Village Gamer

DisneyXD has commissioned a 10-episode order of its recently piloted series Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) for the 2014/2015 television season. From innovative format creators at Banger Films’ and their newly formed kids division B-Minors, the half-hour series follows host Jesse Sukunda as he, along with his friends, dive into the virtual world of video games. Slated for broadcast in late fall, production on the series gets underway in Toronto later this summer.

“We’re always trying to find new ways to connect with our audience and the Gaming Show is an inventive way for us to continue that pursuit. After talking to our target audience of boys 6-11, we found Disney XD viewers are passionate about gaming and we knew it was critical to develop a weekly cross-platform series that spoke to kids’ desire to learn more about gaming culture,” said Michael Goldsmith, Director, Original Programming, Disney XD. “Our production partners at Banger Films and B-Minors have stepped up to the plate by developing a versatile program that delves into the inner workings of leading game developers while keeping the comedic elements that boys love. This specific series adds a new dimension to Disney XD’s already diversified programming slate while setting up new growth opportunities for its multiplatform offering.”

“We’re excited to build a show that really connects with kids’ interests and forms a portal between the massive world of the internet and gaming to TV,” said Scot McFadyen, Co-Founder of Banger Films and B-Minors. “We’re also happy to be collaborating again with all the people at Disney XD. They have been very supportive in allowing us to take chances and try something new with kids TV.”

Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) follows Jesse; an avid gamer with an inquisitive mind who, along with his friends Julia and Ian, operates a DIY web series devoted to gaming and kid culture. Using Jesse’s parents’ garage as their “ultimate mega gaming paradise,” the wacky trio hangs out, tests the latest video games and checks in with expert correspondents as they shoot witty weekly news segments. The pilot saw the gang visit Ubisoft’s motion capture suite for a visually simulated swordfight; build their own environment for XBOX’s innovative new game, Project Spark; and pick up tricks of the gaming trade for Minecraft from correspondent and YouTube sensation, Fin of MineTime. Plus, Amir Johnson of the Toronto Raptors made a special appearance to promote Nintendo’s NBA2K 2013.

Disney XD has experienced great success in working with its production partners at Banger Films. Banger was responsible for the outdoor adventure-based special The Grizzly Cup, which debuted exclusively on Disney XD in August 2013. The action-packed competition challenge garnered two Canadian Screen Award nominations – Best Direction in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series and Best Host in a Pre-School, Children’s or Youth Program or Series for Bradford How’s performance. Following its popularity, the series is returning for a second year with a national casting tour for the 2014 installment kicking off this coming Saturday. Banger Films and B-Minors are also the production house behind Family Channel’s Big Ticket Summer Concert Special, which airs annually following the Canadian stage show.

Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) is executive produced by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen (The Grizzly Cup, Metal Evolution, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage) and was created by Jesse Shamata(The Grizzly Cup, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Long Story Short).