Be sure to tune in to your local PBS station (KLRU here in Austin) to see SPU featured on Docubloggers!

It will air on November 13th @ 7:30 PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check it out:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:693630

The SPU started filming on the pilot this weekend.. And they made the paper!

See Here-

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/06/07/0607superpal.html

AUSTIN SCHOOL OF FILM AND AUSTIN VOICES TO HOLD FREE VIDEO AND ‘ZINE-MAKING WORKSHOP, TIED TO SUPER PAL UNIVERSE KIDS’ CONTEST, ON APRIL 26, AT ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE SOUTH LAMAR

Austin teen band to help students compete in anti-littering contest

Super Pal Universe, Austin musician Sara Hickman’s new program targeting teens and pre-teens with a combination of original music and pop-driven activism by the Super Pal Universe band members, will host a free workshop on Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m., at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 S. Lamar), open to students interested in competing in a contest featuring anti-littering and anti-pollution messages.

During the workshop, Austin School of Film staff will be on hand to teach participants how to make videos, and Austin Voices staff will teach participants about ‘zine production. Following the workshop, the Alamo Drafthouse’s monthly Kids Club will host a free showing of the movie Infra-Man, a wild and wacky retro hero movie. 

The contest, open to all students in Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties, invites students to deliver an anti-littering or anti-pollution message around the theme “Super Hero – Clean Up This Mess!” Each contest participant will create a short video, a song, an animation piece, comic book or ‘zine around the theme of pollution and/or littering, incorporating a super hero of the participant’s own choosing.

The competition is designed to provide kids and their teachers or community service providers with a fun, educational and challenging creative project. Not only will kids win prizes, but the winners’ sponsoring classrooms or community groups will also receive a “wish list” of goods and services that will enhance their capability to educate and inspire other kids.

The first prize winner, as selected by a panel of judges will win $500, and that sponsor will receive wish list goods or services valued at $2500. The second prize winner will win $250, with that sponsor winning a wish list valued at $1000. The ‘Audience Favorites’ video/animation award winner and that winner’s sponsor will each win a $250 gift card from Best Buy.

More details on entering the contest are available at www.superpaluniverse.com, the band’s official website.

The Super Pal Universe band features five Austin-area kids, ages 13 to 17, who actively encourage teens and pre-teens to increase community involvement and creativity through music and Web-viewable programming (“webisodes”).

For more information on the Alamo Drafthouse Kids Club event, go to:

http://www.originalalamo.com/Show.aspx?id=5239

Congratulations to Hannah Welch and Gonzalo Garza Independence school for winning our Fall Video contest. Hannah won a Dell XPS 420 Media Creator PC and her classroom sponsor from Garza School received a cash grant of $2500

The Super Pal Universe ‘Change4Change Fundation’ would like to thank all of the great organizations that submitted grant requests – our job of picking the winner was really tough! We recognized three wonderful organizations:

* THE WINNNER!*
THEATRE ACTION PROJECT
www.theatreactionproject.org
We loved their grant submittal of original artwork created by kids that they serve under their “Courage to Stand” program that addressing the issue of Bullying in schools. A $5000 check was awarded to this great organization.

UPRISING
was so impressed by the grant submittal and mission of this organization that one of the committee members decided to give them a $1000 personal grant! Is that a Super Pal, or what?
AUSTIN VOICES
www.austinvoices.org
This organization inspired us with the creativity of their kids. We couldn’t give them a grant, but we did the next best thing. We’re going to hire them as our Super Pal Merchandising Partner in 2008, where they will be paid to help us design and produce cool Super Pal products that we’ll sell to support our mission – clothing, ‘zines, planners and lots of other cool stuff that the kids from Austin Voices will help us come up with. What could be better than letting creative kids make cool products for other kids, and get paid for it?!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEMBER 15, 2007
Press Contact: Phil West, Luminaria Media & Public Relations
512.945.7493, phil.west@luminariamedia.com

SARA HICKMAN’S SUPER PAL UNIVERSE WRAP UP A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH WITH HIGH-PROFILE PERFORMANCES AND YEAR-END GALA
The Super Pal Universe, Sara Hickman’s tween-age band and “edutainment” brand, is celebrating its launch with a year-end gala at the newly-renovated Alamo Drafthouse Ritz Theatre on Sunday, December 9th, 3 to 5 p.m. “The Super Pal Universe Gala,” a multi-media experience, will feature music, video, giveaways and more. Tickets are available at http://www.originalalamo.com
Open to kids and families, the gala will feature an amazing set of auction and raffle items to help raise funds for the band’s first CD release. Auction and raffle items include computers, cameras, ice cream parties, Little Richard tickets and more.
Leading up to the gala on December 9th, the band will make an appearance at Shady Grove on Friday, November 23rd, 3 to 5 p.m., at a family-friendly event to promote the Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade. Subsequently, on Saturday, November 24th, the Super Pal Universe and Sara Hickman will be featured in the parade, performing atop the GSD&M/Idea City float.
Hickman said, “Working with a group of teens in a band, watching them bond and become family, hearing musical ideas become reality … this has been quite a new exciting twist in my musical journey! I’m really honored to be working with such devoted, talented kids. We’ve assembled a team of amazing people working towards a goal of TV and music that’s for kids and made by kids.”

All activity is being taped for future webisodes of the “Super Pal Universe.”
For booking or sponsorship inquiry please call John Rodriguez (J-Ro) at 512-748-6175, or email j-ro@johncharlesrodriguez.com.

ABOUT THE SUPER PAL UNIVERSE:
The Super Pal Universe mission is to provide high quality educational entertainment that addresses critical social, emotional and cognitive issues faced by pre-teens in today’s society. The program focuses on a musical band of pre-teens called Super Pal Universe, with Sara Hickman as their mentor and manager. The program features local, non-professional kids and blends original music with reality-based and entertaining video content. A core component of the program is also encouraging activism and involvement from the kids in our audience, including creation of original content that may be posted on our website and featured in our programs. Our ongoing programming and video contests will focus on real and compelling issues that pre-teens and the global community at large face today – the environment, health, family issues and issues of self awareness and character. For more information, visit our website at www.superpaluniverse.com

October 20th, 2007- The Super Pal Universe, Sara Hickman’s tween-age band and “edutainment” brand, has announced a night of music, food and interaction at the Gibson Showroom on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007. The Open Mic Showcase will run from 5 to 7 PM following the band’s appearance at the Texas Book Festival. The Gibson Guitar Showroom is located at 3601 South Congress.
The Super Pal Universe will share the stage with other tween-age bands or artists who sign up in advance. The performances will be filmed and edited by Austin non-profit outreach for hispanic girls, Latinitas. Footage from the evening to be distributed on the Super Pal Universe network as a future webisode and as segments for broadcast.
A recycled T-shirt printing process will also be available with fans being encouraged to bring along an article of clothing to have made into a branded piece to take home.
“The Open Mic format is an essential part of keeping the community involved with the development of the band,” says John Rodriguez, Super Pal Marketing Director. “We want young people to enjoy an element of ownership in the Super Pal Universe. These events are productions by youth for youth.”
To sign up for a slot to perform onstage please RSVP to info@superpaluniverse.com
For more information please call John Rodriguez (J-Ro) at 512-748-6175 or email j-ro@johncharlesrodriguez.com

ABOUT THE SUPER PAL UNIVERSE:
The Super Pal Universe mission is to provide high quality educational entertainment that addresses critical social, emotional and cognitive issues faced by pre-teens in today’s society. The program focuses on a musical band of pre-teens called Super Pal Universe, with Sara Hickman as their mentor and manager. The program features local, non-professional kids and blends original music with reality-based and entertaining video content. A core component of the program is also encouraging activism and involvement from the kids in our audience, including creation of original content that may be posted on our website and featured in our programs. Our ongoing programming and video contests will focus on real and compelling issues that pre-teens and the global community at large face today – the environment, health, family issues and issues of self awareness and character.

For more information, visit our website at www.superpaluniverse.com

SARA HICKMAN’S “SUPER PAL UNIVERSE”
ANNOUNCES FALL 2007 VIDEO COMPETITION

Download this .pdf

Sara Hickman and her Super Pal Universe band will reinvigorate
children’s entertainment offerings and expand the online and offline
opportunities for educational and inspirational entertainment targeting pre-teens!

The Super Pal Universe, a new education and entertainment network launched by Sara Hickman and local Austin partners, have announced their first video contest for youth participation to be launched in Fall 2007 addressing the theme of “Energy Efficiency.”

Entrants can be individuals or teams from area schools, non-profits or community groups. Entrants will submit a 3 minute video or animation piece dealing with Energy Efficiency, with awards going to those that display the highest level of creativity.

The contest cycle will open on September 24th and will close on November 17th, with final awards announced on December 9th as part of the Super Pal Universe Gala event at the Alamo Ritz Theatre. Awards will include:

1st prize – $2500 cash and a Dell digital content creation PC
2nd , 3rd, 4th prizes – Cash awards of $1500, $1000 and $500

In addition, all eligible entrants will have their videos posted on the Super Pal Universe website and will receive special recognition and prizes from our sponsors. Further instructions and details for the contest may be found at www.superpaluniverse.com/contest.html on or after September 24th.

“Our goal is to encourage kids in the community to engage and ‘start the conversation,’ said Sara Hickman. “We hope this competition will get kids to really look at big issues like energy efficiency and our environment, but will also create a catalyst where teachers or community group leaders can engage with their kids in a fun, creative and team-oriented activity,” Hickman said.

The competition will be managed in partnership with the Austin School of Film www.austinfilmschool.org, an Austin non-profit that provides education, training and development for emerging visual artists of all ages. ASF will be developing curriculum-based instructions for the video development which will make it easy for any teacher or group leader to coordinate participation.

“ASF is pleased to support the Super Pal program which will encourage active participation and creativity by kids in our community,” said Erica Shamaly, Executive Director.

EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT:
The competition will only be open to youth who submit videos under the sponsorship of a local school, nonprofit, church or other community group located in the Travis, Hayes or Williamson county areas. Cash prizes will be awarded to the community groups, not the individuals.

For more information please call Alan Luecke at 512-431-0598 or email – info@superpaluniverse.com

ABOUT THE SUPER PAL UNIVERSE:
The Super Pal Universe mission is to provide high quality educational entertainment that addresses critical social, emotional and cognitive issues faced by pre-teens in today’s society. The program focuses on a musical band of pre-teens called Super Pal Universe, with Sara Hickman as their mentor and manager. The program features local, non-professional kids and blends original music with reality-based and entertaining video content. A core component of the program is also encouraging activism and involvement from the kids in our audience, including creation of original content that may be posted on our website and featured in our programs. Our ongoing programming and video contests will focus on real and compelling issues that pre-teens and the global community at large face today – the environment, health, family issues and issues of self awareness and character.

For more information, visit our website at www.superpaluniverse.com

ABOUT SuperAlright:

Super!Alright! is a growing company of audio and visual media artists, including
writers, directors, producers, and musicians. It was founded on the desire to extend creative possibilities beyond the realm of any one individual. Although its members currently specialize in audio and visual media such as commercial and music videos, web design, graphic design, and photography, the companies ongoing goal is to create an ever-broadening base of creatives working in all forms of media. We are a network of artists gathered under the belief that our greatest strength is the dynamism offered by the variety of creative capabilities we hold as group.

“SARA HICKMAN’S SUPER PAL Change 4 Change Fundation
ANNOUNCES FALL 2007 Super Pal Change 4 Change Fundation Grant”

Download this .pdf

“Be a part of the Super Pal Universe and Apply for the Super Pal Change 4 Change Fundation Grant.

Austin, TX, September 18, 2007 – “Sara Hickman’s Super Pal Change 4 Change Fundation, the non-profit arm of the Super Pal Universe program – http://www.superpaluniverse.com/c4c.html , announce the first Super Pal Change 4 Change Fundation Grant, which will be in the amount of $5000 .

The grant application cycle is open immediately and will close on November 23rd, with final awards announced on December 9th as part of the Super Pal Universe Gala event at the Alamo Ritz theatre. A single grant of $5000 will be awarded in this cycle to an eligible non-profit or community organization whose grant proposal will be chosen by a grant committee board after the November 23rd deadline.

Our grant eligibility guidelines are:

• The request must come from a formal organization – a non-profit, a school, a church, or other formalized community group. Requests from individuals are not eligible.
• The organization must be located and must serve clients in the areas of Travis, Hays or Williamson County.

The process for the grant application is very simple as any organization that is eligible can send a request for funding along with a narrative on what they will do with the funding that promotes the Sara Hickman Super Pal core goals of creativity, social responsibility and empowering the arts!

Our criteria for award selection is the simplest of all – our grants review committee will base the winning award on the creativity of the narrative, be it a poem, a spoken word piece, a written narrative with original artwork, a song, an animation piece, or even a short film.

The act of submitting a grant to C4C will promote the type of creativity and social interaction that we value!

C4C is focused on supporting community organizations that encourage and promote creativity, social responsibility and the arts. The organization is managed under the 501©3 umbrella of the Austin Community Foundation and will be funded by donations from the community. In addition, the Super Pal Universe network will donate 10% of their net profits into the non-profit arm of Super Pal Universe.

The goal of C4C is to provide a quick and simple source of cash funding for community groups, with a focus on smaller organizations that do not have access to larger grants or donations.

GRANT FREQUENCY: Currently grants will be awarded on a quarterly basis. And as our funding grows, we will provide awards monthly, with the ultimate goal to provide funding on a pro-active as needed basis.

GRANT SUBMITTALS: Grants may be submitted as follows:

• Via email to info@superpaluniverse.com
• Via snail mail to:
  Sara Hickman’s Super Pals
  3005 S. Lamar, D-109 #412
  Austin, TX 78704

For more information, please contact us at info@superpaluniverse.com .

About Sara Hickman’s Super Pals
C4C functions as an independent organization from Super Pal Universe and functions with a set of unpaid advisors and volunteers from the community with no direct overhead expenses. Our operating costs are also minimized by working in conjunction with the Austin Community Foundation. The core philosophy of SHSP is largely driven by the concept of Seva, a Sanskrit term that applies to the connectedness of all things and includes selfless service and volunteer work. The goal of SHSP and the entire Super Pal Universe program is to encourage the concept of Seva in our community.

The web site for more information is : www.superpaluniverse.com .

Media Contact:

Nettie Hartsock
Hartsock Communications
512-396-1067
Nettie AT nettiehartsock.com