KIDS FIRST! News

The 2013 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search is nearly ready to launch (Oct. 3). Being a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic is an exciting experience, and we are hosting a series of online “be a great film critic” webinars for kids (ages 7 to 14) interested in entering the competition. The webinars will teach them how to analyze a film elements to be included in their review, how to videotape the review and how to upload it to the campaign’s voting website. We will incorporate basic media literacy skills in the webinars and discuss the purpose of a film critic and film reviews.

Make your review – your KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search entry – the best it can be. And while you’re at it, make yourself a wiser viewer of film and media content. This is valuable information, so take advantage of it and sign up for our free webinars. Space is limited, so sign up now.

The three-webinar series starts this week and runs three consecutive Thursdays (Sept. 13, 20 and 27). If you are unable to attend one or more of the live presentations, you can view the recorded webinar (the link will be on http://www.kidsfirst.org/ after the live webinar).

Webinars:
How to Read a Film
KIDS FIRST! focuses on the messages and meanings in media directed toward children – that is, the content of the film or program, rather than the impact of any advertising that may accompany it.

Make Your Review Sizzle
We’ll discuss what comprises a great film review and how to make your voice – your thoughts and opinions – heard, both in your written and video reviews.

Looking Good On Camera
Performing on camera is a blast, once you pick up a few tricks to make yourself seen and heard in the best possible way.

Additionally, take a look at these links to simple guidelines and tips for entering your reviews:
Tips for Creating Reviews

Guidelines for Entering

Official Rules

And listen to tips from our KIDS FIRST! youth film critics. 

KIDS FIRST! and Grand Magazine wish all you grandparents a very happy Grandparents Day this Sunday, September 9.

As a special offer to our KIDS FIRST! family, Grand Magazine is giving a free 2-year subscription to everyone who signs up now at www.grandsub.com.

Interview stars and directors on the red carpet. Attend film previews and share your impressions of the movie with peers the world over. Being a KIDS FIRST! youth film critic is the experience of a lifetime. (And parents – there’s an education component to all this. Visual media is a pervasive element of contemporary life,a nd we’ve developed our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program to teach kids to critique the visual messages they’re bombarded with as well as write reviews about media they enjoy.)

The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search opens Oct. 3. We’ll have the list of films at that time for you to choose from to review, but we’ve prepared resources you can start looking at NOW to learn how to make your review th best it can be. And one of this year’s KIDS FIRST! youth film critics, Brianna Beaton, age 12, is eager to share important tips she follows when reviewing a film and creating a video presentation of her review. Check out the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search webpage for tips on how to submit, guidelines, official rules and a short video from many of our youth film critics sharing their experience.

And sharing her view of the experience from the parent’s perspective, the mother of one of our first KIDS FIRST! youth film critics says, “My daughter’s experience with KIDS FIRST! has opened many doors for her within her own person, allowing her to strive for excellence in her written and oral presentations and to always ask the deeper questions about messages and meanings in media directed to children. Her confidence in public speaking has greatly increased as well as her feelings of value and worth of her own opinions and thoughts.” (Sarah Jane Geraldi, mother of Raven Devanney, a 2011 KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search winner.)

The contest is open until midnight, Dec. 31, but the earlier you submit your entry, the better your chance to win. Entries are posted on a public website where friends, family and everyone interested can vote for their favorite review. The top 20 will be finalists, which we’ll announce the beginning of January, and the winning four will be chosen from among the finalists by a celebrity panel of judges. Winners will be announced the middle of January.

Kids, you’ll have a blast entering this contest. So get ready to take part.

Horror does not have to rely on gore to make its impact on the minds of its audience. The master of the genre, Alfred Hitchcock, gives ample proof of that. Just so, also, does PG-13-rated The Possession. Its horror runs deeper than just a “boo” reaction. Says KIDS FIRST! youth film critic Raven Devanney, “This film definitely gave me the chills.” Although the 15-year-old also says the film “wasn’t the scariest I’ve seen,” she doesn’t recommend it to kids younger than 13. For a scare that goes beyond a film entertainment, consider: The Possession is based on a true story!

The Possession
Reviewed by Raven Devanney
(Check back soon to KIDS FIRST! to see Raven’s full review on video.)

The Possession, starring Natasha Calis, Jeffrey Morgan and Kyra Sedgwick, is a spine-tingling thriller about a young girl named Em who becomes possessed by an evil spirit.

I really enjoyed this film. It wasn’t the scariest I’ve seen, but that is to be expected because of its rating, PG-13. I liked the cinematography because the more the plot thickened, the darker and more glooming the visuals got. The special effects were pretty good as well. However, some of the effects toward the end of the film were a little disappointing.

The acting in this film was good to some extent, although some of the interactions between the family members were a bit unrealistic. For instance, the way Em’s mother reacted to her child being possessed on the kitchen floor was a little odd. Em was screaming and crying on the floor, stuffing her face with raw meat, and her mom just stood there. If that was me in that situation, I know my mom would have run to me and seen what the matter was, so it seemed rather unrealistic.

My favorite scene would probably have to be the end. It was just so evil and unexpected. I don’t want to give it away, but the reaction that the audience and myself had to it was great. It really threw me off guard and I couldn’t stop talking about it after the film. I’m not sure if I have a favorite character, because each of the characters had the same amount of enjoyable qualities and flaws. So it’s hard to pick one.

One thing that really stood out to me was how subtle and gradual Em transformed from an innocent child to the host of an evil spirit. This film definitely gave me the chills, but, like I said, it wasn’t terrifying. Everyone has a different tolerance level when it comes to horror, but I would recommend this film for ages 13 and up.

Overall, The Possession deserves four to five stars! Check it out in a theater near you.

Photos: The Possession poster (top), Raven Devanney (bottom)

The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure is an adventure in its own right. Producer Kenn Viselman wanted to create for young children a movie experience in line with their natural energies to move and dance and sing aloud, rather than forcing them to sit like little adults in the theater, and KIDS FIRST! youth film critics love it. Morgan Bertsch, age 7, calls the concept “awesome,” and says, “No one tells you to please sit down and be quiet. You get to have fun.” Cheyenne Nguyen, age 8, says, “I can’t wait to watch it again with friends, so we can do the Oogie cheers and dances together.” In addition to reviewing the film the two sat down for one-on-one interview with some of the stars, at the film’s recent red carpet event.

Viselman, an innovative force in children’s TV programming, shares more about the movie on KIDS FIRST! weekly radio show Coming Attractions, which streams on VoiceAmerica Kids.

The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
Reviewed by Morgan Bertsch
(See her full review on video.)Kenn Viselman, who helped make “Thomas the Tank Engine” and “Teletubbies” household names, has come up with a new movie concept for kids, with Matthew Diamond as the director. Scott Stabile is the writer. The concept is awesome.

This is a movie like no other I have ever seen. You actually get to dance, sing and cheer in the movie theater. No one tells you to please sit down and be quiet. You get to have fun. The butterflies tell you when it is time to get up and move around and the turtles tell you when it is time to slow down, take a seat and enjoy the show. Don’t forget to clap for all the little dancers when they are done. The movie is interactive, and you feel like you are part of the movie because you get to participate in the actual show. There is no violence or villains, just a fun, family-friendly movie.

Chazz Palminteri as Marvin Milkshake and Guistina Chirco as Marna make you rethink what you want in your milkshake the next time you order one.

The Oogieloves Goobie, Zoozie and Toofie live in Lovelyloveville, which is a colorful, happy place. When their five balloons fly away, they go on an adventure to retrieve them. Windy Window provides clues to J. Edger (Hoover) to help them on their hunt for the balloons to give to their friend Schluufy for the big surprise birthday party. They must use problem-solving skills at each adventure to solve the many puzzles of how to capture the balloons. The clock is ticking — will they make it in time for the big party?

Along the way they meet a great cast of characters: The fabulous Cloris Leachman plays Dotty Rounder. Jaime Pressly is Lola Sombrero. Christopher Lloyd is the bongo-playing Lero Sombrero. Cary Elwes with his crazy bird is Bobby Wobbly. Toni Braxton is the singer Rosalie Rosebud, and there are many more people you will get to know and love.

The songs are original, creative and you will have the lyrics stuck in your head with a smile on your face.The puppets look real and are very funny. Wait till you see what the raccoons can do.

It is appropriate for all your youngsters. Your children can go see a movie and act like a kid. I would recommend this movie for ages 3 and up.

I give it five ***** twinkling stars.

This movie will be showing nationwide Oogust 29, 2012.

The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
Reviewed by Cheyenne Nguyen
(See her full review on video.)
 
Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure is the first-ever interactive movie. I can’t wait to watch it again with friends, so we can do the Oogie cheers and dances together.

The fun characters in this movie are Goobie, Zoozie and Toofie. They go on an adventure to look for the balloons that flew away from Lovelyloveville. They are able to trace the balloons’ locations one by one. However, the Oogieloves need the audience and their friends to help get the balloons. They need to find these balloons before Schluufy wakes up. These magical balloons are for Schluufy’s surprise birthday party.

This movie has so many famous and fun actors. Toni Braxton, Cloris Leachman, Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes and Jaime Pressley. These great actors sing, dance and do cheers through-out the movie. All the songs are very catchy and easy to remember.

They explain to us that when we see the butterflies going across the screen, we can stand up and follow the actors’ lead. When we see the turtles going across the screen, we can sit down. I was not comfortable with getting out of my seat at first until I saw the 2-year-old in front of me just go out in the aisle and dance and sing. The songs are so good that I just had to stand up and sing along. I was so surprised that the same 2-year-old in front of me was so focused on the movie and got the cues right away.

Most of the audience interacts with the movie, so it was great being able to do what I feel like doing while watching a movie. All the kids sing, dance and have a great time. It’s like watching a movie with a sing-along and dance at a party.

The costumes in this movie are vibrant with colors and full of designs that kids love to see. The music makes us all want to dance and move around. This movie set is magical.

My favorite character is Ruffy the fish. He has always wanted to do the hard tasks and protect the Oogieloves. He is the funniest character in this movie.

The messages of this movie are lots of love and teamwork.

I rank this movie five out of five stars. 

I give this an age range of 2 to 8.

Photo: The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure poster

Also enjoy interviews with the film’s stars by KIDS FIRST! youth film critics Morgan Bertsch and Cheyenne Nguyen at the Oogieloves red carpet.