Description - Directed by Damani Baker (The House on Coco Road), edited by Jon Henry Fine, and with original music by Meshell Ndegeocello, TELL ME ANOTHER STORY shares the passionate dedication of artistic giants, who have, for over one hundred years, attempted to combat stereotypes and fight for loving, authentic cultural representation in the books children read. The film highlights the creators, past and present, whose focus has uplifted children's literature, from W.E.B. Du Bois, Augusta Baker, Pura Belpr� and Ezra Jack Keats, to Pat Cummings, Marley Dias, Grace Lin, Christopher Myers, and Andrea Davis Pinkney.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - As a lover of children's literature, I was so excited to watch this documentary and it is everything I hoped for and more. Beautifully produced, with great comments of some of our favorite children's authors, this film really addresses the importance of children's books to support cultural diversity.Tell Me Another Story shares the passionate dedication of artistic giants, who have, for over one hundred years, attempted to combat stereotypes and fight for loving, authentic cultural representation in the books children read. The film highlights the creators, past and present, whose focus has uplifted children's literature, from W.E.B. Du Bois, Augusta Baker, Pura Belpr� and Ezra Jack Keats, to Pat Cummings, Marley Dias, Grace Lin, Christopher Myers, and Andrea Davis Pinkney.
What a delightful ode to children's authors, acknowledging those creators who have influenced children over the decades. This documentary examines the works of superb authors of children's literature, some of them speaking in their own words. I particularly enjoyed the recording of Ezra Jack Keats and the archival video of him speaking with Fred Rogers. Andrea Pinkey speaks about the influences on our country in 1963 - from Martin Luther King Jr. speeches to the murders of four Black children at church and how, months later The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is released to great acclaim. Although Ezra is not African American, the character on the cover of this book is, and it inspired publishers to publish more African American writers or those of other ethnic backgrounds. The film is very well produced, with a blend of archival footage and contemporary interviews, lots of shots of book covers that made me go, "ah, I love that one." This short film should be required watching for young creatives to help open up their minds to what has come before them. My hat's off to the creators: directed by Damani Baker (director), Jon Henry Fine (editor), and Meshell Ndegeocello (composer).
This film offers an overview of giants in children's literature and the back story of how their work came to be published during some difficult times.
I give Tell Me Another Story 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - As a lover of children's literature, I was so excited to watch this documentary and it is everything I hoped for and more. Beautifully produced, with great comments of some of our favorite children's authors, this film really addresses the importance of children's books to support cultural diversity.
Tell Me Another Story shares the passionate dedication of artistic giants, who have, for over one hundred years, attempted to combat stereotypes and fight for loving, authentic cultural representation in the books children read. The film highlights the creators, past and present, whose focus has uplifted children's literature, from W.E.B. Du Bois, Augusta Baker, Pura Belpr� and Ezra Jack Keats, to Pat Cummings, Marley Dias, Grace Lin, Christopher Myers, and Andrea Davis Pinkney.
What a delightful ode to children's authors, acknowledging those creators who have influenced children over the decades. This documentary examines the works of superb authors of children's literature, some of them speaking in their own words. I particularly enjoyed the recording of Ezra Jack Keats and the archival video of him speaking with Fred Rogers. Andrea Pinkey speaks about the influences on our country in 1963 - from Martin Luther King Jr. speeches to the murders of four Black children at church and how, months later The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is released to great acclaim. Although Ezra is not African American, the character on the cover of this book is, and it inspired publishers to publish more African American writers or those of other ethnic backgrounds. The film is very well produced, with a blend of archival footage and contemporary interviews, lots of shots of book covers that made me go, "ah, I love that one." This short film should be required watching for young creatives to help open up their minds to what has come before them. My hat's off to the creators: directed by Damani Baker (director), Jon Henry Fine (editor), and Meshell Ndegeocello (composer).
This film offers an overview of giants in children's literature and the back story of how their work came to be published during some difficult times.
I give Tell Me Another Story 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 28 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 12-18
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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MYSTERIOUS PLACES - ANDREW LEOPARD
Series: STUDENT SHORT, AGES 5-12
Description - A young boy finds a mysterious map which leads him on a hunt, where he comes across a mysterious friend. Where this map, and this mysterious friend lead him, nobody knows.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The short film Mysterious Places shows some promise, although the true mystery is hard to determine. Viewers are set up within the multiple scenes for a mystery and it is quite enjoyable yet, in the end, the storyline falls short in holding your suspense.The story follows a young boy who finds a map that takes him on a journey to solve a mystery. The map takes him to a variety of locations which appear to be checkpoints, but what that mystery is is unclear.
The idea of the young boy finding a map that leads him on a mysterious journey is quite exciting. The film is adventurous and has the element of suspense to it. The young boy is determined to solve this mystery which engages the audience. His curiosity and perseverance keeps us interested until the end of the film. The cinematography and camera work is excellent. Scenes are captured with a great deal of detail and angles are perfect. Scenes flow nicely and transitions are great. The costumes are suitable for the age of the actors and perfect for the script. The sets and locations fit the script and are perfectly chosen. Some of the locations are ominous which goes well with the theme. The music choices for multiple scenes are loud and overpower the action of the scenes. I felt that the music takes away from the film and is a bit irritating at times. The main character (Ryan Savarese) is fun to watch as he makes several stops displayed on his map in an attempt to solve the mystery. His energy and enthusiasm held my interest. The film was produced by a fifth grader student, which is quite a feat and I commend them for their work. My favorite part of the film is the final scene which takes the young boy to a secluded shed-like structure in an overgrown garden. This scene has viewers in suspense as we wait to find out what the mystery is all about.
The film has potential, but I was disappointed in the ending. Still, it is well made, considering the age of the creator. So, you decide. The message of this film is about perseverance. When solving a mystery, you have to examine clues very carefully, have considerable dedication, and never give up. The young boy does just that!
I give Mysterious Places 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. Reviewed by Dominic D., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The short film Mysterious Places shows some promise, although the true mystery is hard to determine. Viewers are set up within the multiple scenes for a mystery and it is quite enjoyable yet, in the end, the storyline falls short in holding your suspense.
The story follows a young boy who finds a map that takes him on a journey to solve a mystery. The map takes him to a variety of locations which appear to be checkpoints, but what that mystery is is unclear.
The idea of the young boy finding a map that leads him on a mysterious journey is quite exciting. The film is adventurous and has the element of suspense to it. The young boy is determined to solve this mystery which engages the audience. His curiosity and perseverance keeps us interested until the end of the film. The cinematography and camera work is excellent. Scenes are captured with a great deal of detail and angles are perfect. Scenes flow nicely and transitions are great. The costumes are suitable for the age of the actors and perfect for the script. The sets and locations fit the script and are perfectly chosen. Some of the locations are ominous which goes well with the theme. The music choices for multiple scenes are loud and overpower the action of the scenes. I felt that the music takes away from the film and is a bit irritating at times. The main character (Ryan Savarese) is fun to watch as he makes several stops displayed on his map in an attempt to solve the mystery. His energy and enthusiasm held my interest. The film was produced by a fifth grader student, which is quite a feat and I commend them for their work. My favorite part of the film is the final scene which takes the young boy to a secluded shed-like structure in an overgrown garden. This scene has viewers in suspense as we wait to find out what the mystery is all about.
The film has potential, but I was disappointed in the ending. Still, it is well made, considering the age of the creator. So, you decide. The message of this film is about perseverance. When solving a mystery, you have to examine clues very carefully, have considerable dedication, and never give up. The young boy does just that!
I give Mysterious Places 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. Reviewed by Dominic D., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 8 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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TWO WAYS - TOM WANG
Series: FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY, AGE 12-18
Description - Two 16-year-olds in Beijing and Qinghai Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China. After graduating from high school, they chose two completely different paths in entirely different cultures. One went on to study abroad, and the other inherited the traditional art of his culture---ThangGa
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I enjoyed this documentary and the insight it gives us into Chinese culture in the shape of two young adults.The film follows two 16-year-olds in Beijing and Qinghai Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China. After graduating from high school, they chose two completely different paths in entirely different cultures. One goes to study abroad, and the other inherits the traditional art of his culture - ThangGa.
Beautifully produced documentary following two young boys who take very different paths after high school, both are very interesting and the film shows how they pursue their individual goals. Great camera work, good audio, excellent editing. I thoroughly enjoyed this and the glimpse it gives us into Chinese culture. The dialogue is in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles; the subtitles are somewhat small and not always completely in proper English, but you still understand the drift of the film. The film's message is about how two people can pursue completely different paths to find their own personal version of happiness. I give Two Ways 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I enjoyed this documentary and the insight it gives us into Chinese culture in the shape of two young adults.
The film follows two 16-year-olds in Beijing and Qinghai Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China. After graduating from high school, they chose two completely different paths in entirely different cultures. One goes to study abroad, and the other inherits the traditional art of his culture - ThangGa.
Beautifully produced documentary following two young boys who take very different paths after high school, both are very interesting and the film shows how they pursue their individual goals. Great camera work, good audio, excellent editing. I thoroughly enjoyed this and the glimpse it gives us into Chinese culture. The dialogue is in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles; the subtitles are somewhat small and not always completely in proper English, but you still understand the drift of the film. The film's message is about how two people can pursue completely different paths to find their own personal version of happiness. I give Two Ways 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 9 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 12-18
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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RISE, FALL, HOPE - PEDER HILL
Series: FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY, AGES 5-12
Description - 14-year-olds explore humanity's stumbling struggle for sustainability.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Rise, Fall, Hope is a documentary film which highlights the concept of sustainability and its importance for our generation and for future generations.I really enjoyed the way the concept of sustainability is explained - methods are simplistic, yet perfect for a young audience. Causes and effects are highlighted as are solutions to the problems. The set is a school studio with a green screen. There are a variety of people in this short documentary; each has an important role in teaching about sustainability and its importance. This film is a good example of "simple is good." The cinematography and camera work are not high quality but they are sufficient to give the film what it needs for success. The camera is shaky at times and transitions between scenes are not smooth. The film is a cooperative effort of a team of students. The film is a team effort between high school students, each contributing to the project. The final scene shows how the film was made and how fun the cooperative effort was. The last scene is enjoyable and I'm glad it was included. My favorite part is the theme and its educational message. Eyes and ears need to be wide open when it comes to making a difference for our world's diminishing ecosystems. There can never be enough educational resources about sustainability and improving human's bad habits.
The film's message is about responsibility and commitment, emphasizing how we must all do our part, be responsible, and be committed to making a difference for Mother Earth. I give Rise, Fall, Hope 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Dominic D., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Rise, Fall, Hope is a documentary film which highlights the concept of sustainability and its importance for our generation and for future generations.
I really enjoyed the way the concept of sustainability is explained - methods are simplistic, yet perfect for a young audience. Causes and effects are highlighted as are solutions to the problems. The set is a school studio with a green screen. There are a variety of people in this short documentary; each has an important role in teaching about sustainability and its importance. This film is a good example of "simple is good." The cinematography and camera work are not high quality but they are sufficient to give the film what it needs for success. The camera is shaky at times and transitions between scenes are not smooth. The film is a cooperative effort of a team of students. The film is a team effort between high school students, each contributing to the project. The final scene shows how the film was made and how fun the cooperative effort was. The last scene is enjoyable and I'm glad it was included. My favorite part is the theme and its educational message. Eyes and ears need to be wide open when it comes to making a difference for our world's diminishing ecosystems. There can never be enough educational resources about sustainability and improving human's bad habits.
The film's message is about responsibility and commitment, emphasizing how we must all do our part, be responsible, and be committed to making a difference for Mother Earth. I give Rise, Fall, Hope 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Dominic D., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 7 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO