Description - Grab your magnifying glasses and follow Amelia, a young detective want-to-be, as she puts her sleuthing skills to the test after overseeing some suspicious activity while on vacation.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - I enjoyed Active Imagination because of its cliffhanger ending. Sometimes those can make me a little mad, but this is a perfect cliffhanger that makes me want a sequel. I also enjoyed Amelia's wanting to be a detective and her applying those skills in real life.In this film, Amelia (Maya Shanker) enjoys reading the Nancy Drew mystery books and solving mysteries at her school's playground. One day during her family's vacation, Amelia sees some suspicious activity. Putting her investigating skills to the test, she hopes to solve this mystery and become a real detective. The storyline begins with Amelia reading a book and telling Brenda (Sandra Walters) that she is a detective. Amelia notices a huge amount of cash in Brenda's bag and decides to explore what is going on. She sees Brenda talking with two guys, Barry (Mauro Mendoza) and Dwayne (Clayton Lukens) who is holding a briefcase. She follows them, calls the police and it's chalked up to a huge misunderstanding. Amelia is told to apologize, but after the police and her parents leave Amelia discovers that she was right after all and the criminals will get away with it. To find out what happens, we'll need to watch the sequel.
The camera work is quite good; one close-up I really enjoyed is at the end of the film, when we see Amelia's disappointment on her face and in the background we see someone putting up a poster. This really enhances the cliffhanger effect ending. The main character. Amelia is portrayed as someone with a passionate desire to be a detective. Her determination doesn't go unnoticed from the first time we see her reading a Nancy Drew book. When Brenda asks her if she would want to be a detective when she grows up, Amelia says that she already considers herself as a detective. We also see how she handles the suspicious activity she observes by putting on gloves to retrieve from the trash some Barry has thrown away. Her parents and the police Officer Callahan appear at the very end, telling Amelia to apologize and leave the three crooks alone. Whereas at the beginning Brenda seems happy for Amelia wanting to be a detective, at the end Brenda's attitude changes. Right after Amelia's parents and Officer Callahan leave, Brenda mocks Amelia and Barry and Dwayne join in humiliating her. The entire story seems to take place at a vacation type of resort, which is enhanced by a background song that has a holiday type vibe. My favorite part of this film is the music - even though there is very little, it makes the film stand out. The song plays at the beginning and again during the credits. The song helps to show how they are trying to enjoy their vacation. When they play the same song at the end, it gives me a sense of, "Alright, it's a wrap!" without actually saying those words. The Directors, Jordan Fouts, and Amanda Garabedian's work stands out the most. I particularly like their choice to end the story on a cliffhanger; it is the perfect ending.
The film's message is that, when you see something that seems amiss, don't be afraid to tell an adult; on that same note, don't take assumptions, make sure to have all the facts.
I give the Directors, Jordan Fouts, and Amanda Garabedian's work stands out the most. I particularly like their choice to end the story on a cliffhanger; it is the perfect ending. The Directors, Jordan Fouts, and Amanda Garabedian's work stands out the most. I particularly like their choice to end the story on a cliffhanger; it is the perfect ending.
I give Active Imagination 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Zamyra G., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - I enjoyed Active Imagination because of its cliffhanger ending. Sometimes those can make me a little mad, but this is a perfect cliffhanger that makes me want a sequel. I also enjoyed Amelia's wanting to be a detective and her applying those skills in real life.
In this film, Amelia (Maya Shanker) enjoys reading the Nancy Drew mystery books and solving mysteries at her school's playground. One day during her family's vacation, Amelia sees some suspicious activity. Putting her investigating skills to the test, she hopes to solve this mystery and become a real detective. The storyline begins with Amelia reading a book and telling Brenda (Sandra Walters) that she is a detective. Amelia notices a huge amount of cash in Brenda's bag and decides to explore what is going on. She sees Brenda talking with two guys, Barry (Mauro Mendoza) and Dwayne (Clayton Lukens) who is holding a briefcase. She follows them, calls the police and it's chalked up to a huge misunderstanding. Amelia is told to apologize, but after the police and her parents leave Amelia discovers that she was right after all and the criminals will get away with it. To find out what happens, we'll need to watch the sequel.
The camera work is quite good; one close-up I really enjoyed is at the end of the film, when we see Amelia's disappointment on her face and in the background we see someone putting up a poster. This really enhances the cliffhanger effect ending. The main character. Amelia is portrayed as someone with a passionate desire to be a detective. Her determination doesn't go unnoticed from the first time we see her reading a Nancy Drew book. When Brenda asks her if she would want to be a detective when she grows up, Amelia says that she already considers herself as a detective. We also see how she handles the suspicious activity she observes by putting on gloves to retrieve from the trash some Barry has thrown away. Her parents and the police Officer Callahan appear at the very end, telling Amelia to apologize and leave the three crooks alone. Whereas at the beginning Brenda seems happy for Amelia wanting to be a detective, at the end Brenda's attitude changes. Right after Amelia's parents and Officer Callahan leave, Brenda mocks Amelia and Barry and Dwayne join in humiliating her. The entire story seems to take place at a vacation type of resort, which is enhanced by a background song that has a holiday type vibe. My favorite part of this film is the music - even though there is very little, it makes the film stand out. The song plays at the beginning and again during the credits. The song helps to show how they are trying to enjoy their vacation. When they play the same song at the end, it gives me a sense of, "Alright, it's a wrap!" without actually saying those words. The Directors, Jordan Fouts, and Amanda Garabedian's work stands out the most. I particularly like their choice to end the story on a cliffhanger; it is the perfect ending.
The film's message is that, when you see something that seems amiss, don't be afraid to tell an adult; on that same note, don't take assumptions, make sure to have all the facts.
I give the Directors, Jordan Fouts, and Amanda Garabedian's work stands out the most. I particularly like their choice to end the story on a cliffhanger; it is the perfect ending. The Directors, Jordan Fouts, and Amanda Garabedian's work stands out the most. I particularly like their choice to end the story on a cliffhanger; it is the perfect ending.
I give Active Imagination 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. By Zamyra G., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 6 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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OOOPS! - ANIMATION 3D KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL
Series: MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT SHORT, AGES 8-12
Description - On a normal day, a caveman rests in his cave. When all of a sudden, an uninvited guest appears from a portal, and disrupts the caveman's peace. The caveman, out of anger destroys the teleportation device : but that was a big mistake...
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Hurrah for middle school students. I love this very short animated film and applaud you for your hard work learning how to use the software. We know it's a challenge.The storyline follows a caveman whose peaceful existence is interrupted when visitors arrive via a portal. Annoyed by their presence, he destroys the portal, but that might not have been such a great idea.
The animation is terrific here - great colors and great characters. At under a minute, the story has to be told very quickly, and that is accomplished. The caveman's intentions are clear, even without any dialogue; the alien guests' intentions are not so clear, but they will end up sticking around, which leads us to believe there might be a sequel to this.
The film's message is a reminder to think before you act, or you might be sorry for your hasty actions.
I give OOOPS ! 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Hurrah for middle school students. I love this very short animated film and applaud you for your hard work learning how to use the software. We know it's a challenge.
The storyline follows a caveman whose peaceful existence is interrupted when visitors arrive via a portal. Annoyed by their presence, he destroys the portal, but that might not have been such a great idea.
The animation is terrific here - great colors and great characters. At under a minute, the story has to be told very quickly, and that is accomplished. The caveman's intentions are clear, even without any dialogue; the alien guests' intentions are not so clear, but they will end up sticking around, which leads us to believe there might be a sequel to this.
The film's message is a reminder to think before you act, or you might be sorry for your hasty actions.
I give OOOPS ! 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 1 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 8-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO
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WHEN PIGS TRY - STYLO MONIKER
Series: INDIE SHORT, AGES 5-12
Description - A little pig valiantly pursues new challenges while ignoring the naysayers.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - When Pigs Try is too cute. Silly, while being inspiring at the same time.The short animated film follows a pig named Parker who pursues challenges even though others say that "pigs can't do that."
Parker plays baseball, bakes cookies, swims and... flies! Yes, he climbs to the top of a water tower, stands on the edge and flies, much to everyone's surprise.
The film's message is "sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do." Now, we do not recommend that children jump off of water towers trying to fly, but this is a silly little cartoon about believing in yourself, so take it with a grain of salt.
I give When Pigs Try 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - When Pigs Try is too cute. Silly, while being inspiring at the same time.
The short animated film follows a pig named Parker who pursues challenges even though others say that "pigs can't do that."
Parker plays baseball, bakes cookies, swims and... flies! Yes, he climbs to the top of a water tower, stands on the edge and flies, much to everyone's surprise.
The film's message is "sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do." Now, we do not recommend that children jump off of water towers trying to fly, but this is a silly little cartoon about believing in yourself, so take it with a grain of salt.
I give When Pigs Try 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
Runtime: 2 minutes
Juror Recommended Age: 5-12
Suggested Retail Price: $
Media: VIDEO