Up to date information about children's entertainment – film, TV, DVD and more…. from founder and president of KIDS FIRST! Ranny Levy

Timely News

The American Cinematheque in Hollywood will host a Tribute to DAVID GORDON GREEN from February 26th – 28th at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Screenwriter/director David Gordon Green’s distinctive style of filmmaking has been described as Southern Gothic, a “poetic merging of realism and surrealism,” as Roger Ebert called it. For this tribute, The American Cinematheque will be screening Green’s first three features highlighted by the Los Angeles Premiere of Warner Independent Pictures’ SNOW ANGELS starring Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell, Green’s fourth feature film. Green will be on hand each night to discuss how he went from directing his first $40,000 feature GEORGE WASHINGTON to making the anticipated Judd Apatow produced PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. For additional information, please call 323-466-3456 or visit The American Cinematheque. Advance tickets can be purchased at http://www.fandango.com/ (input zip 90028 for the Egyptian). SNOW ANGELS opens in New York City on March 7th and Los Angeles on March 14th. http://wip.warnerbros.com/snowangels/

Rescuing Recess (www.cartoonrecessweek.com)Rescuing Recess is a community-relations initiative from Cartoon Network that is trying to save recess for American school children. The site features information about Rescuing Recess, ideas and activities for recess, volunteer information, and more.

indieWIRE continues its ongoing series with Apple Store – SoHo that presents indie film professionals discussing various aspects of the filmmaking process. WHEN: Wednesday, March 5th, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m WHERE: Apple Store SoHo, 103 Prince Street, NYC COST: Free, No RSVP required. Seats are first come, first serve. Seating is limited. Filmmaker David Gordon Green (“George Washington,” “All The Real Girls”) will participate in a discussion and show scenes from his latest film, “Snow Angels,” which stars Sam Rockwell, Katie Beckinsale, Olivia Thirlby, Amy Sedaris and Griffin Dunne. “Snow Angels” (based on Stewart O’Nan’s novel) is the haunting story of two broken families and two romantic relationships, one just beginning and one nearing its end. Warner Independent Pictures will release “Snow Angels” in theaters on March 7, 2008.

PBS KIDS is celebrating the Earth with “PBS KIDS Share the Earth Day,” a special programming and online event on Tuesday, April 22 (check local listings). Curious George, Clifford, Arthur and other favorite PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! characters will explore fun and engaging ways to keep the planet beautiful. PBS Parents (pbsparents.org) will offer an Earth Day expert Q&A; with Jamie Durie, host of The Victory Garden, discussing how to introduce gardening concepts to kids and what they can learn by digging in the dirt.

On the PBS KIDS preschool block, Miss Lori and Hooper teach kids how to recycle their trash, while new stories from Dot’s Story Factory show how kids at home celebrate the planet. Earth Day-themed episodes from CURIOUS GEORGE, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, and IT’S A BIG BIG WORLD will air alongside themed music videos from the award-winning kids’ rock band, Milkshake.

PBS KIDS GO!sm, for elementary school kids, celebrates Earth Day with themed programming from ARTHUR, MAYA & MIGUEL, and CYBERCHASE. Throughout the late afternoon programming block, PBS KIDS GO! presents creative ideas of how kids can take care of the environment by recycling, cleaning up their neighborhoods and more.

To help parents connect these lessons back to kids’ daily lives, PBS Parents (pbsparents.org) will recommend ideas, resources and activities for parents to share with their children and encourage them to spend more time exploring nature and take an active role in protecting the planet.

New web content on pbskids.org and pbskidsgo.org includes a reduce, reuse and recycling theme for Dot’s Story Factory so kids can tell their own stories about saving the planet; a newly redesigned EekoWorld web site (pbskidsgo.org/eekoworld), where kids can build their own creatures and learn the basics of how life survives in different ecosystems; and a sustainability and green living site titled “Meet the Greens” (pbskids.org/meetthegreens). The Greens are an environmentally conscious family who explore different methods of saving power and reducing waste in a series of short animated episodes.

PBS KIDS Episodes for April 22.

CURIOUS GEORGE #220 “The Times of Sand”
A hard hat, a shovel, a wheelbarrow and a ladder – George learns that all four items are necessary when digging a gigantic hole. But why are George and the Man With the Yellow (Hard) Hat digging in their own yard? It’s a surprise, and George will have to wait for the answer while the Man and Mr. Quint go help Flint Quint change a light bulb, taking the ladder with them. But when the hats fall into the hole after a run-in with Jumpy Squirrel, how will George retrieve them? After trying this hat rescue mission with several items which are not quite long enough to reach into the bottom of the hole, George decides that a water hose might do the trick. And when he accidentally turns on the water itself, the ensuing flood turns out to be a spark of genius – not only does the water float the hats to the surface, but George discovers the true purpose for the hole.

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG #131 “Doggie Garden/Captain Birdwell’s Treasure”
It’s “Keep Birdwell Beautiful” month and the kids are doing their part by planting a flower garden. Seeing this, the dogs decide to create a doggie flower garden of their own. But when Cleo hears that almost anything grows in Birdwell Island soil, she decides she’d much rather grow a garden full of dog toys! In the second story, Clifford and his dog friends find the long-lost trunk of Captain Birdwell, filled with wonderful items brought to the Island by the explorer long ago.

IT’S A BIG BIG WORLD #124 “Fish out of Water/Burdette’s Nest”
“Fish Out Of Water” — While out looking for ants, Bob comes across a rock with an image on it that looks like Ick. Afraid that Ick is stuck in the rock, he hurries off to ask for help. Snook and Madge tell the worried Bob that the rock he found is a fossil and explain how fossils form.
“Burdette’s Nest” — There is a hole in Burdette’s nest so she thinks she may need to move. Smooch and Snook try to help by patching the hole with mud, but when this doesn’t work they consult Madge who teaches them that there are many different types of materials that birds use to make nests. They remind Burdette that she is the expert in what type of nest is best for her, and the three friends fix the hole together.

PBS KIDS GO! Episodes for April 22 (check local listings):
ARTHUR #1004 “Feeling Flush/ Family Fortune”
“Feeling Flush” — When Elwood City experiences a drought, Francine bets Arthur that her family can use less water than his. But Francine is shocked to learn that, despite her conservation efforts, her water meter levels are twice as high as Arthur’s! What’s going on at the Frensky household? Will Francine find out who’s behind the flushing frenzy?
“Family Fortune” — The TV show, Treasure Caravan, is coming to Elwood City! Arthur and D.W. are convinced that in Grandma Thora’s attic they’ll find treasures that will make them famous on TV – and rich beyond their wildest dreams. But what they really discover is that family history and cultural traditions are far more precious.

CYBERCHASE #504 “EcoHaven Ooze”
When Hacker discovers that the liquid ooze that feeds the animals of EcoHaven also gives him a super energy boost, he decides to drain the pond and take the ooze home. He builds a fort around the pond, so the CyberSquad must figure out a way to get in without being noticed. They take inspiration from the Greek myth of the Trojan Horse and build a giant “Trojan Ducky.” After testing a model of their invention to be sure it works, they hide inside the duck, and fool Delete into taking them to Hacker. But how will they stop Hacker’s nefarious plot?

MAYA & MIGUEL #163 “Every Day Is Earth Day”
“Every Day Is Earth Day” — For a school Earth Day project, the kids decide to clean up an old lot and plant a community garden. But as the deadline approaches, a rainstorm hits, turning the patch of dirt into a muddy mess. How will Maya get her friends out of the muck this time?

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