I'm Dr. Sparks, and I'm a storyteller and a scientist. I write stories for people on a mechanical typewriter, and I charge a dime for each one. I use my stories to teach people science!

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Karl J. P. Smith

Watch NASA and the Three Little Pigs here:

Main image: The piggies make their new home in the International Space Station. But the big bad wolf is not far behind.

Congratulations! Why did you make your webseries?

I want to teach children science concepts using animal fables. I think stories are an important and underutilized way to reach kids.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this webseries?

It's fun! You'll learn about orbit and the international space station while following the plight of three little pigs. Also, if you like typewriters this is the short for you.

How do personal and universal themes work in your webseries?

I'm a scientist and an artist, and I feel strongly that people, and kids especially, don't need to silo themselves in either arts or technical fields.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

My spontaneous interactions with kids on the street, and the stories I write for them, form the basis of the script. And the kids always keep me on my toes.

NASA and the Three Little Pigs - I had to learn to juggle for this scene.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

People have been enthusiastic!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I believe even more strongly that stories are a powerful way to reach people.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I'd like to get some more exposure to the pilot.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this webseries’s message?

A museum in Southern California has agreed to host the show, but we need a producer and funding to film the first season.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this webseries to have?

I hope we can emphasize that arts and storytelling are a vital component of STEM education.

NASA and the Three Little Pigs - Dr. Sparks writes stories for folks on a mechanical typewriter.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this webseries?

"Why 10 cents per story?"

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I still type stories for people at museums and bars regularly. Lately I've been performing a live science show using phone apps and other custom technology. It's a riot of an experience. Check out my website at karljpsmith.com for all my projects.

Interview: October 2018

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

10 Cent Stories - NASA and the Three Little Pigs

I'm Dr. Sparks, and I'm a storyteller and a scientist. I write stories for people on a mechanical typewriter, and I charge a dime for each one. I use my stories to teach people science!

Length: 9min

Director: Karl J. P. Smith

Producer: Karl J. P. Smith

About the writer, director and producer:

Karl J. P. Smith writes stories for people on a mechanical typewriter, and he want to use this storytelling as a way to teach kids STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) concepts. When he's not typing, he's Karl J. P. Smith, a scientist and storyteller with a Ph. D. in Biophysics from the University of Rochester. His science journalism has appeared in Scientific American, and he currently works on the A.I. behind Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Key cast: Karl J. P. Smith

Looking for: producers, buyers, film festival directors, journalists

Social media handles:

Facebook: 10centstories

Twitter: 10centstories

Instagram: 10centstories

Where was this filmed? Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, NY

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? At the 2018 NYC Web Fest! https://celebmix.com/the-official-selections-for-the-nyc-web-fest-2018-has-been-announced/