Whoever said nice guys finish last, don’t know about the success that the producers of Just Do GOOD Entertainment have achieved.
Having formed a company that creates content that inspires and performs good deeds for the people and organizations they feature, in only one year, the founders, Monty Hobbs and Valerie Smaldone, have procured robust distribution for a reality series hosted by a tv icon, finished production on the first episode of a new series, are in pre-production for another, and published a children’s book. All these projects have one thing in common: they shine a light on being kind and doing for others.
And just this week, Hobbs and Smaldone struck a deal for two of their properties on UP Faith and Family, the leading subscription streaming service in uplifting entertainment. Divine Renovation, Destination: New England, hosted by legendary actor Erik Estrada, launches on the rapidly growing streaming service on Friday, April 11.
Robert McDougall, Director of Content Strategy and Acquisitions at UP Entertainment, said, “Divine Renovation is a natural fit for UP Faith & Family and our audience. With the ever-charming Erik Estrada at the helm, this series highlights selfless efforts, hard work, and exceptional Faith – even in hard times – of deserving individuals. Divine Renovation also encourages all of us to appreciate small acts of kindness and to remember the impact we have on those in our communities.”
The second season of the home improvement show with a spiritual twist was shot entirely in Northwestern Connecticut. The producers were able to galvanize businesses, municipalities and not-for-profits in the region, which created a groundswell of volunteers who joined the production to assist helping individuals, families and facilities in need. Divine Renovation, Destination: New England features stories of strength, courage, enduring love and resilience.
From installing a ramp for a child with a rare disease to providing a much-needed asphalt paved path for a man in a wheelchair, from building furniture to help with the training of dogs in a highly specialized facility to providing a new industrial kitchen in a homeless shelter, Divine Renovation serves to improve living situations and deliver surprises as well. Mayor Elinor Carbone of Torrington, Connecticut, was so moved by the improvements made for residents in the area that she declared June 20 “Divine Renovation Day.”
Estrada, known for his iconic role as “Ponch” on the tv show CHiPs, signed on quickly for the host position exclaiming “what we’re doing is something that I’ll always have with me as a memory, a good memory, knowing that I did the right thing.”
Feel good content apparently resonates as the Divine Renovation franchise has received a Telly, Davey and Impact Docs Award for the series.
Hobbs and Smaldone believe the shows they produce have struck a chord and that audiences crave stories that inspire, warm the heart, and simply make people feel good. With that in mind, they conceived and produced Finding Kindness, featuring Wendy Kaufman, known for being the Snapple Lady in the wildly successful advertising campaign for the popular beverage in the 1990s. The producers, who also host the show, felt the beloved personality would be the perfect special celebrity guest for their debut episode. Smaldone said, “Wendy is incredibly generous and kind and has an amazing life story to tell.” Hobbs added, “her infectious laugh and kind spirit was just wonderful to be around when filming.” Finding Kindness will be available early summer on UP Faith and Family.
While the Just Do GOOD Entertainment partners are currently in pre-production for a series that will show the compassion of the human spirit, they also just launched a book for children with a special message.
The new series, Air Angels: Flight Helene, will celebrate the pilots who flew their private planes and helicopters into the devastated region of western North Carolina, ravaged by ferocious Hurricane Helene. These heroic individuals provided supplies and performed rescues, in some cases, at great personal risk. Joining the producing team on Air Angels: Flight Helene is award-winning editor Jay Batchler, a proud University of North Carolina School of the Arts graduate. This gripping docuseries is slated to begin shooting in Wilmington in late July with Emmy Award winning newscaster Gilbert Baez as host.
Stepping into new territory, Hobbs and Smaldone were compelled to commission a book geared toward older kids with a storyline focused on a parent with Multiple Sclerosis. Officer Erik and the Very Special Dad, written by Erik Estrada and best-selling author Steven Manchester, is intended to normalize life with a parent who has a chronic illness or disability. The character of Officer Erik, modeled after Erik Estrada’s real-life stories, is produced by Just Do GOOD Entertainment and published by The Three Tomatoes Publishing. The book came out earlier this month in time for MS Awareness Month. In keeping with doing actionable deeds with their projects, the producers have committed to donating a portion of retail proceeds to MS charities.
Between the series they conceive of and produce, the book that they launched, and live events they have planned, Just Do GOOD Entertainment remains deeply entrenched in their mission of giving back, celebrating community and simply doing good, proving that kindness does indeed win.
www.justdogoodent.com
