Santa Fe, NM, July 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kids love movies. It’s part of their socializing experience and they also love being on-camera, but is there such a thing as a natural? You can ask the 15 lucky campers that just completed the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Boot Camp what it takes to be a REAL media reporter.
The action packed week began with a Red Carpet Premiere & Screening of Disney’s all-new film, Winnie the Pooh. The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Anthony Aranda, Raven Devanney and Makai Weber Colvin interviewed Jim Cummings (voice of Pooh, Tigger), Travis Oates (voice of Piglet), Craig Ferguson (voice of Owl) and Tom Kenny (voice of Rabbit) to find out their favorite 'Winnie the Pooh' characters and to learn about the making of the film.
'My favorite event of the week-long boot camp was the 'Winnie the Pooh premiere! It was so much fun walking the "honey colored carpet" and getting to meet the actors from the movie!' Chloe, KIDS FIRST! Camper.
Is it fun? Well, who wouldn't want to spend a day at the Walt Disney Studios, interviewing the talent like Nolan Sotillo and Janelle Ortiz from PROM or filmmakers Don Hahn and Tony Bancroft from Disney’s The Lion King? But KIDS FIRST! Film Critics learn there is much more to watching the latest films.
Learning to critique media is essential because the information received through media is constructed reality with messages, often subconscious, that shape our beliefs, values and attitudes. ABC7 News Entertainment Guru, George Pennacchio, shared his reporting tips and interviewing techniques with the campers and worked with them to develop skills of critical thinking and public speaking.
'KIDS FIRST! Boot Camp has really helped me expand my views, whether I grow up to be a film critic or not. I think the interviewing experience really boosted my confidence. I've learned to look at media more critically, which lets me enjoy it on a different level,' Raven Devanney, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.
About Becoming a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic:
Not everyone can attend a KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Boot Camp, but everyone can have fun and learning by participating in the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Search. This year's KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Search campaign launches September 1 and runs through the end of November. Kids ages 6 to 14 can enter for a chance to compete for eight coveted slots as KIDS FIRST! Film Critics. To enter, kids can submit a videotaped review of one of the official search campaign films or DVDs. Public voting determines the 20 finalists and a panel of celebrity judges determines the winners. Last year, more than 11 million votes were cast for fewer than 100 contestants. Check it all out at www.kidsfirst.org or on the KIDS FIRST! Facebook page.
Tune into the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics on VoiceAmerica Kids, Tuesdays at 4pm Pacific beginning August 2nd.
A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10055
