Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Just yesterday I published a short review of an audio book based on the illustrated novel Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Seeing the film based on the same novel a few hours later converted me into a true fan of the series. It’s been a while since I saw such a great family friendly comedy that was so funny and entertaining that I did not want it to end.

In addition to that, the film is a coming of age film as its main protagonist, Greg Heffley, learns a lot about himself and the real meaning of friendship. Zachary Gordon, who plays Greg, is truly adorable and is such a good actor that, once you see the film, you are likely to always imagine him when you think of Greg and his adventures. It’s extremely easy for one to identify with Greg and recall his own middle school experiences as they are truly universal: looking for acceptance, the pursuit of popularity, the bullies, the peer pressure …etc. Think of Malcolm in the Middle only funnier, on a big screen and extremely well-filmed and directed. The editing and cinematography were brilliant as well.

Combining fantasy, reality and hand drawn cartoons, no matter if you are in middle school or long out of it, you’re going to love Diary of a Wimpy Kid and see it more than once to re-experience the ‘laughing out loud’ comedy of its entire hour and half length.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Film title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Release year: 2010
Director: Thor Freudenthal
Cast: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, Connor Fielding , Chloe Moretz, Karan Brar, Grayson Russell and others

Diary of a Wimpy Kid at Amazon.com, Official site of the film

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

Some time ago, I purchased an audio book called The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, an unabridged recording of the third book from the best-selling series from Jeff Kinney. Today I finally got to listen to it. The book is aimed at young readers (Ages 8-12) – yet it’s extremely funny and a great listen for people of any age. Told in first person as if read from a real diary, the story reminded me of the one in the book Le Petit Nicolas and, similarly, has a movie adaptation (which I’m looking forward to watching).

The main protagonist is the young Greg Heffley who thinks of himself as “one of the most perfect people he knows” – and not surprisingly since he is just about to become a teenager. The audio book is really filled with humorous coming of age stories, which is why I won’t hesitate to recommend it highly to the readers of theskykid.com. For the younger readers, I would recommend checking out the story at Funbrain.com where the book can be read online in daily entries ( just like a real diary) and there are also some great cartoons there to accompany it.

After I got the audio book (2 hrs and 16 mins), I found out that the book itself was available at Amazon.com (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw) as a hard cover book along with three more books from the series and a fourth one is scheduled for release on 9-November 2010. It should be noted that the printed books are based on the stories published online, but with some additional twists.

You may find out more about the book and its author at http://www.wimpykid.com/

Audio book :

Emmett

Emmet is a forty-eight minute long Canadian film that tells the story of a friendship and of life changing choices. The storyline can be described in a few sentences. Emmet (Matthew Rappolt) is a twelve-year-old boy who hangs out with his friend Mike (Evan Green). They are good friends, even if from their conversations one gets the feeling that Emmet is a bit of a loner — weirder than most boys his age. Yet,Mike doesn’t seem to have a problem with that, at least until Emmet meets Mike’s “cooler” friends who happen to have their own explanation of Emmet’s weariness.

At one point in the film, the boys head out to swim. When they encounter a road accident – a crushed car with a guy in it who is hurt and in danger of dying – will the boys be able to help him …?

The story of the film is similar to the one in the Norwegian short Benny’s Gym, at least when it comes to the common issues of bullying, showing off and friendship. Unlike the Norwegian short – Emmet’s cinematography isn’t professional and the acting is quite average. It feels as if one is watching a home made film shot with a hand-held camera that gives the film an almost documentary-like feeling not much different than the one in Put the Camera on Me by Darren Stain. The most memorable part of the film is its soundtrack, but even that is overdone at times. At the same time, though, the efforts of the crew and the actors to tell a good story with some moral values deserves some recognition.

The film is produced by Sterling Productions, which seems to be an independent company with a focus on young talents and stories aimed at a teenage audience. Most of their films can be classified as coming of age, in addition to being family-friendly. Check out their site to find out more about Emmet and their other films. I believe that people should be supporting independent studios like Sterling Productions.

Who knows? Maybe that’s where the next Barret Oliver will come from…

Trailer

http://youtu.be/2rMHs5spYQI

The Flyboys: (a.k.a. Sky Kids) (2008)

Some films you can see once and forget you ever saw it. The Flyboys (a.k.a. Sky Kids) (2008) is not one of those films. From the first scenes, you can tell this is going to be a movie that will capture, not only your attention but also your heart!

The two young protagonists, (Jesse James), as Jason McIntyre, and Reiley McClendon as Kyle Barrett, did more than an outstanding job in both their on-screen presence and with incredible acting. A friendship is built between the two boys when Kyle (the new kid at school), defends Reiley from the schoolyard bully. However, when the boys find themselves in a much more serious dilemma, their friendship proves to be one in which both boys are willing to die for each other.

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American Drummer Boy (2001)

The American Civil War and its events and heroes have inspired thousands of films and books. The coming of age genre also contributes to the theme – one of them being the 2001 production American Drummer Boy (also known as The Greatest Adventure of My Life). Narrated in the first person by the young Johnny Boone (good acting performance by Cody Newton) – the film tells the story of a young boy whose sense of honour and duty lead him to sneak out of his house one day and embark on a journey to join the 11th Kentucky Infantry. From that moment on, he gets himself in and out of trouble, finding himself with the enemy forces instead (only to realize that they are just people with beliefs and honour to protect and that their reasons to enlist are not much different than his own).

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Anthony Gargiula: Amazingly Gifted Singing Super Star

Anthony Gargiula, better known as Anthony G from New York, is most likely best known for his many singing engagements at major sporting events opening with the US National Anthem. Some of his appearances include The Ellen Show, Carnegie Hall, The Today Show, not to mention the Belmont Horse Race in 2008. Anthony is both a naturally talented singer and an amazing personality.

Anthony just finished his debut CD called Finally Done with Grammy Award winning writer and producer, Bradley Spalter. The album has 10 original songs, including the title track that AG wrote about some experiences he had with bullying in school. Anthony hopes that, through his words and music, he can send a positive message to youngsters all over the world about being yourself, not worrying about what others think, and following your dreams.

In July 2010, Anthony was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction in Cooperstown, NY. It was a thrill to be on the same stage with so many super stars of baseball. This summer Anthony also sang at Shriners Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, and a huge festival in Decatur, Illinois and at a Minnesota Twins game.

At eleven years old, Anthony carried on a better conversation with me than many adults have with whom I have spoken. He is not only intelligent, but shows a confidence well beyond his young eleven years of age. Anthony has astounded me with every performance that I have witnessed over the past two years. I have followed him very closely and now have been privileged to meet him and his wonderful supporting father. It is with great pride I bring to this website the following exclusive interview with Anthony G.

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Mirakel (2000)

Scandinavian films about coming of age are known for their special twists in the storyline. And they come in wide variety – from serious to cute and entreating but perhaps a little bit weird. Mirakel is a Danish film released in 2000,which falls into the second category. The central character is a twelve-year-old boy Dennis P (Stefan Pagels Andersen) who has a bunch of issues.

Among those issues: school problems, he likes the same girls his best friend does, his dad is gone and, his biggest problem (or at least the one that is bugging him constantly) is that he is the only boy in his class who doesn’t have pubes …). One may recall the Swedish film Barnens ö in which Reine (the young protagonist in the film) has similar worries. Dennis even mentions his problem while he prays in church, quickly adding that he “knows that this doesn’t sound like a particularly big problem compared to what else is going on around the world.” But to him it means one hell of a lot.

Dennis is quite a resourceful fellow, even if he can often be found daydreaming (looking for a solution to his problems, maybe?). At times, the film feels as if one is watching a musical, as the fantasies Dennis slips into are always filled with music and dance. The mixture of reality and fantasy may remind some of another Danish film titled En som Hodder . A trend in the Danish cinema maybe?

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Almost Angels (1962)

Have you ever been to a choir concert ?

Nothing can substitute for the experience — no recordings or movies – yet the 1962 Disney production Almost Angels comes close. The film is filled with wonderful treble music performed by the world famous Vienna Boys Choir and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Saintly solo performances, beautiful cinematography, breathtaking scenery and a touching story add to the immense musical and inspirational value of the film. Directed by Steve Previn, Almost Angels is one of the few films that focuses entirely on boy choir music.

The protagonist of the film is the entire choir. The boys featured in the film were a combination of Disney child actors and actual members of the Vienna Choir Boys at the time the film was shot. In the movie’s main storyline, we follow the adventures of a young boy, Tony (Vincent Winter), who sees the boys returning from a concert they held in the USA and, inspired, he convinces his mother to take him to an audition. There, he proves to be extraordinarily talented, but his father is a working-class man who wants his son to study hard and prepare himself for a “serious profession”. Even if the topic is different (singing vs dance), I would not be surprised if this film influenced the more recent Billy Elliot and Love and Dance, as all three films show us how meaningless the stereotypes can be when one is willing to express himself and chase his dreams.

Eventually, Tony joins the choir and, from that moment on, the viewer is allowed to get an insight into the daily life of the Vienna Boys Choir. Friendship, jealousy, inspiration and playfulness – nothing is left out as we observe the interaction of Tony with the rest of the choirboys. Boys will be boys and their choirmaster brilliantly describes it while saying:

“I don’t expect you to be a flock of angels, even if you sing like them”

Later on, the film inspired a Vienna Boys’ Choir commercial for Football Championship 2008:

Almost Angels also shows the emotions of the relatives and the friends of the choristers. Parents most always are proud of their kids. Attend a choir concert in your local community just once, and you will see these people – fathers, mothers, grandparents — beaming with pride. Perhaps first outside the concert hall, chatting about the miracle that is about to happen, then everyone enters the hall and is carried away by the youngsters (who sometimes give a secret wave or a smile of acknowledgment to someone in the audience).

The film also raises some well known issues related to boy choirs – such as voice change and its effect on the young singers. (The DVD of Le Monde des Choristes also features a short film titled Un peu de Fièvre that focuses on voice change, which naturally occurs to all youngsters as they grow up).

Here’s a brief clip from Almost Angels, portraying part of a concert given by the Vienna Boys Choir:

http://youtu.be/NuCcLs8t9P4

I haven’t ever been in a choir, but I adore choir music and happen to know several choristers from choirs in several countries (though sadly none from the Vienna Boys Choir). The film is very inspirational and is guaranteed to light the desire in any youngster to audition for a choir. If they are accepted into one, they’ll surely see how rewarding singing in one can be. Almost Angels is one of the most inspirational films I have seen. I recommend it to any young singer – regardless of the genre in which he/she performs. This is one of the best films ever produced by Disney and it’s a prime example of a family flick filled with values and inspiration.

The excellence of the film helped it achieve a status of “Classic” and many sites around the globe feature additional information about it, with production photos and video clips. If you are interested in finding out more about Almost Angels, please visit this fan page at AlmostAngels.org

Film title: Almost Angels
Alternative titles: Born to Sing , Ein Gruß aus Wien
Release data: 26 September 1962
Director: Steve Previn
Cast: Vincent Winter, Sean Scully, Peter Weck, Hans Holt, Bruni Löbel, Fritz Eckhardt, Hermann Furthmosek and others

Sibling Sensation “The Wright Kids”

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Since first introducing The Wright Kids on my site on June 18, 2010, they have been staying very busy doing live shows, concerts, television appearances and just enjoying summer vacation like everyone else their age. One of their live appearances included a benefit concert for the Roanoke Professional Firefighters Association on Friday, May 7^thwhere they opened for Country Star Lee Greenwood.

If you have not yet met The Wright Kids you are in for a real treat! These kids are more than just young prodigies of music, but wonderful young personalities whom I was privileged to have an exclusive interview with only a few days ago!

Sage is the oldest of the sibling group at 14, Baruch 11, Levi 8 and little sister, Selah, who recently joined the group at just 5, makes up the most talented young sibling Bluegrass singing group in the US. The oldest three have been performing as a trio for almost 4 years. Since their first appearance at the Galax Fiddlers’ Convention in 2006, they have appeared on stage numerous times with their largest audience of viewers being on America’s Got Talent in 2008.

I know you will enjoy what is to follow as it is a transcript of an audio interview which will also be aired on The Skykid.com Radio on Sunday, September 5th. Be watching for the announcement of that airing right here on this website and on Rivenmaster.com.

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Yo ho ho (1981)

Pirates, Indians and adventures …and a 10-year-old boy who finds inspiration and hope in the tale an actor creates for him.

Leonid (Victor Chouchkov) is recovering in the hospital after a bike accident which resulted in a broken arm. While trying to keep himself occupied (by writing secrets letters in French for his favorite nurse, which he parachutes to her hidden in a small bottle), he leaves the children’s floor and enters a room downstairs in which an actor named Aktyorat (Kiril Variyski) is recovering from a serious trauma. Leonid is a boy with an attitude – but as soon as the actor mentions pirates, his imagination goes wild and he makes the actor promise that he will tell him a story.

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Child’s Play (1980)

Child’s Play or An American Short Story is a short film released in the United States in 1980. The main protagonist is Conrad (Paul Schoeman), a young boy whose parents have tragically died and he is left in the care of his sadistic aunt. The boy is pale and fragile and his aunt takes advantage of that, keeping him indoors and away from other kids. He is a lonely and bored boy whose only friend is a hen he keeps hidden in an old shed in the garden. The boy trades silver candles from the house for a mysterious creature, Sredni Vashtar, whom he worships as God, hoping that the creature will protect him.

“Sredni Vashtar went forth,

His thoughts were red thoughts and his teeth were white.

His enemies called for peace, but he brought them death.

Sredni Vashtar the Beautiful.”

The atmosphere of the film can easily be compared with some of the earliest adaptations of the books of Stephen King while, at the same time, the story is told in a manner not much different than one would expect to find in the tales of Hans Christian Anderson. Yet, the twenty eight minute long film is based on the short story Sredni Vashtar by Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) and additional story material written by Amy Rose Blochc, who also directs the film. There are a lot of Noir and Gothic arrangements in the story and, though the camera work is not always perfect, the viewer feels the dismay of the story. In the most powerful scene of the film, the boy and creature become one, uniting their souls with one goal – revenge!

The short story by Saki has inspired many films through the years. A horror story itself, elements of demonism and idol worship are essential to the story. Another version directed by Andrew Birkin, which was released in the same year, won a BAFTA award for Best Short Film and was nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar). Having seen both short films, I must advise the reader that Child’s Play is more haunting, while Sredni Vashtar follows the short story more closely. The latter film also provides additional details, which help the viewer understand how Conrad learned about the ancient demons, thanks to his knowledge of Latin and interest in history.

In addition to the movies, Sredni Vashtar has been adapted as a chamber opera three times.

IMDB link / The original short story

Introducing Oleg Aleksandrov

TheSkyKid.com is constantly searching across the globe for young talent in music and the performing arts. Lately, thanks to the constant development of the social media, by the time a youthful star is “discovered” the word about him has already spread. Even so, we pride ourselves here at TheSkyKid for spotlighting, not only known and famous stars and actors, but lesser known ones who come to our attention by various channels – being recommended by our readers, a producer, friend or sometimes even a random “stumble upon” of a news article or YouTube clip.

In this article, we have the pleasure of introducing Oleg Aleksandrov. He is seven years old, lives in the Ukraine and has a tremendous talent behind the microphone. Oleg astonishes the audience in each venue he performs, singing covers of such big name performers as Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong and The Beatles. While English is Oleg’s second language, one could hardly know that by watching and listening to this young entertainer.

Below, you can see Oleg performing What a Wonderful World and Love Me Tender during the second day of the first International Children’s Jazz Festival (OKeshkin Jazz) in Kiev, Ukraine. Oleg Aleksandrov amazed the festival audience with the unexpectedly technically gifted compositions that belied his age — mesmerizing them with his presentation of adult music that possessed such childish sincerity and spirit!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOTIefWTe0

There’s no doubt the world will be hearing much more in the future from this talented young singer.

For more information about Oleg and the festival please refer to the Jazz in Kiev official web site .

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