Granny Ranny's Addenda

Sesame Street: Bedtime With Elmo Comes to DVD July 7

2009-07-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

Bedtime has never been so much fun as it is when Elmo and Sesame Street help to tuck you in. Remaining true to the Sesame Street style, this is a short, sweet, and effective film that deals with common issues around bedtime. It is time for Elmo and many other monsters to go to sleep, but everyone seems to be having a hard time. With the help of songs, caring people, and colorful animations, the monsters learn that everyone needs sleep as well as some helpful strategies. Timeless issues such as being afraid of the dark, not wanting to sleep, and having scary thoughts are addressed and assuaged with practical strategies that parents can utilize. The film also provides convincing strategies for children, and promotes children to help each other fall asleep in situations such as sleepovers. The film encourages utilizing imagination and looking forward to dreaming and the energy acquired for playing the next day as incentives for going to sleep. In classic Sesame Street style to maintain attention, Bedtime With Elmo interjects the Elmo’s story with many other short episodes involving bedtime, including children from around the world going to sleep, Bert and Ernie dreaming, and even a poem about the moon in American Sign Language. Bedtime With Elmo is a focused and successful Sesame Street special that provides useful tools for parents and children around a common childhood issue. DVD. 45 min.; $14.93; Ages 2-5 Genius Products.

Jimmy Smits hosts "A Capitol Fourth" On PBS -July 4th at 8 ET

2009-07-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits returns to host the biggest and brightest birthday party in the country, A CAPITOL FOURTH, featuring for the first time ever, Barry Manilow, who will both open and close the concert broadcast with a stirring medley of hits and patriotic classics along with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington. He will be joined by the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, international pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning cast of Jersey Boys, multi Grammy Award-nominee Michael Feinstein and acclaimed classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen. This star-studded cast will light up the stage on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol for the 29th annual A CAPITOL FOURTH celebration featuring unrivaled musical performances with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of America’s prince of pops Erich Kunzel.

As a special treat for the entire family, Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and more of the SESAME STREET gang will be on hand to celebrate America’s 233rd birthday. The Muppets will perform a musical medley of patriotic favorites as well as iconic songs that we all know and love from this breakthrough children’s television series that is celebrating 40 years of fun and learning. The multi-award winning A CAPITOL FOURTH, featuring the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation, will be broadcast live in high definition and commercial free on PBS Saturday, July 4, 2009 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, and around the world to our troops on the American Forces Radio and Television Network. A CAPITOL FOURTH can also be heard live in stereo over NPR Member stations nationwide.

The skyline of the nation’s capital will come alive with vibrant and booming pyrotechnics, set against silhouettes of national landmarks the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. A Capitol Fourth will capture this stunning fireworks display from every vantage point with eighteen TV cameras stationed around the city – including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and across the Potomac River. Capping off the show will be a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now A Capitol Fourth tradition. Also participating in the event will be The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, The U.S. Army “Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

Commented Smits, “I am honored to be asked once again to host this year's special party to celebrate our great country's birthday…and what a 'guest list!' The music itself embraces so many genres – we’ve got pop, we’ve got classical and we’ve got soul. Throw in an anniversary celebration of Sesame Street, topped off with the biggest fireworks display around and we’ve got quite a show!”

For A Capitol Fourth executive producer Jerry Colbert has assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television’s most prestigious entertainment awards shows. This includes Emmy award-winning producer Walter C. Miller, American’s leading director and producer of live programs including the Grammy Awards and Country Music Awards; award-winning director Paul Miller whose credits include the Country Music Awards and Saturday Night Live; and veteran television writer Jon Macks, whose credits include the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Academy Awards and the Emmy Awards. The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.

We recently caught up with Elmo and Big Bird to talk about their upcoming performance in A CAPITOL FOURTH and their thoughts on being in the nation’s capital for Independence Day.

Q: Why are you coming to Washington D.C for Independence Day?

Elmo: Elmo is coming for the fireworks.

Big Bird: I love the fireworks but I’m also coming because I want to see the big Capitol building.

Elmo: Its pretty, isn’t it?

Big Bird: And big!

Q: Elmo you’ve performed in front of the Capitol before on A CAPITOL FOURTH, what was that like?

Elmo: It was so cool because a lot of Elmo’s friends got to sing with Elmo and Elmo got to see the fireworks and sing with that wonderful orchestra!
Q: This year, in addition to Big Bird, who are some of your other friends from SESAME STREET are going to perform at A CAPITOL FOURTH?

Elmo: A lot of our friends are coming. Isn’t that right Big Bird?

Big Bird: Yes, Rosita’s coming and Abby Cadabby and Oscar the Grouch too- he’s such a sweetie!

Elmo: Cookie Monster’s coming too. He’s looking forward to the cookies with the stripes and the stars on them.

Q: Big Bird, what do you think is going to be special about celebrating Independence Day in Washington D.C?
Big Bird: Well I think it’s very special for us to be celebrating America’s big birthday party in Washington D.C. because that’s where America gets governed.
Elmo: Governed?

Big Bird: It means a government and we’re a democracy.
Elmo: Democracy.

Big Bird: I see you have a lot to learn Elmo.

Q: Elmo, what sort of things make you think of the Fourth of July?

Elmo: Wonderful songs like “You’re a Grand Old Flag… you’re a high fiving flag.” Elmo loves that song.

Elmo: What about you Big Bird?

Big Bird: I like singing songs too.

Q: A CAPITOL FOURTH has some very special guests coming to perform this year including Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow and Natasha Bedingfield. Who are you excited to meet and why?

Elmo: Boy that’s a lot of really special guests! Elmo hopes that Miss Aretha Franklin wears that same hat that she wore at the Inauguration, it was really pretty. But Elmo would love to meet Mr. Barry Manilow too.
For more than 25 years, Capital Concerts has produced the two major patriotic events at the U.S. Capitol. In 1981, Colbert presented the first PBS Fourth of July telecast with the National Symphony Orchestra and guest artists performing live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

In 1990, he introduced the National Memorial Day Concert. Since then, both holiday specials have been honored with over 80 awards including the New York Film Festival Award, the Telly Award, the Golden Cine Award, the Videographer Award, the National Education Association Award, the Aurora Award, the Christopher Award, the Communicator’s Award, the AXIEM Award, the Omni Award and the Writer’s Guild of America Award.

A Capitol Fourth 2009 is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, the National Endowment for the Arts, PBS and public television stations nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.

Silverdocs Announces 2009 Festival Winners

2009-06-29T01:00:00.007-06:00

SILVERDOCS: AFI-Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Festival announced its distinguished award winners, culminating the weeklong Festival activities that included screening 122 films representing 58 countries, free outdoor screenings and live performances, and a five-day concurrent International Documentary Conference. The festival is on target to host over 25,000 attendees, including more than 1,000 filmmakers, film and television executives and media professionals exploring the documentary in action, with a particular emphasis on youth, education and next generation media artists. Winning filmmakers received over $70,000 in combined cash and in-kind prizes.

The Sterling Award for a US Feature goes to OCTOBER COUNTRY directed by Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher, which documents the multi-generational story of a working-class family coping with poverty, teen pregnancy, foster care and the ineffable horrors of child molestation and war. The directors will receive $10,000 cash.

The Sterling Award for a World Feature goes to MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN directed by Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson, which explores, through the lens of a 74-year-old white farmer, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s deeply controversial land seizure program, which intended to re-distribute white-owned farmland. The director will receive $10,000 cash.

The Sterling Award for a Short Film was given to 12 NOTES DOWN directed by Andreas Koefoed, which documents 14-year old star choir performer, Jorgis, after his voice starts changing as he decides when and how to make an unexpected yet graceful exit from choir. The filmmaker will receive $5,000 cash.

The Music Documentary Award presented by Gibson Guitars went to RISEUP directed by Luciano Blotta. The film chronicles three Jamaican musicians as they fight for a place in the overcrowded reggae field. Gibson Guitars will present a Gibson Les Paul Studio to the winner.

The Cinematic Vision Award went to OLD PARTNER directed by Lee Chung-ryoul. The film captures the peculiar yet touching relationship between an old farmer, living in a remote South Korean village, and his 40-year old ox. The filmmaker will receive $2,500 cash and $4,000 of in-kind services from Alpha Cine.

The WITNESS Award in honor of Joey R. B. Lozano was given to GOOD FORTUNE by Landon Van Soest, which examines two multi-million dollar international aid projects in Africa that may actually be undermining the very communities they seek to help. The award is given to the strongest documentary about human rights violations or social justice issues. The filmmaker will receive $5,000 cash.

The Award Winner for the Animal Content in Entertainment (ACE) Grant went to CINEMA CHIMP by David Grabias. The feature-length documentary profiles Cheeta, “star” of film and TV, as it explores the ethical debate over using non-human primate “actors” in the entertainment industry. The director will receive a $25,000 grant.

The Feature Audience Award went to THE COVE directed by Louie Psihoyos, which follows Richard O’Barry, the man who made “Flipper” a household name, as he and his team try to stop Japanese fishermen from slaughtering dolphins for the consumer marker. Psyhoyo’s film is an indictment of human greed and arrogance, a tale of redemption and a desperate call to action.

For more information, go to SILVERDOCS.com.

Pink Panther 2 available on DVD June 23

2009-06-22T01:00:00.002-06:00

Inspect the unexpected when five-time Golden Globe®-nominee Steve Martin* (Father of the Bride) springs back into action as the blundering French police officer, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Co-starring Oscar®-nominees John Cleese** (Rat Race) and Andy Garcia*** (Ocean's Eleven), Yuki Matsuzaki (Letters From Iwo Jima), Emily Mortimer (Lars and the Real Girl) and Bollywood sensation Aishwarya Rai (The Mistress of Spices), The Pink Panther 2 is the side-splitting sequel to the worldwide hit The Pink Panther, based on the 1964 original starring the legendary Peter Sellers. After a thief known as "The Tornado" allegedly steals a variety of precious items, including France's beloved pink panther diamond, an "international dream team" of detectives band together to crack the case. Slowing down the process is the team's leader, Inspector Clouseau, the highly unintelligent officer who has a way of missing the obvious until he somehow stumbles onto the truth.

Synopsis: Steve Martin returns to the scene of the fun as the brilliant, bumbling Inspector

Jacques Clouseau in this side-splitting slapstick comedy for the whole family! When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther diamond, Clouseau is assigned to a dream team of international detectives who are under pressure to bring the master thief to justice before he strikes again. Co-starring Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin and John Cleese, The Pink Panther 2 will steal your heart...and keep you laughing!

This package is full of films and cartoons for the whole family, The Pink Panther 2 Blu-ray disc and two-disc DVD feature all-new bonus materials galore including a gag reel, exclusive behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more, plus bonus disc featuring 27 Pink Panther cartoons. Bonus features include:

Disc One

· Gag reel
· Drama is Easy...Comedy is Dangerous
· A Dream Team Like No Other
· Master Thief-Global Crime Showdown!
Disc Two

· Digital Copy File of The Pink Panther 2 for Portable Players

Disc Three

· Bonus disc featuring 27 Pink Panther cartoons
o The Pink Phink - 1964 Academy-Award® winner for Short Subjects, Animated Films
o Pink Pajamas
o We Give Pink Stamps
o Dial 'P' For Pink
o Sink Pink
o Pickled Pink
o Pinkfinger
o Shocking Pink
o Pink Ice
o The Pink Tail Fly
o Pink Panzer
o An Ounce of Pink
o Reel Pink
o Bully For Pink
o Pink Punch
o Pink Pistons
o Vitamin Pink
o The Pink Blue Print
o Pink, Plunk, Plink
o Smile Pretty, Say Pink
o Pink-A-Boo
o Genie With The Light Pink Fur
o Super Pink
o Rock A Bye Pinky
o Pinknic
o Pink Panic
o Pink Posies

Two-Disc DVD Specs:

The Pink Panther 2 DVD release features the theatrical version of the film presented in widescreen format (1.85:1) with English 5.1 Dolby Surround and Spanish and French Dolby Surround with English and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

Disc One

· Gag reel

· Drama is Easy...Comedy is Dangerous

· A Dream Team Like No Other

Disc Two

· Bonus disc featuring 27 Pink Panther cartoons

o The Pink Phink - 1964 Academy-Award® winner for Short Subjects, Animated Films

o Pink Pajamas

o We Give Pink Stamps

o Dial 'P' For Pink

o Sink Pink

o Pickled Pink

o Pinkfinger

o Shocking Pink

o Pink Ice

o The Pink Tail Fly

o Pink Panzer

o An Ounce of Pink

o Reel Pink

o Bully For Pink

o Pink Punch

o Pink Pistons

o Vitamin Pink

o The Pink Blue Print

o Pink, Plunk, Plink

o Smile Pretty, Say Pink

o Pink-A-Boo

o Genie With The Light Pink Fur

o Super Pink

o Rock A Bye Pinky

o Pinknic

o Pink Panic

o Pink Posies

New Children’s Book Comforts Children During Relocation

2009-06-20T01:00:00.001-06:00

Whether moving across town or across the country, when children are faced with changing schools and leaving friends behind it's often an emotional, if not traumatic experience. Ryan is Moving Away (published by AuthorHouse), the new, illustrated in full-color children's book by Emi Mead, follows a little boy named Ryan as he experiences the emotions of such a move.

When Ryan's dad informs his family at the dinner table one night that he has been offered a position on the West Coast and the family would be moving there, his good news is not met with the happiest reception. Ryan is decidedly against the move and doesn't want to leave his school and his best friend, Jason.

But his parents have a few surprises in store that might make preparing for the move more enjoyable for Ryan, including his very first trip on an airplane and a house-hunting experience! Ryan delights in the experience of flying on a plane and visiting new homes with unfamiliar flowers and palm trees everywhere. Not wanting to admit that he has a favorite of the potential houses, Ryan holds firm to the idea that he does not want to move or leave his friends.

The next day their real estate broker, Anne, and Ryan's parents introduce him to Anne's son, Eric, who is about Ryan's age and plays Little League, like Ryan. Ryan's parents decide between the houses that they looked at and choose the one that Ryan secretly liked the most. When his parents make an offer that is accepted and they make the final preparations by packing up all their belongings in boxes, Ryan knows that he must "get used to it."

But will California and his new life have more surprises in store for him? What will happen to those that he leaves behind? Find out in the playfully illustrated pages of Ryan is Moving Away, which is inspired by the real-life experience of a young boy moving from the Midwest to the West Coast. Sure to be loved and appreciated by those children and parents about to relocate, Ryan is Moving Away invites readers to enjoy the new experiences involved in moving to a new place and teaches an important lesson about friendship.

Emi Mead is a former real estate professional with over 25 years of experience. She learned through her own family's relocation experiences and those of her clients that children are especially vulnerable to major life changes. She currently lives with her husband in Kansas City and works as a freelance writer and advocate for domestic violence victims. Mead has five adult children and three grandchildren.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.authorhouse.com.

Thoughts for Dads This Father's Day about Their Girls

2009-06-17T01:00:00.002-06:00

From Joe Kelly, The Dad Man: Why should your daughter or stepdaughter participate in sports? To be more healthy (in mind and body), feel better about herself, learn new skills, stay off alcohol and drugs, defer sexual activity, and, oh yeah, TO HAVE FUN! Sadly, some people worry that girls are too delicate, unskilled, or inadequate to play sports. To which the smart father and stepfather reply: "Baloney." Here are some tips to help you provide the kind of support your girl needs.

1. MAKE SPORTS FUN FROM AN EARLY AGE. Keep a relaxed approach when she's young. For example, have athletic-theme parties, like pizza and kickball.

2. DEMONSTRATE INTEREST IN HER ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES. Attend her games and other extracurricular activities. If you live away from your daughter, be sure to talk with her after every game to hear how it went.

3. GO TO THE GAMES TO CHEER. You can cheer hard for your girl, and then cheer for everyone who is playing. Every kid (and parent) should remember why they call it "playing" a "game."

4. LEAVE COACHING TO THE COACHES. Tina Syer of the Positive Coaching Alliance says, "You're there to fill the kids' emotional tanks and make sure they bounce back from mistakes, not to tweak their throwing motion or tell them where to be on the field." Be smart about choosing coaches tuned in to her age and skill level. If there's a lack of adequate coaches, sign up to volunteer!

5. BE A MODEL FAN. Think about what you would look like on the sidelines if someone were videotaping you instead of the game. Be sure you (and your daughter) would be proud of what you'd see.

6. ASK, "WHAT DO WE EACH HOPE TO GET FROM THE EXPERIENCE?" Then tell her what you hope she gets. If you don't talk (and listen), she may assume all you care about is a winning record or how good her stats are. Make sure she knows you want sports to be a fun way to make friends, test herself, be healthy, and feel good about herself.

7. LET HER PLAY WITH BOYS. In Raising Our Athletic Daughters: How Sports Can Build Self-Esteem And Save Girls' Lives, authors Jean Zimmerman and Gil Reavill suggest utilizing coed or single-sex programs according to your daughter's comfort level and what will contribute most to her learning and growth.

8. HELP HER USE "MISTAKES" PRODUCTIVELY. When she messes up, she'll look to you first. So illustrate how to put mistakes in perspective by 1) showing her how to let go of them & 2) encouraging (not demanding or requiring) her to use mistakes as motivation to improve her skills.

9. MAKE SURE GIRLS & BOYS HAVE EQUAL SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES. Support Title IX and encourage school and other sports programs to be aware of and promptly address inequities in opportunities and resources.

10. KEEP A RELAXED, FUN APPROACH. Team sports teach girls how to be self-reliant while also working collaboratively to be competitive. If she loses interest in sports, you and she can still be physically active together--and there are plenty of other ways to relate and have fun as a Dad-Daughter team.

Learn more about healthy fathering at http://www.thedadman.com/

Kelly presents 1Joe Kelly's "The Dad Factor" workshops and in-service trainings show organizations and institutions how to accomplish more (and accomplish it faster) by mining the untapped natural resource of fathers and stepfathers. Interactive, hands-on sessions teach professionals how to overcome hurdles that inhibit father engagement, assess their own "father-friendliness," and implement proven strategies to get dads to help you get your work done more efficiently.

Thomas & Friends™: Hop On Board Songs And Stories Arriving June 16

2009-06-16T01:00:00.003-06:00

Life on the Island of Sodor is extremely busy for the engines. While Thomas and his friends are hard at work, they like to listen to music and sing-along. Now you can join in on all the fun with this DVD collection of Thomas & Friends songs and episodes, including a bonus music CD featuring 5 songs: “The Roll Call Song,” “Let’s Have a Race,” “Toby,” “The Island Song” and “He’s a Really Useful Engine.”

Follow the bouncing steam cloud to read the words and sing along to Thomas’ Anthem, Let's Have a Race, Gone Fishing and four other Island of Sodor favorites. You’ll also enjoy two classic Thomas & Friends episodes “Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady” and “Bulldog”, as well as a bonus sing-along, "It’s Great to Be an Engine.” Hop on board for toe-tappin’ fun with Thomas & Friends Sing-Along & Stories.

It’s a magical musical ride when Thomas and his engine friends travel the tracks on the Island of Sodor with the toe-tapping DVD+Bonus Music CD Set, Thomas & Friends™: Hop on Board Songs and Stories, steaming into stores June 16, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. The set is fully-loaded with fan favorites including 2 classic Thomas & Friends stories, 7 sing-alongs and a bonus music CD featuring 5 songs!

Teaching timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

Indie Filmmaking: 35 Tips From Experts

2009-06-15T01:00:00.005-06:00

Last weekend's "Produced By" Conference, as reported by Nikki Finke, came up with some great tips for indie filmmakers. Among the top 10 things you should or should do were: change the title of your film to begin with a "A" to get higher placement on iTumes, experiment with new ways to market and promote your film, expect things to be tough cause we're in tough economic times, back up your creative ideas with a solid budget and schedule, don't expect foreign presales to bring in as much as in years past, producers with a successful track record will have an easier time than those who don't, pay attention to genre and don't get yourself into something so offbeat there's no audience for it, get some name talent!, bank financing has dropped 66%, understand your audience from the get go.

For the full story, go to: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/. Posted June 11, 2009.

Barney™: Sing & Dance with Barney Arriving June 16

2009-06-15T01:00:00.000-06:00

Come celebrate with Barney as he plans a very special sing-along party and invites many of his friends in Barney: Sing & Dance with Barney, available in stores June 16, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. The group sings some of their all-time favorites, such as “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “B-I-N-G-O” and “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star,” while being transported to some Tee-riffic places, such as a farm, a campsite in the woods and a storybook land. There are over 55 minutes of singing and dancing to 20 of Barney's favorite melodies. As an added bonus, each DVD includes a free music CD featuring 5 songs: “The Clapping Song,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “The More We Get Together,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “You Can Count On Me.” This is a celebration no Barney fan will want to miss!

Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney™ displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television, online and through live events, home entertainment and publishing. The Emmy award-winning series Barney & Friends™ changed the face of children’s programming when it first launched and continues to be one of the top-rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS® and PBS KIDS SproutSM.

Garfield Adventure “Garfield’s Pet Force” is Coming to DVD June 16, 2009

2009-06-14T01:00:00.008-06:00

Let the fur fly! Garfield’s newest full-length feature is a story of epic proportions. It’s an interstellar battle between the characters of Cartoon World and the evil Vetvix who’s bent on controlling the entire universe. In the non-stop, action-packed “Garfield’s Pet Force,” available on DVD June 16, 2009 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, meet the superhero versions of Garfield, Odie, Nermal and Arlene who exist in a parallel world where their crime fighting powers are the stuff of legend. But when they find themselves in trouble with Vetix, the fearless foursome have to recruit their earthly counterparts to help save the universe!

Having just celebrated his 30th Birthday, Garfield is one of the most beloved and enduring icons with the most widely syndicated comic strips in the world – 200 million readers and counting – and more than eleven million DVDs sold to date. “Garfield’s’ Pet Force”, for ages 6-12, includes an exclusive “Professor Wally’s Moscrambulator” DVD-ROM game where you can build your own superhero.

One minute, Garfield and his pals are having a cookout, the next, they’re engaged in a super battle with a sinister alien and her army of zombies! When an evil comic book demoness tries to make everyone in Cartoon World her slaves, all the comic strip characters become superheroes in order to thwart her. Well, all except Garfield, who thinks being a superhero sounds like too much work! But when he sees all his friends in trouble, the fat cat might have to rise to the occasion!

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES: · Exclusive DVD-ROM game - “Professor Wally’s Moscrambulator”

Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary on DVD June 16

2009-06-13T01:00:00.003-06:00

Few stories have captured a significant historical experience and continue to make an impact to this day than The Diary of Anne Frank. On June 16, 2009, four days after what would have been Anne Frank's 80th birthday, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release a 50th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD of the cinematic classic based on the young Jewish girl's experience during the Holocaust. The diary which has sold more than 31 million copies, has been translated into 67 languages, is still taught in schools around the world, and arguably one of the key texts of the twentieth century, inspired two-time Academy Award winning Director George Stevens (Best Director, Giant, A Place in the Sun) to start a dialog with Anne's father Otto Frank that led to the making of this three-time Academy Award winning film. Starring Millie Perkins (Wall Street), Oscar winner Joseph Schildkraut (Best Supporting Actor, The Life of Emile Zola), two-time Academy Award winner Shelley Winters (Best Supporting Actress, A Patch of Blue), Richard Beymer and Diane Baker, The Diary of Anne Frank chronicles the lives of two Jewish families from 1942 to 1944 hiding from the Nazis. Cramped in a tiny Amsterdam attic for two years, Anne and seven others struggle to survive as sirens in the street below constantly reminded them that Hitler's army was waiting.

To mark the 50th Anniversary, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has worked closely with George Stevens Jr. to create The Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary Edition BD and DVD which includes all-new bonus features that talk to the film's cinematic history, the letters that were shared between George Stevens and his son during the making of the film, a reflection by the film's surviving stars and more.

Synopsis: With compelling performances from an all-star cast, including Shelley Winters, Ed Wynn, Richard Beymer and Lou Jacobi, The Diary of Anne Frank is as gripping and heart-wrenching now as it was during its initial release! In honor of the film’s 50th Anniversary, this Special Edition DVD offers an unprecedented look at the making of the film with an audio commentary, seven exclusive featurettes, photo galleries and more!

Following the Nazi invasion of Amsterdam, 13-year-old Anne and her family go into hiding in the confines of an attic. Anne’s remarkable account of their lives, their growing fear of discovery, their deplorable living conditions and even the blooming of her first love are intimately portrayed in this extraordinary portrait of humanity. Nominated for eight 1959 Oscars® and winning three, The Diary of Anne Frank remains one of cinema’s most astounding and enduring treasures.

*Won: Best Supporting Actress (Winters), Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White and Cinematography, Black-and-White. Nominated: Best Picture and Director (Stevens), Best Supporting Actor (Ed Wynn), Best Costume Design, Black-and-White, Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

Blu-ray Disc Specs:

The Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary Edition BD release is presented in widescreen format (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio, Spanish Mono and French 5.0 Dolby Digital with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

· Audio commentary with George Stevens Jr. and Millie Perkins (Anne Frank)
· ALL NEW Introduction: George Stevens Jr. and World War II
· ALL NEW The Making of The Diary of Anne Frank: A Son’s Memories
· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker (Margot Frank)
· ALL NEW Shelley Winters and The Diary of Anne Frank
· ALL NEW The Score of The Diary of Anne Frank – a look at the legendary composer Alfred Newman
· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Correspondence - Letters between George Stevens and his son written during the making of the film
· ALL NEW Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman
· Diary of Anne Frank: Echoes from the Past
· Diary of Anne Frank: Excerpt from “George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey”
· George Stevens Press Conference
· Millie Perkins Screen Test
· Movietone News:
o Millie Perkins, To Be Anne Frank in Film of Diary
o Nobel Peace Prize to Belgian Priest
o Anne Frank Diary Star Readies For Film’s 1st Nights
o Academy Award Highlights
o Millie Perkins Visits the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
o Brilliant Turnout For L.A. Premiere Anne Frank Diary
· Theatrical Trailer
· International Trailer
· Interactive Pressbook Gallery
· Behind-the-scenes Gallery

DVD Specs:

The Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary Edition DVD release is presented in widescreen format (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound, Spanish Mono and French 4.0 Dolby Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

· Audio commentary with George Stevens Jr. and Millie Perkins (Anne Frank)

· ALL NEW Introduction: George Stevens Jr. and World War II

· ALL NEW The Making of The Diary of Anne Frank: A Son’s Memories

· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker (Margot Frank)

· ALL NEW Shelley Winters and The Diary of Anne Frank

· ALL NEW The Score of The Diary of Anne Frank – a look at the legendary composer Alfred Newman

· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Correspondence - Letters between George Stevens and his son written during the making of the film

· ALL NEW Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman

Matthew Broderick Celebrates Father's Day with Cyberchase!

2009-06-12T01:00:00.000-06:00

Award-winning film and stage actor Matthew Broderick will guest star as the voice of Max in a special “Father’s Day” episode of Cyberchase – the Emmy Award-winning animated math series – premiering June 19 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings). In this exciting episode, Hacker sets out to ruin Father’s Day while Max and the CyberSquad try to stop him.

"My son loves Cyberchase, so I was happy to lend my voice to the show,” said guest star Matthew Broderick. “The best part is that I haven't told him I did it; I'm waiting to surprise him when we watch the episode together. I'm sure he'll be more impressed by it than any other work I've done!"

“We're thrilled to have Matthew Broderick as a guest star in this special Cyberchase episode,” said Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.ORG. “Only on Cyberchase would Father's Day mix with math for a half hour of pure entertainment. As a dad, it's a series I'm proud to have in the WNET.ORG family of programs.”

Cyberchase features a trio of smart, curious kids who outwit the dastardly villain Hacker (Christopher Lloyd) during his mad quest to rule Cyberspace. With help of their bird pal Digit (Gilbert Gottfried), the CyberSquad uses math and brain power to foil Hacker’s evil schemes. This time, it’s the annual Father’s Day Parade in Tikiville, and Max (guest star Matthew Broderick) is this year’s Cyber Dad of the Year. Max was once a schoolmate of Hacker’s – and continually bested Hacker in all of their endeavors. Hacker has decided it’s time to get even. His dastardly scheme is to replace Max with a Max robot and make the robot do awful things during the parade. The CyberSquad must use number patterns to crack a series of coded messages sent by Hacker to save the day in Tikiville. Matthew Broderick voices both the easy-going, likeable Max and the evil Max robot in this thrilling Father’s Day Cyberchase adventure.

Following the June 19 on-air premiere, the full “Father’s Day” episode with Matthew Broderick will be available for streaming at Cyberchase Online at pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase and on the PBS KIDS GO! video player at pbskidsgo.org/video. For more Cyberchase fun, kids will also be able to print their very own Cyberchase Father's Day cards and experience other activities at Cyberchase Online.

Now in its seventh season, Cyberchase brings math challenges to kids through television, online games, short form online videos and rich outreach activities.

Cyberchase – the only math series for children on American TV – airs daily on PBS KIDS GO! across the country. Check local listings at Cyberchase Online: pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase. In the tri-state area, Cyberchase can be seen weekdays at 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. on THIRTEEN, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. on V-me and Monday-Friday at 7 a.m. on WLIW21.

Cyberchase is produced by THIRTEEN in association with Title Entertainment Inc. and WNET.ORG. Executive producers are Sandra Sheppard, THIRTEEN’s Director of Children’s and Educational Programming, and Frances Nankin. Ellen Doherty is senior series producer.

Major funding for Cyberchase is provided by the National Science Foundation, Ernst & Young LLP, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by The Volckhausen Family.

GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards by Gatorade

2009-06-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

The Women’s Sports Foundation’s GoGirlGo! Program was created to give girls access to physical activity. GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards championed by Gatorade reward high school girls for taking the lead by inspiring other girls to participate in sports and physical activity.
Teams must lead their own team project that will get girls in their communities physically active and tell us about the project. A total of $50,000 in grants will be awarded in recognition of the outstanding efforts of 20 teams throughout the country.

Apply for a GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards championed by Gatorade today.
Guidelines and Application

What is the purpose of the GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards championed by Gatorade?

Recognizing high school teams that demonstrate leadership in their communities by inspiring girls to get involved in sport and physical activity by awarding a total of $50,000 in cash grants to 20 teams.

Who will administer the program?

The Women’s Sports Foundation administers the program and The Gatorade Company, a national sponsor of the Women’s Sports Foundation is the sponsor of this program.

Who is eligible to apply for the program?

School, amateur, community and/or nonprofit affiliated teams whose members are female, enrolled in 9th-12th grade and residents of the United States, its territories or protectorates.

Grants will be made payable to the school, nonprofit institution or 501(c)(3)organization. Proof of nonprofit status and/or 501(c)(3) status is required (if applicable).

What is the amount of the program?
A total of $50,000 in twenty (20) $2,500 grants.

What are the deadlines and other relevant dates?
The deadline is July 17, 2009.

Shaun the Sheep: Sheep on the Loose Arriving June 9th

2009-06-08T01:00:00.003-06:00

Shaun the Sheep and his barnyard gang are back with more chaos in the countryside! The Oscar®-winning creators of “Wallace and Gromit™” do it again with sheep-tacular new adventures and shear wackiness. Shaun is a sheep who doesn’t follow the flock, and along with the other sheep and those naughty pigs, there’s sure to be plenty of mayhem in the meadow. Follow along with Shaun and his barnyard buddies Shirley, the Farmer, Bitzer the sheep dog and the naughty flock in these six hilarious episodes:

• “Sheep On the Loose” - Nearly all the sheep take the bus to the fun fair. Shaun and Shirley must convince the Farmer that the flock is out to pasture.

• “Saturday Night Shaun” - Shaun finds the Farmer’s old record player in the dump and organizes a rave in the barn - but trouble looms when the Naughty Pigs crash the party.

• “Tidy Up” - The sheep's field is a mess, and the Farmer tells Bitzer to clean it up - but he makes the mistake of getting Shaun and company to help.

• “Shaun the Farmer” - The Farmer is sick in bed, so, with Bitzer playing nurse-maid, it's up to Shaun to handle the daily chores around the farm - with disastrous results.

• “Camping Chaos” - An unfriendly camper sets up his tent in the sheep's field. When he goes off exploring, Shaun and the flock decide to do some exploring of their own.

• “You Can't Stand the Heat” - It is a scorching hot day, and the flock is desperate to cool down in the Sheep Dip. There's only one thing in their way: the sun-bathing Farmer!

It’s a farmyard of fun when Shaun the Sheep™ and his hilarious flock of wooly friends leap onto DVD in the all-new Shaun the Sheep: Sheep on the Loose arriving in stores June 9, 2009.
Shaun the Sheep is an international hit on DVD, selling more than a million units in Europe in only one year! Five-minute shorts of the series also currently air in the U.S. on the Disney Channel. The complete episodes are only available on DVD.

Bob The Builder: Truck Teamwork Arriving June 9

2009-06-07T01:00:00.004-06:00

Team up with Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew in five fun-tastic episodes as they build an exercise park at Bobland Bay, construct a new ice cream parlor complete with a giant ice-cream cone on top, and help with the new shelter to keep the machines cool. Join Muck in a machine wash you won’t forget and see how Benny and Scoop learn that they can accomplish anything with a Can-Do attitude. Get ready for a truck-tacular experience and see that teamwork and friendship are the building blocks for fun and adventure!

Bob the Builder™ and his Can-Do Crew lay the foundation for teamwork in the all-new Bob the Builder: Truck Teamwork, featuring never-before-seen content available ONLY on the DVD on June 9, 2009. Budding builders can see what it takes to get the job done as everyone’s favorite builder and his machine team up to face new challenges. Utilizing the power of positive thinking, problem-solving and follow-through, Bob, Scoop, Muck, Gripper, Grabber, Bristle, Flex, Tumbler and the rest of the Can-Do Crew always have the right tools and the right attitude to work together and complete any job. Can they fix it? Yes they can!

Alliance for Children and Television Reveals the 2009 Awards of Excellence Winners!

2009-06-04T01:00:00.001-06:00

The Alliance for Children and Television (ACT) honoured Canada's top English-language children's programs at the 2009 Awards of Excellence Gala. The jury of Canadian and international industry creators, craftspeople and professionals selected the following award winners:
- Grand Prize for Best Program - All Categories: Johnny Test produced by Cookie Jar Entertainment broadcast by Teletoon (sponsored by Main Sponsor CBC).

- Special Jury Award: Mighty Jungle II produced by Halifax Film a DHX Media Company, broadcast by CBC (sponsored by Shaftesbury Kids).

- Award of Excellence, All Genres, Ages 3-5 category: Are We There Yet?: World Adventure produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment broadcast by Treehouse (sponsored by Hit Entertainment).

- Award of Excellence, All Genres, Ages 6-8 category: Mark's Moments produced and broadcast by TVO (sponsored by Sinking Ship Entertainment).

- Award of Excellence, All Genres, Ages 9-12 category: Booky and the Secret Santa produced by Platt Productions & Shaftesbury Films and Television broadcast by CBC (sponsored by Family Channel).

- Award of Excellence, All Genres, Teens category: Degrassi: The Next Generation produced by Epitome Pictures broadcast by CTV (sponsored by Muse Entertainment Enterprises).

- Award of Excellence, Animation, Ages 3-5 category: My Friend Rabbit produced by Nelvana Limited and broadcast by Treehouse & QUBO (sponsored by Epitome Pictures).

- Award of Excellence, Animation, Ages 6-8 category: Wapos Bay (Raiders of the Lost Art) produced by Wapos Bay Productions broadcast by APTN and SCN (sponsored by 9 Story Entertainment).

- Award of Excellence, Animation Ages 9-14 category: Storm Hawks produced by Nerd Corps Entertainment, broadcast by YTV (sponsored by marblemedia).

- Award of Excellence, Interstitials All Ages category: Roll Play produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment, broadcast by Treehouse (sponsored by TVOKids).

- Award of Excellence, Best Original Cross-Platform Content Tied Into a Children's Program: www.anashinteractive.com (Anash and the Legacy of the Sun-Rock) produced by Reel Girls Media (sponsored by the Bell Fund).

In addition to granting awards for the best programs, the ACT presented two special awards celebrating the remarkable work of two homegrown creators:

The prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award was handed to Patricia Ellingson of TVO who has enjoyed an exceptional career in children's programming in Canada. ACT's Board of Directors is recognizing Patricia Ellingson for her commitment to excellence in children's programming, as well as her leadership and guidance in developing TVO Kids. Winners of this prestigious prize, are chosen for the quality of their contributions, their leadership, their ability to innovate and inspire and their commitment throughout their career to young Canadians (sponsored by the Independent Production Fund).

The Emerging Talent Award went to Christin Simms, writer, script-writer and creative producer for Sinking Ship Entertainment. Christin has already demonstrated exceptional talent and promise in the children's programming industry, notably in the development, story editing and writing of the new prime time animated series, Producing Parker (Breakthrough/CanWest Global) and most recently, in writing, story editing and creative producing on Sinking Ship's pre-historic adventure series "Dino Dan" for TVO and Nickelodeon (sponsored by Corus Entertainment).

At the post-Gala reception marking its 35th anniversary, ACT officially launched An Alliance Devoted to Kids, a short history written by Robert Roy, one of the Alliance's founding members back in 1974. All Gala attendees received a complimentary copy.

The Alliance for Children and Television (ACT) positively affects Canadian children's lives by using advocacy, recognition, research and training to enrich the screen-based media they experience.

More specifically, the ACT Awards of Excellence support creators and encourage the celebration of the best kids' programming in English and French Canada. ACT provides opportunities for creative and professional development through workshops, seminars and special events, such as Media-Jeunes and the Children, Youth & Media Conference. ACT also conducts studies on Canadian youth programming to better understand the media's impact on our young people. Lastly, ACT is at the forefront in lobbying governments and drawing attention to the cause of children's screen-based entertainment.

For more information on the ACT please visit our website at: http://www.act-aet.tv/.

Chorion and The World of Eric Carle

2009-06-03T01:00:00.003-06:00

Leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion has signed a number of licensing deals for The World of Eric Carle in the US and Europe. In the US, Crayola will begin a collaboration with The World of Eric Carle with a large format coloring book. JEM will produce tees for juniors and children. Zoobies bring their patent-pending 3-in-1 plush, pillow, blanket concept to The World of Eric Carle characters and Carson-Dellosa will produce a range of classroom products including bulletin board sets, borders, cut-outs and work holders.

Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc., has also signed to produce the Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? book for its Tag™ Junior system for 2-4 year olds which will teach about the life of animals through the lens of Eric Carle.

Continuing on from the success last summer in the US with The World of Eric Carle, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar, the world’s largest casual dining restaurant chain with nearly 2,000 locations, will distribute a themed Family Activity Booklet throughout the Spring.

These deals follow a raft of promotional activity for The World of Eric Carle and its celebration of the 40th anniversary of the iconic picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which kicked off in March 2009.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, written by Eric Carle sells one copy every 30 seconds somewhere in the world and has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children around the globe. The beloved picture book has been translated into more than 45 languages and has sold over 29 million copies and a brand new The Very Hungry Caterpillar pop-up book has been released in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, Taiwan and Norway.

Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space! will be available on June 2

2009-06-02T11:29:00.000-06:00

Just in time for summer, The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space! will take kids on a humorous, fun-filled adventure that offers an intriguing look at the natural world around us – while the Patrol’s wacky, lovable alien crew fends off an invasion of their planet! No job is too tough for Bula, Multo, Zeeter and their pals, who go on a series of missions that will leave kids and parents laughing as they discover the wonders of metamorphosis, ecosystems, and other fascinating phenomena.

The new feature-length DVD is based on the award-winning TV series, The Zula Patrol, which airs Saturday mornings on NBC as part of the qubo programming block and weekdays and weekends on public television stations.

The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space! follows the intrepid team from Zula in humor-filled stories that begin with a challenge, and end with a resolution, as they explore how insects, reptiles, mammals, plants and rocks form and interact with each other. In Larvae or Leave Me (the first episode), Skip the grasshopper can’t find his friend Wriggly the caterpillar – until he discovers, with help from The Zula Patrol, that Wriggly has transformed into a beautiful butterfly!

Four additional stories on the DVD are: Egg Hunt, There Goes the Neighborhood, Choosing Sides and Camp Worm. No job is too big for The Zula Patrol, as they search for stolen frog eggs, help restore life to a canyon ecosystem, solve the mystery of the missing honey, and tunnel through dirt with their worm comrades to help the trees grow – and end up thwarting a threatened “alien invasion” from another planet.

The Fresh Air Fund Needs Your Support

2009-05-30T01:00:00.003-06:00

Are you familiar with the Fresh Air Fund? It is an independent, not-for-profit agency that has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

The Fresh Air Fund received a tremendous offer by some very generous donors. Right now any gift you make to The Fresh Air Fund will be matched dollar for dollar by a group of generous donors! If you can give $25 that means $50 for inner-city children. $50 becomes $100! But you must make your donation June 30thto take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

The Fund is still in need of hosts for this summer. Host families open their hearts and home to a child to give a fresh air experience that these children never forget.

Anna Wilding Launches Charity- the Wilding Foundation

2009-05-29T01:00:00.002-06:00

A new charity has launched, the Wilding Foundation, that aims to fill an overlooked gap in the charity and non profit marketplace. www.wildingfoundation.com The founder, award winning actress director and producer Anna Wilding, said it is "a diverse, exciting and contemporary charity that is also couched in history"

The Wilding Foundation awards scholarships to those of exceptional ability and prowess in sports, arts, humanities, health, medicine and environmental activities. The Foundation will support those who may not otherwise have the financial means and/or knowledge at hand to further their potential. The charities aims are diverse with the inclusion of several primary scholarships.

The first scholarship is in honor of one of the world’s greatest tennis players ,the Anthony Wilding Scholarship for prowess in sports. Anthony Wilding is a legendary tennis player who, amongst other things won Wimbledon a total of ten times prior to World War 1. He garnered the record for most Wimbledon singles titles in a row for over fifty years. This record was finally broken at Monte Carlo by Rafael Nadel in 2008. Rafael Nadel finally broke his long-standing record at Monte Carlo in 2008. Wilding's doubles partner, in Davis Cup and Wimbledon was the great Aussie tennis player Norman Brookes. Wilding was the first man to take a motorcycle solo through Europe, his preferred method of travel between tournaments. Anthony tragically died in Flanders in 1915 at the age of 32.

Along with the Anthony Wilding scholarship are awards in environmental, arts and humanitarian fields.The charity accepts contributions from donors worldwide. The Board of Directors hopes to see the charity grow steadily over the next few years.

The Wilding Foundation is a proponent of Web 2.0, the social media platform and is pleased to announce that even Twitter users can now donate through their Twitter accounts. The Twitter username for the charity is "wildingcharity".

Anna Wilding, a supporter of humanitarian and environmental issues as well as a gifted filmmaker, has personally experienced what it is like to miss out - of not being able to pursue a chosen direction due to financial factors. Ms Wilding, tipped to go to Wimbledon and join the professional circuit herself as a youngster could not afford the required training overseas.She hopes that this charity will help bridge a gap for those impoverished who display talent and cannot afford the training, travel, study or equipment.

Please visit the website at http://www.wildingfoundation.com/ to actively participate.

for inquires please contact : Wilding Foundation wildingfoundation@gmail.com wildingfoundation@gmail.com Tel: 61 424 716 440

Disney Releases New Animated Feature, "UP" on May 29

2009-05-28T01:00:00.002-06:00

From Disney•Pixar comes “Up,” a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell.

From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”), Disney•Pixar’s “Up” invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. “Up” will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D™ in select theaters.

Starring the voice talent of Christopher Plummer as Charles Muntz, Edward Asneras Carl Fredricksen, Jordan Nagal as Russel, Bob Peterson as Dug, and more.

The FOX-Aniboom Holiday Animation Challenge

2009-05-27T01:00:00.000-06:00

They brought us The Simpsons, Family Guy, and King of the Hill - and now they're looking for the next great holiday TV special. And they've asked us to help find it.

Fox is giving you the opportunity to take your Shot at the only network T.V animation powerhouse. You could be the animator that the world is talking about. Here's the skinny on the competition:

Create a 2 to 4 minute animated short about a well-known holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, valentine's day, Halloween, anything celebrated in the U.S. Make it funny, make it edgy, make it uniquely fox.

Submissions will be accepted from May 27, 2009 through August 31, 2009 with five finalists receiving $5k each, and the grand prize winner receiving an additional $10k plus a fox development deal with a $25k fund.

To learn more about how Aniboom can get you an opportunity to a development deal based on your short on FOX, visit the competition site.

Safety Messages from American Academy of Pediatrics

2009-05-26T01:00:00.003-06:00

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the most common cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, resulting in an estimated 50,000 annual emergency department visits. In 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast, knocking out power to over 2 million residents. The study, “Dying to Play Video Games: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Electrical Generators Used After Hurricane Ike,” examines incidents where gasoline-powered electrical generators were used to watch television or power video games, resulting in the CO poisoning death of one child, and the poisoning injuries of 15 other children. The study authors agree that generators continue to be the cause of many CO poisonings, and education is still needed, especially in states at risk for hurricane-related power outages. For more information, contact Caroline Fife, MD, at caroline.e.fife@uth.tmc.edu or 713 305 2971, or Neil Hampson, MD, at Neil.Hampson@vmmc.org or 206-583-6543.]

June is Internet Safety Month. The AAP offers a microsite to help parents with many aspects of keeping their kids safer online at http://safetynet.aap.org/ New tips on social media and “sexting” will be available in late May for the campaign.

Thousands of children are treated for lawnmower injuries each year. The AAP is partnering with the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons for their annual lawnmower safety campaign. Check back at www.aap.org for more information and tips during the last week of May.

The AAP is a partner in National ASK Day, which will take place on Father’s Day, Sunday June 21, 2009. Held annually on the first day of summer, a time of year when children play more often in other homes, ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day reminds parents about the importance of asking if there are guns in the homes where their children play. For more information, go to http://www.paxusa.org/

SUMMER SAFETY TIPS – PART 2

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips on boating and swimming safety, fireworks and off-road vehicles. Tips are available in English and Spanish at http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips-p2.cfm

ART CONTEST DEADLINE IS JULY 31
“Protecting children from tobacco smoke” is the theme of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2009 art contest for children. Children in grades 3 to 12 are invited to submit original pieces of art for a chance to win cash prizes and a trip to the 2009 AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2009. First-place winners will receive a $500 prize, with an additional $500 for the child’s school, and a trip to Washington, DC, for the child and his or her guardian. The second-place winners will receive $250, with another $250 for the child’s school. Winners will have their artwork featured on AAP’s Web site and in other promotional materials. Entries should be mailed to American Academy of Pediatrics, Art Contest, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. All entries must be postmarked by Friday, July 31, 2009. Entry form, rules and guidelines are available at http://www.aap.org/artcontest/

July is Freshi Film Camp Time - A Camp for Youth Filmmakers

2009-05-21T01:00:00.000-06:00

Now in its' fifth year, the Freshi Film (FiF) Camp is coming again this July to the John Anson Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood, California for three creativity-filled weeks-

July 6-10, July 13-17, and July 20-24, 2009

As in past years, every day is full of the thrill of filmmaking with special mentors challenging each camper daily to push their limits, and think 'outside of the box.' The FiF Camp is designed for creative minds ages 8-18. Every day begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 4:00 PM. All equipment, snacks, beverages and lunches are included in the price of the FiF Camp experience. Daily, a professional from some aspect of the film industry visits the FiF Camp to conduct a hands-on workshop in such areas as camera angles, stage combat, stunts, theatrical make-up, voice-over, scriptwriting, directing, producing, acting and many other topics. For more advanced filmmakers, the best week to attend the FiF Camp is July 20-24. During this week, the equipment and editing software are more sophisticated, the scripts are more complex, and the atmosphere is much more competitive.

Unlike other filmmaking camps, the Freshi Film Camp has always been a totally immersive experience, 100% produced by the young filmmakers themselves. Although mentors are present to guide each of the participants, the campers handle all of the filmmaking experience themselves from creating a script to shooting the story, editing and, finally, scoring their films. The finished films are authentic to the creators and 100% original. This FiF Camp allows kids to find their own voice and tell their own stories- they are not the actors in someone else's film, they are the filmmakers! The last day of the FiF Camp each producing group completes a Copyright Form to be submitted to the US Library of Congress to protect their authentic creations.

The campers are organized into small production units on the first day of camp, and each production unit works to create their script, and then storyboard the script on the first day. The second day is the location scouting day with considerations of casting, costuming, make-up, props and sets. The film is shot on the third day and the editing is done on the fourth day. The final day of camp is scoring, titling and editing out-takes in preparation of the "Family and Friends Film Showcase" held the last hour of the FiF Camp on the last day.

The completed films will be posted on the www.freshiflix.com website and shared with other young filmmakers worldwide. There are filmmakers aged 8-18 worldwide, and Freshi brings them together through the sharing of their creations and the possibility of future collaborations.

The FiF Camp is $525 for the week but Freshi, in an attempt to help with the recession, is offering a 5% discount if space is reserved by June 5, 2009.

There are even more discounts available for multiple family members attending the FiF Camp and for those young filmmakers attending all three camps. As an added bonus, all of the completed films from all three camps will be entered into the Freshi Film Festival for FREE. The FiF Camp is sponsored by the non-profit International Family Film Festival (IFFF) www.iffilmfest.org.

To enjoy footage of past FiF Camps and read more about the fun of Freshi Film Camp use this link to visit
the http://freshifilms.blogspot.com/.

To reserve space in the Freshi Film Camp visit the website at www.freshifilmcamp.org and download an application. For more information call (661) 257-3131 and speak with Patte Dee McKee, Program Director, or e-mail info@iffilmfest.org.

The International Family Film Festival (IFFF) has a long association with producing the Freshi Film Camp and the Freshi Film Festival and working with young filmmakers for the last fifteen years, and making these events premiere summer destinations for creative youth.

Summer is the time to set young imaginations free and there is no better place to do that than with the Freshi Film Camp!

Dr. Dolitle Presents: Million Dollar Mutts Arrives on DVD On May 19.

2009-05-17T01:00:00.004-06:00

Celebrity starlet Tiffany Monaco seeks Maya Dolittle's canine counsel for her purse dwelling Chihuahua, Princess. Maya's charms give Tiffany a bright idea for a new reality series that will help her career, and give Maya a chance to work with animals. Things take a turn for the worse, however, once Tiffany's self serving agent, Rick Beverly, signs Maya as a client - keeping Maya busy with celebrity dogs but far away from campus where the registrar is waiting for her application. With her faithful sidekick, Lucky, and the support of her new friend, Brandon (and his cute companion Emmy), Maya is finally able to see past the glamour of Hollywood Hills and into a future where she can talk to animals and really help them