Talk:5, Rue Sésame

To be edited
French Adaptation of Sesame Street for France 5 NEW YORK/PARIS, September 15: France 5 and the production company Expand-Drama are producing 5, Rue Sésame, a new series based on Sesame Workshop’s Sesame Street.

Set to launch as a daily show in October, the series will feature Elmo and a new Muppet character named Nac. Four other Muppet characters have been developed specifically for the French series.

The show presents educational messages to children in a context that reflects the daily lives of French children. The series is written, produced, and directed by local French talent to address the developmental needs of French preschoolers. 5, Rue Sésame’s educational focus is consistent with the national curricular approach and emphasizes learning across social, emotional, cognitive, and physical domains for young children.

The 75-episode series features Muppets, regionally produced live action and animation segments. Pierre Bertrand–Jaume, the general manager of Expand-Drama, noted, “Today, no less than 60 writers, puppeteers, actors, technicians and directors are working on the original French version of the world famous Sesame Street. No doubt, our new hero Nac will very soon become a favorite among the pre-school audience.”

Merchandising, publishing, and promotions will be managed by France Television Distribution (FTD), while AB Distribution will license the program throughout French-speaking territories in Europe.

Press release on the show
(New York, NY, and Paris, France, September 15, 2005): Elmo and a new Muppet character named Nac are saying, "Bonjour!" to the children of France. An original French program based on the award-winning children’s television program Sesame Street (a concept developed by nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop in the US in 1969), is now in production. Co-produced by public broadcaster France 5 and production company Expand-Drama, 5, Rue Sésame will launch as a daily series in October. Four other Muppet characters have been developed specifically for the French series.

Produced by renowned Film and Television Producer Georges Campana, in Studio VCF (Region Ile de France), 5, Rue Sésame, is a playful fictional series that presents educational messages to children in a context that reflects the daily lives of French children. The series is written, produced, and directed by local French talent to address the developmental needs of French preschoolers. 5, Rue Sésame’s educational focus is consistent with the national curricular approach and emphasizes learning across social, emotional, cognitive, and physical domains for young children.

5, Rue Sésame, comprising 75 episodes, features Muppet, regionally produced live action, and animation segments. The new Muppet characters include an energetic girl in a wheelchair named Griotte, who will be an active participant in all the fun on the street and will provide positive images of children with disabilities.

5, Rue Sésame merchandising, publishing, and promotions will be managed by France Television Distribution (FTD), the merchandising division of France Television, while AB Distribution will license the program throughout French-speaking territories in Europe.

“Expand-Drama has extensive experience in producing drama and youth programs,” explained Pierre Bertrand–Jaume, General Manager of Expand-Drama. “Today, no less than 60 writers, puppeteers, actors, technicians and directors are working on the original French version of the world famous Sesame Street. No doubt, our new hero Nac will very soon become a favorite among the pre-school audience.”

“France has always been a priority market for Sesame Workshop,” said Gary E. Knell, Sesame Workshop’s President and CEO. “We first provided local programming and licensed products in the 1970s, and have since seen the preschool media landscape evolve tremendously. We are excited to be re-entering the French market with two of the strongest partners in the television business—France’s number one preschool broadcaster and the most innovative production company—to deliver compelling educational television that serves the needs of today’s children.” Sesame Workshop is providing creative guidance for the series.

On-going plans for 5, Rue Sésame include program evaluation and research, and the development of educational outreach programs and interactive learning platforms.

Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. Today, the Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Sesame Workshop is behind award-winning programs like Play With Me Sesame and Tiny Planets and ground breaking multimedia productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of its products right back into educational projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org.

Altavista translation of France 5
Diffusion as from October 22, 2005 with 7h, 5 street Sésame is a ludic, soft program reassuring and without violence, centered on the awakening and the respect of the others. The good mood and the positive values of 5, street Sésame will help the children to begin their day carefully. 5 street Sésame is a true French creation, adapted famous American format Sesame Street, which has enchanted generations D’children for more than thirty years. This emission in plate, articulated around six different sequences, is intended more particularly for small from 3 to 7 years. An ambitious series – whose contents are validated by experts of the early childhood – which conveys strong values like the respect of the differences and protection of L’environment.

5, street Sésame is invited on the Net: The NaC fans and his/her friends, will be able to play soon with them on the site of France 5. With the program: interactive plays, quizzes, vidéos, etc... While waiting, the children can exploit the American site Sesame Street

Why to have designed a puppet and a decoration especially for France 5? Celine Limorato: L’objective of France 5 N’was not to make a simple adaptation of Sesame Street, but to produce, for the French public, a true creation corresponding to the values of the chain. D’where, in particular, creation D’a character headlight, emblematic and exclusive, a single puppet in its kind. After many exchanges with our partners, our choices stopped on NaC, the mascot of the program. NaC has a difference in colossal size compared to his/her companions. But that L’does not prevent – D – very’active being quite to the contrary: it overflows D’imagination, likes to dance and sing! Concerning the French decoration, it was to be representative of the French company and most federator possible. All children – qu’they are in province or in Paris – can S’imagine to be in the street Sésame. They find there a bakery, a grocer, a market, houses, a city… An important place is also granted to nature.

Which values France 5 does she want to transmit through 5 street Sésame? C L: Modern, this program is anchored in the reality of the French company D’aujourd’today. Video games, computer, Internet; and especially diversity of the cultures and handicap, of the concepts which are seldom approached in the programs for children. However, the latter were born and grow in this universe. 5 street Sésame approaches these topics which form part of their life and teaches them the tolerance and L’opening to the others. C’is also average D’to wake up L’child with L’writing, the reading and the figures, without being school. The sport, L’food hygiene and health are also strong values developed in 5 street Sésame.

Why to have introduced a handicapped puppet? C L: C’is a choice strong and assumed by France 5. I did not wish that the handicap be approached in filigree. I m’have attached for three years to propose programmes of quality to the innovating contents. The handicap is thus treated through the character of Morello cherry. Its profile was worked in a positive way. Very present in L’French emission, morello cherry is whole, funny, sporting, likes to play with the words and N’is not contained on itself.