Ann's Marketing Memes

KIDS FIRST! Assembles “Top 100 Kid Films” List and Your Vote Counts!

annblogspam — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:15:21 +0000

Santa Fe, NM. (May 5, 2008). KIDS FIRST! proudly announces the opening of the polls for the 2008 KIDS FIRST! Top 100 Kid Films on May 5, 2008. The public is invited to vote for their favorite children’s films of all time from the online list of more than 175 feature films and to write in their favorites.

With open voting, everyone gets a voice in the creating of this list! To vote, go on line to www.kidsfirst.org and click on the VOTE button. Enter your top five children’s film titles with comments about why you selected them, then select your favorite 100 from the list of 175 titles that include The Lion King, Wizard of Oz, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Shrek. The 2008 KIDS FIRST! Top 100 Kid Films will be announced later this summer.

The KIDS FIRST! Top 100 Kid Films will encompass films suitable for kids between the ages of 2 and 18 that have universal appeal, exhibit outstanding attributes in terms of their production values and portray values and have qualities that make them as applicable today as the day they were first released. This list is unique because it takes into consideration not just what films adults think kids should watch but also what kids like to and will watch. Because media has the power to influence children, negatively or positively, the films on this list portray the values and ethics that we, as a culture wish to instill in our children. This list will provide as much information as possible about age appropriateness of each film, a brief synopsis, the key artists involved and any special audience issues it may address.

KIDS FIRST! is uniquely positioned to create this list because of its 17-year history evaluating and promoting quality children’s films. Any film that KIDS FIRST! endorses must meet or exceed the baseline criteria of: no gratuitous violence or abuse; no inappropriate sexual behavior; no bias in terms of race, gender, culture or religion; no condescension toward children; no replicable unsafe behavior. Additionally, any film on this list has been compared with others and found to be exceptional among its peers.

KIDS FIRST! employs a unique community jury system that involves more than 3000 children and professional adults with backgrounds in education, child development and other child-service professions. Using a set of standardized criteria, created by leading children’s media experts, KIDS FIRST! evaluations are credible and consistent evaluations. More than 10,000 films, DVDs, TV shows, and other media have been evaluated by KIDS FIRST! since 1991.
KIDS FIRST! is a program of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media. The Coalition is a voluntary collaboration comprising more than 10,000 media professionals, lobbyists, policymakers, child advocates, educators, parents and families nationwide. For more information, visit www.kidsfirst.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ann Church
Senior Vice President of Marketing
KIDS FIRST! / Coalition for Quality Children’s Media
505-989-8076
ann@kidsfirst.org

Teen Sensation Alyson Stoner Featured at the 2008 Newport Beach Film Festival

annblogspam — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:43:36 +0000

The 2008 Newport Beach Film Festival hosted the Orange County Premier of Alice Upside Down featuring Alyson Stoner, Lucas Grabeel, Penny Marshall and Luke Perry will make its Orange County Premiere at the Festival. Alice Upside Down and the appearance of Alyson Stoner were courtesy of KIDS FIRST!

Actress Alyson Stoner, the lead in Alice Upside Down is appeared at Build-A-Bear Workshop® in Fashion Island for a one hour long autograph signing session on Saturday, April 26. Stoner is best known for her roles in Cheaper by the Dozen, Mike’s Super Short Show, Phineas & Ferb and the new upcoming Disney TV movie Camp Rock, with The Jonas Brothers.

The Newport Beach Film Festival 2008 Family Film series showcases a collection of innovative and entertaining family films that capture the refreshing independent spirit of filmmaking. The Festival’s family friendly slate includes feature length narratives, documentaries, short, animated and student produced films crafted to entertain and inspire festival-goers of all ages, from kindergartners to teens. Billed as Orange County’s largest celebration of independent family films, the two-day event featured film screenings, question and answer sessions with cast and crew, interactive workshops and autograph signings.

This is the fifth year that KIDS FIRST! has collaborated with the Newport Beach Film Festival, providing studio, independent and student films and talent for the festival.

MPAC FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL FINAL WEEKEND IN PHOENIX

annblogspam — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:03:23 +0000

Special Sneak Peek of Sesame Street: Dinosaurs! PHOENIX — Children and families have enjoyed a full month of screening of KIDS FIRST! films across Maricopa County during the month of April.

The closing event is this Saturday, April 26th at the Arizona Science Center from 10am - 2pm and features the sneak peek at the new Sesame Street: Dinosaurs (for the young ones) and the incredibly realistic Prehistoric Park for the older crowd. The CGI animated dinosaurs are so life like in Prehistoric Park, that it may be too intense for the under 5 crowd. The first family film festival in the region was being held at a variety of arts and cultural organizations to give families the opportunity to expand their cultural literacy and enjoy some of the highest quality films available to children. www.mpacarts.org

How would you like to have your own personal 300 year old dragon as a best friend?

annblogspam — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:10:23 +0000

Meet Jane and Dragon.

Jane is a medieval middleclass girl being raised as a Lady-in-Waiting, but she’s got much bigger plans for her future! Training to become a Knight is what she’s all about - good thing she’s got a 300 year-old fire-breathing dragon as a best friend.

In the episode selected by the Children’s Museum of Houston and the Women’s Museum in Dallas, Dragon is feeling sick, very sick with a pig disease: curly tail. It is curable but the antidote is a difficult quest away. Jane volunteers for the quest and Theodore assigns Gunther to quest with her. Meanwhile, Dragon is proving to be a very difficult patient. Also here’s your chance to get the inside scoop on all things Jane. Martin Baynton, creator of “Jane and the Dragon,” answers YOUR questions!

http://www.qubo.com/jane_ask.asp

Governor Ed Rendell Honors K-9 Officers and Their Partners at the PA Children’s Film Festival

annblogspam — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:52:42 +0000

Dad’s Pet Food Joins with Governor Ed Rendell in Honoring K-9 Officers and their Partners at the Premier of Ace of Hearts

Dad’s, a leading pet foods manufacturer in Pennsylvania, has joined with PA Governor Ed Rendell in honoring the work of the K-9 units in our local communities. In a letter of support, the Governor has declared April 12, 2008, as “K-9 Recognition Day in Pennsylvania.”

The recognition is all part of the excitement surrounding the premier of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s feature family film, Ace of Hearts, on April 12th at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle, PA. The movie, staring Dean Cain, tells the story of Officer Daniel Harding, a distinguished member of the K-9 police unit and his K-9 partner, Ace. Ace of Hearts is part of the PA Children’s Film Festival. Admission for the full day of films is free to everyone!

Dad’s contributed over 500 lbs of dog food to be handled out to the movie goers “as a way for Dad’s to recognize the importance of both the K-9 dogs that will be honored at the screening and the family pet in our lives.” The local rescue shelter, Promises For Pets, will be on hand to distribute the pet food.

Also featured Saturday is the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie with a surprise appearance by Alvin, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy, Care Bears: Grizzle-ly Adventure, Bob the Builder: On-Site Roads and Bridges, My Senator and Me, and the Mr. Men Show.

In an effort to bring quality children’s programming to our region, the PA Film Institute, in partnership with The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, has established the PA Children’s Film Festival. The Children’s Festival is dedicated to “promoting excellence in children’s films” and in “enhancing the opportunities for children and their families to view some of the most outstanding children’s films available anywhere.”

With our partnership, the PA Children’s Film Festival becomes part of the largest children’s film festival in the world…KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.

KIDS FIRST! Honored in Hawaii

annblogspam — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:39:50 +0000

Manoa’s Outreach College was honored with the Best Non-Credit Program for the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival by the Western Association of Summer Session Administrators. The KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is the largest traveling children’s film festival in the world, providing films that are free of racial, ethnic, gender or religious bias; inappropriate content; and condescension toward children.

Outreach College held the festival in June and July with a second festival slated for summer 2008. In March and April in honor of Women’s History Month, the festival presents the GRLS R GR8! Mini-Film-Fest celebrating the achievements, challenges and adventures of girls.

MPAC KICKS OFF FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL DURING APRIL

annblogspam — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:36:59 +0000

Expand Cultural Literacy through Four Weekends of Free Family Fun and Enjoyment!
PHOENIX — Children and families are invited to enjoy the screening of KIDS FIRST! films across Maricopa County during the month of April.

The first family film festival in the region is being held at a variety of arts and cultural organizations to give families the opportunity to expand their cultural literacy and enjoy some of the highest quality films available to children.

Starting Saturday, April 5^th at the Glendale Public Library from 2:00 – 5:00 PM

Bugville: 78 minutes. Ages 5–12. When Hoppity the grasshopper returns to Bugville, he finds all is not well when humans threaten the survival of this town.

John, Paul, George, and Ben: 9 minutes. Ages 5-12. Narrated by James earl Jones, this is a humorous and factual history of 5 lads who grew up to become Founding Fathers.
The Prince and the Pauper. 92 minutes. Ages 6-12. Eddie and Torn Cole and Dylan Sprouse from TV’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody are two 14-year-olds with one thing in common: they both look exactly alike. Kay Panabaker (TV’s Phil of the Future) co-stars in this adventure based on a story by Mark Twain.

Saturday, April 5^th 2:00 - 5:00 pm, Glendale Public Library, 595 W. Brown St. Glendale 85302
Every weekend during the month of April, the Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture

(MPAC) will partner with the Glendale Public Library, Arizona Historical Society Museum, Desert Botanical Garden and Arizona Science Center to feature entertaining kid and family-friendly films related to their current activities at no cost to movie-goers and visitors. Door prizes and free stickers will be available at some venues. http://www.mpacarts.org for the list of upcoming screenings.

Recyle all those unwanted electronics and get money for being socially responsible!

annblogspam — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:32:15 +0000

MyBoneYard® was created to help people like you recycle electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops in a smart, responsible and eco-friendly way. We are the Simple, Safe and Smart way to recycle your old electronics.

MyBoneYard® partners with industry leaders in the manufacturing, service and retail sectors working to provide even more value for your used electronic equipment through various national consumer electronics recycling programs. Not only is MyBoneYard® and environmentally-friendly program that helps our partners become more environmentally engaged, but it also gives consumers an opportunity to get rewarded for their own enviro-friendly efforts. By partnering with MyBoneYard®, the “power of three” will be working for you. Young America, Wireless Source and eco | International combine forces to provide the only fully-integrated e-recycling solution in the industry - MyBoneYard®. MyBoneYard® provides the simple, safe and smart way to recycle unused electronics and can work for you in-store, online, through event marketing, charitable giving and employee programs. In the end, everyone is rewarded for their efforts.

MyBoneYard® brings leading electronics product asset recovery and recycling capabilities so you can be assured that your recycled product will be stripped of any sensitive personal information and permanently deleted. Whether you’re getting rid of an old cell phone or computer, by recycling with MyBoneYard®.com you’ll find we provide: • A safe and best-in-class environmental recycling solution exceeding all state legislative requirements. • Guaranteed content removal of all personal information.

• World-class customer service and project management. • An eco-friendly option to simply throwing your electronics in the trash. Check it out! www.myboneyard.com

Wyoming Short Film Contest Features First Place Prize of $25,000

annblogspam — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:23:13 +0000

A Wyoming short film contest was introduced at the Sundance Film Festival.
A $25,000 first prize is being awarded to the winning entry with a storyline that takes place in Wyoming, features Wyoming, or presents the state as a major character. Prize money will go toward production of the winner’s next film shot in Wyoming. “We’re trying to build a buzz. If you can get more independent, smaller filmmakers interested in Wyoming first that will help us bring in bigger projects down the line. It’s a sort of trickle up effect,” said Colin Stricklin of the Wyoming Film Office.

The ‘Film the West’ reception at Sundance in Park City, Utah on January 24th allowed filmmakers the chance to lean more about the contest and invite their participation. “A lot of people seemed interested. We spoke with both domestic and foreign producers during a four-hour concentrated effort,” Stricklin said.

Films are due before May 9 and entries must be 15 minutes or less in length. “The short film format allows for all levels of experience and expertise. Our format is wide open and the possibilities are limitless,” Stricklin noted. There is no entry fee and submissions are being accepted at: http://www.withoutabox.com The winning effort is to premier at the Jackson Hole Film Festival, June 5-9, 2008 in Jackson, Wyoming.

“This is a first-time project designed to foster film production in the state while simultaneously giving filmmakers an opportunity they might otherwise overlook. We’re very excited at the early response,” said Michell Howard, Wyoming Film Office Manager. Howard also used the Sundance setting to promote the state’s new Film Industry Financial Incentive Program which allows production companies to be reimbursed up to 15 percent on dollars spent on a Wyoming film shoot.

More information about the incentive program and the short film contest is obtainable online at: http://www.wyomingfilm.org/

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”

annblogspam — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:54:17 +0000

Read Across America March 3rd

Horton Hears A Who! (read-along book) Free to Your Classroom. For the first time ever, an animated digital version of Horton Hears A Who! by Dr. Seuss is being released. Just in time for NEA’s Read Across America Day, this special Seuss classic will be available for free exclusively on kidthing™. The pages come to life on your computer screen with animation, narration and sound effects. Or, turn the sound off and read the book aloud. Download at www.kidthing.com/neasreadacrossamerica

Celebrate Reading All Year Long
What better way to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday than reading to a child? On the evening of March 2nd (Dr. Seuss’s birthday), Random House and the National Education Association (NEA) urge you to participate in the second annual Read Across America and read to a child.

WHY CELEBRATE DR. SEUSS?
Dr. Seuss epitomizes a love of children and learning. Also, his use of rhyme makes his books an effective tool for teaching young children the basic skills they need to be successful. When we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America’s children that reading is fun and important. Go to
www.seussville.com/special/read.html

For more information on Read Across America, please visit the NEA’s Web site at www.nea.org/readacross