OUT FOR BLOODHOUNDS: Indepedent video producer Global Kid Vid & Film Factory wanted to make the biggest spalsh possible in promoting it's new children mystery video series, "Bloodhounds," based on the "Bloodhounds, Inc." book series by author Bill Myers. So for the holiday buying season, the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based producer launched the first five tapes from the series with a book giveaway.

Producer Marcia Silen of Marcia Silen Films says the company is looking for a TV deal for the series, which stars Richard Thomas and his daughter, Kendra Thomas. Once the show is picked up, the company will begin distributing the video at brick-and-mortar retail. Kid Vid & Film expects "Bloodhounds" will begin airing on a network next fall.

In the meantime, the holiday promotion offered the first 50 buyers of the video, which was sold exclusively through Bigstar.com, the first four books in the series for free. Bigstar.com has an exclusive on the product through March 23. The tapes sell for $12.75 each.

As a follow-up to the holiday promotion, Global Kid Vid is launching a national talent search to caste the sixth installmant of the series, which is scheduled to be shot in March. Silen says an online contest is also in the works, for which the kids will be encouraged to send the producers their ideas for future shows.

"The whole idea", she says, "is to allow kids who never thought they could reach out touch a TV show the chance to do so."

The company has also earmarked a portion of the proceeds from vidoe sales for charities supported by the guest stars who appear in the series.

For instance, episode five, "Fangs For The Memories," features James Bond villain Richard Kiel, who played Jaws in both "Moonraker" and is involved with the American Cancer Society.

"We will donate a portion of profits in Richard's name to the American Cancer Society's San Joaquin, Calif., chapter," says Silen. "Now we're going after Angela Lansbury and Peter Falk to appear in the series because they've had high-profile mystery TV shows. In our show they'll help the kid detectives solve a mystery."