
*noticed they added dvd add-ons including the "Complete" Series (152 of 155 episodes) but they want you to pledge $750 to get the series ... that's way out of the range of what I'd pledge on KS but it'd still be nice to have ..........