Turning your TV Time into Quality Time
May 6, 2008 Issue #5
Christine L. Pollock, Editor Ranny Levy, Publisher
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Christine L. Pollock, Editor |
Ranny Levy, Publisher Granny Ranny's Addenda |
Plugged In Parents/Educators
Michael Damian Talks About "Moondance Alexander"
"That was rated G?” My cool fourteen-year-old son faced me with saucer-like eyes as he continued, “But it was good!” At that moment I knew Michael Damian, director of the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival Official Selection, “Moondance Alexander” achieved his goal.
Similar to the concept of the Nintendo Wii gaming craze, enjoyable multi-generational viewing is a goal Damian and his wife and partner, Janeen, are striving for. They want to provide films that inspire and entertain people—films that a parent, grandparent and child can sit together and watch, finding enjoyment without embarrassment or discomfort.
They found a good home for “Moondance Alexander” with Fox Faith. In this film starring Kay Panabaker, Don Johnson, Lori Loughlin, Sasha Cohen, spunky and unique twelve-year-old Moondance Alexander (Kay Panabaker, "Nancy Drew") has a hard time making friends, but a chance meeting with Checkers, a wild pinto, changes her life. Together with the help of a down-and-out show rider, Dante (Don Johnson, Tin Cup), Moondance discovers that sometimes fitting in is less important than moving on and riding it out.
The story is based on true events that happened in Janeen’s life when she was younger and found her own horse named Checkers. Perhaps this is why it rings so true in the theater and grabs the heart of the viewer.
While not overtly religious, “Moondance Alexander” provides a strong positive model showing how families can be strong together, solving problems. Damian specifically wanted to promote the idea that parents aren’t always a problem, and that teens can get along with them and appreciate them, and vice versa.
Damian is “thrilled and honored” to have “Moondance Alexander” highlighted in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival and hopes “Everyone enjoys it as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Find out if “Moondance Alexander” is playing in a festival near you on our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival web page. http://www.kidsfirst.org/fest/. Also, check out our KIDS FIRST! Film Festival press page.
Entertainment Insider News
Fox Faith Films
Once upon a time, Christian film was looked upon as generally low-budget, preachy fare that might possibly make Sunday school lessons slightly more entertaining. In the past decade or so, the industry began to change. Animation improved, storylines diversified and demand for “clean content” became more prevalent. Fox Home Entertainment noticed this trend and created a home for church-based-films called Fox Faith.
“Hollywood doesn’t understand the church. But in many ways, the church doesn’t understand Hollywood,” attests Simon Swart, EVP and GM of America for 21th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Fox Faith is the bridge between the two. While most of the titles carried by Fox Faith are obviously Christian based, such as “Secret Things of God,” many titles offered are non-religious, clean family fun, such as “Everyone’s Hero” and “Cheaper by the Dozen” (both former KIDS FIRST! Film Festival Official Selections). The studio’s philosophy is to stick to core Judeo-Christian values, focusing on films that first of all are by Christians, for Christians, according to Swart.
Fox Faith’s venture appears successful so far. They have sold over 25 million DVDs since they started four years ago and have a solid lineup of new titles coming out soon including KIDS FIRST! Film Festival Official Selections “Angel Wars” and “Ace of Hearts.” We at KIDS FIRST! applaud the efforts of Fox Faith in providing morally-driven, family friendly programming. We are proud to have their titles in our film festival and encourage you to come and enjoy the films with us. To find out where a Fox Faith title is showing near you, check out the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival web page.
Blogs: Up-to-Date News from our President and VP
Granny Ranny's Addenda
Sesame Street Love the Earth DVDs - May 13
A beautiful sunny day sweeps Elmo, Zoe and Baby Bear away on an eye-opening expedition into Bear National Park in Sesame Street. ... - Read It!
Great Debaters Coming to DVD May 13
A controversial figure, challenging the social mores of the time, Professor Melvin Tolson (Washington) used unconventional and... Read It!
Ann's Marketing Memes
KIDS FIRST! Assembles "Top 100 Kid Films" List and Your Vote Counts!
KIDS FIRST! proudly announces the opening of the polls for the 2008 KIDS FIRST! Top 100 Kid Films on May 5. ...
- Read
It!
KIDS FIRST! Juror/Jury Blog
Get Paid to Become a Juror!!
Special ongoing incentives are being offered for new jurors. An educator incentive allows educators to pay $20 for their juror appli... - Read More!
ABOUT CQCM AND KIDS FIRST!
The Coalition for Quality Children's Media is 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. More.
