Kids Take Pride In Their Creativity With MashPlant

CHICAGO (CBS) -- So you're a budding artist, composer, singer or comedy writer, and you want to show off your stuff and hear what others have to say about it.

But did we mention you're just in middle school?

Where do you turn? CBS 2's Derrick Young reports a new interactive Web site is the big idea of a Chicago man who really knows entertainment.

The Web site is MashPlant.com, an online community where kids can upload their music, videos, writing and performances, and get real-time advice from professionals in their fields.

Its creator is Jason Brett, a veteran film and TV producer who doesn't skip a beat getting kids into the arts.

"We just want to give them a safe, supportive place where they could showcase; where they could share their passion with their friends and be recognized for what they're doing," Brett said.

But MashPlant is expanding beyond the Web, and turning classrooms into studios.

Music teacher Jesse Nolan is using MashPlant in his class at Sunset Ridge School in Northfield.

The studio program gives kids a chance to develop their work together, and practice it before they upload it to the Web site for all the world to see.

Students give each other feedback and learn how to collaborate.

"The kids also end up with this sense of ownership – we did this as a group – and that to me is the most important thing," Nolan said.

"The whole group really connects," added one of the students, Ellie.

For Brett, that's what it's all about.

"We want to take them from, 'Can I?' to, 'I can,'" he said.