Twelve and Under is back.
The beloved talent series, which premiered on TTT and was hosted by the late Hazel Ward-Redman, aka Aunty Hazel, is back with a new format and purpose.
Lawyer Christophe Braithwaite is the man behind the revival of the show, which served as a pipeline for some of the country’s best dancers, singers and artists in the past.
Braithwaite told Loop News that growing up he was a fan of the show, even though he failed an audition for the show, it left an indelible mark on him.
The former St Benedict’s College student has been involved in arts and entertainment for years, working behind the scenes for various events and promotions. As a lawyer, he specializes in entertainment, intellectual property and sports law.
Currently Corporate Secretary and Legal Officer at TTT, Braithwaite said when the station put out a call for local programming, he realized he could become the nexus for creating its own local content.
“I saw Scouting for Talent, 12 and Under, Mastana Bahar and thought I could reformat these shows, package them and it could be interesting and what better time than now given the things going on in our society with the scourge of crime,” he said. .
Braithwaite’s intention is to use the show to help the country’s youth.
“When I reformatted it I had this in mind. Each episode has a theme behind it, so there are themes about how to be a better Trinbagonian, social responsibility and accountability, cultural heroes, cultural unification, the environment,” he revealed.
There will also be mentors for the contestants from the semi-final stage.
Artists and industry figures such as Soca stars Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons, Grammy Award-winning producer Dexter Simmons, Dynasty actor Christopher Robert Riley, Caesar’s Army CEO Jules Sobion, Question Mark’s CEO Simon Daptiste Cooper and scenography. will be among the mentors. They will talk to the contestants about their journeys, pitfalls and obstacles and give young people tips on how to monetize their talents.
Jazz singer Vaughnette Bigford, or Aunty V as she’s calling herself, will be the main presenter. Pianist Johanna Chuckaree will be a secondary host.
Applications for potential contestants are currently open.
There will be three categories for performers: Vocal, Instrumental and Variety Acts.
A panel of five judges will judge the performers from auditions to prelims. Four new judges will participate in the semi-finals and the final. The public can also vote for the best judge and that person will join the final judging panel. The public can also vote for a semi-final wildcard from the preliminaries.
The final will take place on November 2.
Lawyer Christophe Braithwaite is the man behind the 12 and Under Youth
Prizes will range from a trip to Disney World in accordance with the previous 12 and Under Grand Prize and special prizes for various categories.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts is the main sponsor for the show, but Braithwaite is asking corporate T&T to come on board so they can increase production and achieve all their goals.
“We would think that sponsors would jump out at this cause which is not just a talent show, it’s youth development and it’s a way to give kids an opportunity to showcase their talent. We have interests, yes, but when it comes to spending, they are not there. They are adopting a wait-and-see approach. Wait and see for what? We’re at war with our children with the kind of diseases they’re exposed to, so we need to be associated with things that are seen as a fight against,” Braithwaite said.
If you have a gifted child, submit your information for consideration here: www.12nunder.com/upload
