Producer ‘Abeltje’ thinks children’s series are getting worse

Film and television maker Burny Bos, known for Rembo & Rembo, Villa Backside, Abel, Otje and minoes, is annoyed by the lack of creativity in television land. He believes that the public broadcaster no longer has its own identity, that the viewing figures are paramount and that the television landscape has deteriorated.

He tells this in an interview with de Volkskrant.

Only concerned with ratings

‘It’s getting worse. The public system has deteriorated, with those network managers who are in charge and who think they have to compete with the commercial channels’, he says. “Just make damn beautiful things instead of just watching the ratings.”

Also educational elements

The producer, who also films like Pick from the Petteflet and Yes sister, no sister and has written more than forty children’s books, considers it important that in addition to entertainment, the programs also contain educational elements. Educational programs that are broadcast in class under the supervision of the teacher, but also programs that are discussed in the schoolyard. ‘I entertain the children and educate them by making certain behaviors succeed or fail. We are not the educators, but we do educate. We must be constantly aware of this. But without a raised finger. And without a message.’

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Children educate themselves

Bos thinks that the time when children’s television was still considered important in Hilversum is over. ‘The makers, the creatives, are a thing of the past. The talent is still there, you know, but not in Hilversum. They write books, go to the theater, open shops or restaurants. It is bursting with creativity, but the public broadcaster has gradually become an affiliate of McDonald’s and the trinity of parents, school and TV no longer exists. Children nowadays educate themselves with the internet’, says Bos.

Producer Burny Bos

Burny Bos is a Dutch producer, screenwriter and children’s book writer. He also worked as an actor on children’s programs on radio and television. Because of his background as a teacher, he finds it important to also bring education into his programs and films. With his production company BosBros he has filmed a number of books by Annie MG Schmidt and has won many prizes for it. The 78-year-old Bos suffers from asbestos cancer and is not getting better. To honor him, much of his work will be shown during the Cinekid Festival (15 to 30 October). Every day one of his great classics will be on display there.

Source: Volkskrant, Nu.nl, Telegraaf.nl

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