Turning your TV Time into Quality Time
July 15, 2008 Issue #7b
Christine L. Pollock, Editor Ranny Levy, Publisher
By subscription only!
Christine L. Pollock, Editor |
Ranny Levy, Publisher Granny Ranny's Addenda |
Plugged In Parents/Educators
Spiritual Cinema films are uplifting and inspiring films with powerful messages and stunning cinematography. Some of their titles, such as "Dorme," were featured in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, delighting and inspiring viewers. "Dorme" is beautiful short film -- like a visual lullaby-- in which a child goes on a magical journey into the world of dreams. The story is told without words, as a boy is lulled to sleep by a captivating melody and his adventure of transformation and discovery begins.
Spiritual Cinema also offers a family DVD with "Dorme" and other three other titles: "Amy Goes to Wadjemup Island" is about a little girl who visits an island off the coast of Australia where her ancestors lived. "Mini Cine Tupy" is a short documentary about a man from a poor village in Brazil who recycles treasures he finds at the dump in order to create a home made movie theater where local kids can watch film clips. Then the feature, "Eve and the Fire Horse," is about two young girls of Chinese descent who are growing up in the diverse city of Toronto, where they investigate all of the religions surrounding them in order to piece together a faith that they can really believe in.
According to Anna Darrah, Director of Acquisitions for Spiritual Cinema, Inc., they are thrilled to be part of the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival because it means that their film has the KIDS FIRST! seal of approval, which means a lot to them. They trust KIDS FIRST! values and taste in films, and really appreciate finding a film that passes the KIDS FIRST! list of requirements. In their opinion, the Spiritual Cinema Circle really aligns with the KIDS FIRST! mission, and they think it’s great to be able to team up! Darrah states, “Every time I see the KIDS FIRST! seal of approval, I know it will be a quality film with good, strong ethics, and I really appreciate that."
Viewers who see the inspiring films will be pleased to know they can join up with Spiritual Cinema with a special offer. If you sign up now, you will receive your first month of films for free, only paying shipping and handling. So if you sign up before August 15th, you will get Volume Eight for free with the four family friendly films on it. The next month you will receive your second month of films (another DVD with four films on it, specially selected to inspire and transform) and be billed $21 plus shipping and handling. You are, of course, free to cancel any time.
Entertainment Insider News
Come join your favorite vegetables on an adventure in 19th century America as “Veggie Tales: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue” comes to the big screen. The Veggies take their first trip down a river other than the Nile in this delightful tale, and VeggieTales Co-Creator Mike Nawrocki is here to tell us about it.
According to Nawrocki, the creators chose to base this movie on “Huckleberry Finn” because it’s considered by many to be one of the greatest American novels. At the heart of the original Mark Twain story is the idea of helping someone in need; going beyond yourself and what's comfortable to you and getting involved in helping someone who really needs help. They wanted to incorporate that central message, along with other key iconic moments from the book to create a fun, kid-friendly story that would easily convey the lesson of "helping others."
Nawrocki sums up the Veggie Tales mission: We try and create really entertaining stories that emphasize a value that is helpful for kids. We want to be a resource parents can use to help pass on great values to their children. With each value we choose to highlight - whether it be forgiveness, thankfulness, or helping others, we make sure we find support for that value in the Bible. That's obviously very important to Christian audiences, but we've found that even with people from a different or no faith tradition the stories can be every bit as entertaining and useful in the values they convey. In “Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue” we learn that we're called to get involved and help other people. We then demonstrate that principle in a fun and entertaining way. We believe that's something most parents will find useful.
The Veggie Tale team is looking forward to the release of their DVD, “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” on October 14 and is working on two new releases for 2009, which are coming along nicely. They can’t wait to share them with KIDS FIRST! viewers.
Watch "Veggie Tales: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue” in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.
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Granny
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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.
