Interview with the filmmaker Dave Schultz

The feature film debut of Writer/Director Dave Schultz, Jet Boy, is a drama about a boy attempting to figure out his future. It has been ten years since Jet Boy was released, but the interest in it hasn’t stopped since. Withstanding the test of time, the small independent Canadian production won its well-deserved place among the classics that shape the coming of age genre as a truly thought-provoking, poignant drama.

David Schultz was born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1963. He took courses in cinema and television, stage and radio arts at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and at Mount Royal College in Calgary. Due to the immense interest in the film, we called Mr. Shultz and asked him if he would be willing to give an exclusive interview for the skykid.com – the site with the strongest focus on coming-of-age films and adolescent development of any on the Net. He agreed.

Below are his thoughts. After you check out the interview and the film review itself, please don’t forget to leave us a comment. We hope that, once again, we have exceeded your expectations in providing the extremely interesting and exclusive content for which this site is known.

Continue

Meet MattyB and Mars

Just when you thought that you couldn’t be surprised and when you thought most of the faces on the world music scene were well known – MattyB rises up from Atlanta, Georgia.

Using social media and YouTube to become known is a relatively recent phenomenon. But most of today’s young musicians who have utilized that media have been teens or about to enter their teenage years (i.e. Justin Bieber, Cody Simpson, Troye Sivan to name a few). One of the things that sets MattyB apart is that he is just seven years old. Another is that he and his cousin and fellow rapper, Mars, are launching a quest to change the world’s perception of Rap music and inspire people to believe in their dreams.

The SkyKid.com contacted MattyB and Mars through their manager/producer, Blake, who besides holding those titles holds another important one as well – Dad. You see, Blake is MattyB’s father and among his biggest supporters. Blake is an entrepreneur who, besides heading many other ventures, is managing/producing MattyB’s fledgling music career. I posed some questions to Blake, Mars and MattyB about how MattyB got started and where he hopes this will lead.

MattyB says he was drawn to the beat of Hip Hop music at the age of four or five and wanted to take dance lessons. It was Mars who first got him interested in Rap music. In response to our question on how MattyB’s talent for Rap was discovered, Blake says, “When Mars moved in with our family in 2009 and began recording music, MattyB would learn his lyrics and constantly recite them to the music.” Indeed, MattyB says that he frequently gets the inspiration for his songs from Mars. “My songs come from listening to my big cousin Mars’ music. We have a home recording studio and Mars is always writing and recording music and I get my ideas from listening to his music.”

From that point, Mars relates, “MattyB approached me with five of his own original songs one afternoon and begged me to record and put him on YouTube.” Blake continues the story, “We launched the channel because MattyB kept writing lyrics down and asking Mars could he make a video and be on YouTube. After MattyB continued to persist and beg to make a video, Mars and I finally gave in and helped him.”

I asked if they expected the level of interest that first video generated. “The first video, Eenie Meenie, went viral and was placed on the front page of YouTube and this response was a surprise”, Blake responded. “We expected a good response, but not a video reaching over 500,000 views in its first week.”

That MattyB exhibits artistic talent at such a young age comes as no surprise to Blake who says it’s somewhat in his genes. “My mother has always been into poetry and drama and is very creative and my wife is also very artistic and creative. I, myself, am an entrepreneur, which also requires creativity. My 14-year-old son, Blake Jr, is a very talented drummer and artist and also has participated in drama since 1st grade. Also Joshua, my 8-year-old son, is a very creative artist in drawing and painting.”

I inquired of Mars how moving into such a talented family has been for him. He replied, “It is great because I get to take my experience in music and impart it to the next generation. MattyB and all the children are like younger brothers to me because I live with the family and I believe in my little cousins and the gifts and talents they have.”

MattyB’s music is being met with a lot of enthusiasm on YouTube, with comments ranging from praise of his cuteness to raves about his talent and devotion. Of course, sprinkled among those YouTube comments are the occasional negative ones from those who feel the need to express an opinion that kids can’t sing. Thankfully, MattyB is having none of that.

A few days ago, I showed his video clips to my cousin, who is twelve years old, and he was really impressed. He said that it makes him want to get into singing as well – asking if I would support him as Mars has supported MattyB. That’s just one example of how inspiring MattyB’s music has become.

In an interview with Mars on one of their YouTube videos, MattyB states that he wants his music to influence people, to touch them and help them make the right choices in life. (I could not help recalling the 2000 classic film, Pay It Forward, starring Haley Joel Osment. You’ll recall that film focuses on a young boy who attempts to make the world a better place just like our little rapper MattyB).

So what does the future hold? I asked Mars if he’d continue to perform with MattyB and if an album was in their future, “MattyB is only 7 so we plan on letting him move at the pace he truly desires. Right now that is very fast paced and thus far there has been no signs of him wanting to slow down. Of course, school and activities will dictate how much time can be allocated. We’re not in a hurry to have him record an album, because we want to give him time to develop his talent. More joint performances are very likely.”

And finally, I asked MattyB to answer the most important question of all, one that will be asked of him throughout what I predict will be a long and successful career in music, if that’s what he decides to do with his life. The question: What is your favorite color? The answer: Blue.

You’ll be anything but blue after watching MattyB perform. I predict you’ll have a huge smile on your face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbol3Phgv8

Don`t forget to visit MattyB`s YouTube Channel and subscribe for future updates. We will also keep a close eye on his career.

Das Goldene Ding (1972)

Das Goldene Ding is 1972 made for TV film, released in West Germany, which follows in much detail the Greek myth of Jason. It’s the retelling of the legend using a new and unique approach to filmmaking and storytelling for its time. It’s an approach that’s very different even compared to the 1963 Columbia Pictures fantasy feature film Jason and the Argonauts or the TV miniseries with the same name, directed by Nick Willing and produced by Hallmark Entertainment in 2002.

As someone who has always been interested in Greek Mythology (one of my favorite books as a kid was myth and legends from ancient Greece. By the time the teachers began to introduce them at school, I already knew most myths by heart along with all hero’s names and, of course, the monsters they fought). So I took a particular interest in this film, which explains the length and the details in the review I’ve written. Additionally, I believe that how the film is shot represents the legend of Jason more accurately than any of its other adaptations in cinema. Therefore, in my opinion, this film is a “must-see” for anyone who is currently studying or just has an interest in, Greek myth and legends.

The film begins with a scene showing the young Jason meeting his father, King Aeson, and also the person who is the only survivor of an expedition in the search for the Golden Fleece. It soon becomes clear that this is not the first expedition but one of many that the king has equipped, overtaxing his citizens. The King believes that once the Gold of Colchis is found, the life of people in his kingdom would become easier as everyone would be rich and happy. If that happened, then his only role (and that of his son) would be administering the wealth. Yet, after so many expeditions have failed, the common people feel that their well-being is being threatened by the ill fated ambition of their king as, for them, the Golden Fleece is nothing but a utopian fantasy. And that’s why the king is murdered while planning the next expedition. Viewers who are interested in politics and sociology may recognize some social issues and facts in the film such as: The mood of the commons keeps changing and one cannot rely on that.

After the murder of his dad, the young prince Jason – now king — undertakes the responsibility of proving his father right and bringing the wealth to his kingdom. As was the common practice in the ancient days, for him there was no period of adolescence – one day he is a kid, a young prince and on the next day he is already looked upon as an adult who is able to make decision and issue orders. He summons everyone who has strength and bravery to travel with him – the kings of Sparta, Greece, Thebes, Arcadia, Trace and Arane — all young and eager for adventure. The young and blind Orpheus is also with them along with his magical lyre. These are the Argonauts since the name of their galley is Argo, built by the shipwright Argus with the help of Athena.

Their first stop is Kyzicos. Here they meet the Doliones, who treat the crew well. But after departure from Kyzicos, they get lost and mistakingly land once again on the same shore in the night. In the dark, they are mistaken for enemies by the Doliones and, in the fight that arises, the heroes manage to kill most of the Doliones. Only in the morning do they discover their fatal mistake. From here they sail to the isle of Lemnos (which in the mythology is the first stop). Here there live only women. Because the women neglected their worship of Aphrodite, she made the women so unattractive that the men, instead, had concubines from a nearby island. Angry at this, the women killed their men while they slept. Their queen explains to Jason that, when they learn how to live independently, they will seek other men — like Jason and his fellow sailors.

After Lemnos, the boat arrives at Mysia. Here one of the heroes, Hylas, attracts the nymphs because of his good looks. He is pulled down the stream and is lost forever. After Mysia, they have to get through the Symplegades, which are two clashing rocks in the sea, as this is the only passage to Colchis and the treasure. Will they manage or will they perish?

Even if, supposedly, Jason and the Argonauts traveled as far as “the other side in the world” in their quest for the Golden Fleece – while watching the film one remains with the impression that the filming locations were not that far apart, and that it’s only by the clever usage of the camera (long distance scenes, scenes shot from a low view point as to seemingly extend the size of the fields or the sea) that the viewer, in the end, is convinced that all the various stopovers are indeed locations separated by vast distances. The slow pace of the action, which in other films some may find rather annoying, also plays a role in allowing viewers to associate with the kings of Greece and thereby produce the feeling that they are participating in a long and challenging quest in search of the Golden Fleece. Just as one of the kings states that he no longer cares for the preset goal of the adventure as long as they keep visiting exotic locations and meet various cultures, after the first hour, the viewer stops expecting the grand finale and willingly becomes an explorer along with the Argonauts.

Das Goldene Ding is written and directed by four filmmakers: Alf Brustellin, Nicos Perakis, Edgar Reitz, and Ula Stöckl. The central role of Jason is played by Christian Reitz (Son of director Edgar Reitz). The other actors: Oliver Jovine (Orpheus), Wolfganf Heinz (Castor), Michael Heinz (Pollux), Michael Heron (Herakles), who participate in the quest, are similarly aged (12 to 14 years old) and, along with the rest of the cast, do not appear to have any previous acting experience. Yet, the boys have such a natural talent and interest in the story that their inexperience as actors does not lessen the film’s impact on its viewers. The cast of the film and the usage of boys to portray the Argonauts remind us of the Hungarian film The Annunciation (Angyali üdvözlet ), or the 1963 adaptation of William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies. The ultra-masculinity of the young cast is empathized by the usage of clothes and props, which closely resemble the ones that the real ancient people wore. The more avid film-goers will probably be reminded of the teenage actor Sabu Dastigir who, at age twelve in 1937, was signed for a role in the film Elephant Boy, which brought him as much popularity at the time as Hollywood sensation Mickey Rooney. Most likely, the filmmakers of Das Goldene Ding were extremely knowledgeable of Greek mythology. One senses this by the way actors were cast and the props selected. They bring to mind ancient artifacts such as the Apulian red-figure calyx crater (340 BC–330 BC), kept in the Louvre museum in Paris at the Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities. [1,2].

When asked about the film, one of its directors, Ula Stöckl, explains the choice of their cast and film techniques used with the following words:

“We did extensive research at all the libraries and relied mainly on sources from JJ Bachofen’s matriarchal, Hermann Frankel notes on the Argonautica of Apollonius and Apollonios itself to strengthened our belief that it is the most ancient heroes actually are children. The majority of them had their main exploits already at 15, 16 years behind him Theseus, for example, and not common to us, killed at the age of 15 by the Minotaur. “[3]

The film directors used a variety of color nuances, mainly to distinguish between various social classes or set a mood for the scenes. Even if the technique used in the lighting of the film was intended to make it appear to be overcast, with the intent that the illumination of some scenes would be gende or soft due to the lack of definition, one remains with the feeling that the camera work could have been better, especially when it comes to the selective exposure of some scenes.

A mixture of fantasy and action, combined with coming-of-age nuances and a strong focus on human nature, Das Goldene Ding is a film some may like, while others will find it lengthy and uneventful. It will largely depend on the predisposed viewpoint from which the viewer approaches the movie. I do not hesitate to recommend it as, to me, it deserves a special mention among the coming of age genre films that educate and transmit a powerful message to its viewers.

Sources used:

This review would not have been possible without the valuable support of CVMC.net who provided a DVD of the film subtitled in English.

The World Through Kids’ Eyes

Adolescence is, by all means, a product of modernity.[1] Back in the early 1800’s, a 16-year-old boy would be looked upon as if he was grown up — with all the benefits, limitations and responsibilities that arise from adulthood. Nowadays, thanks to industrialization and the increasingly complex division of labor, things have changed. Various legislatures began implementing laws ensuring that the kids would enjoy their most fundamental right – to be themselves, to be kids and to be protected. Yet, that world does not exist in places beyond our own city or country or even continent. All around the world, children often find themselves at risk.

The documentary The World Through Kids’ Eyes consists of six short programs that provide an intimate and unique insight into the reality of children who do not have everything provided for them and who have to struggle to survive. The documentary was released by Maryknoll World Productions and uses an intriguing approach. Video cameras were given to kids at risk around the world (Philippines, Peru, Brazil, USA, India and South Africa) and the kids were asked to present the world – their words and dreams through their eyes. Each story reflects one of the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and they are briefly mentioned within the review.

The World Through Kids’ Eyes can be seen as a valuable sociological and historical lesson which allows us to have a glimpse of worlds, realities, experiences — which are quite atypical of what most people are used to seeing in their mundane lives. The stories that the children relate are quite disturbing.

Continue

An Exclusive Interview: Shane Foxx

Shane Foxx is an independent musician from Lyon, France. We met him in the chat room of theskykid.com radio during one of our weekly live shows. Impressed by his personality, we went on and checked out his music at YouTube and were even further impressed with his music skills. Shane has a unique way of thinking when it comes to making his music compared with most musicians that occupy the pages of the magazines you can find in your local bookstore shelves. Soon, we were playing his music on the radio and, encouraged by the positive feedback they received by our listeners, we decided to invite him for an interview at theskykid.com and for theskykid.com radio.

Shane how are you?

I am kind of stressed because this is my first interview…but I am fine.

TheSkyKid.com: Who is Shane Foxx?

Shane Foxx: Shane Foxx is a nick name — not my real name. I chose it because I wanted to be kind of a mysterious personage like Lady Gaga or like such singers who are using a pseudonym and who don`t really tell that much about themselves. I wanted to be mysterious so people would be curious about who I am. But, in reality, I am just a normal shy guy who plays music in his room and who wants to make music a little more.

TheSkyKid.com: Quite interesting. I do know that Freddie Mercury’s real name is Farrokh Bulsara. And it’s the same for Sir Elton John and many other singers.

TheSkyKid.com: When did you start singing?

Shane Foxx: I always sang when I was a kid, because I was listening to a lot of music. I started singing along with my favorite singers like Billy Gilman and Declan Galbraith and that’s when I felt that I wanted to be a singer. But I didn’t know much about music, how to play an instrument…etc. Then I met some friends who were singers and they told me that I should start doing music as well and that’s how I started singing.

TheSkyKid.com: I was checking your songs on YouTube recently and saw that you do play an instrument now. How many instruments do you play?

Shane Foxx: I play ukulele and guitar, so it is two instruments and right now I want to play piano and am trying to learn it by myself as I never took any lessons , but taught myself how to play guitar and ukulele. I didn’t want to call myself a musician without playing an instrument…

TheSkyKid.com: Interesting. I have always wanted to play an instrument. The most I could achieve were a few basic things with drums, but that’s about it.

TheSkyKid.com: In your MySpace profile, under recording label, it’s written that you don`t need one. Could you elaborate more on your statement?

Shane Foxx: My friends are musicians and they have their own independent labels. They produce and make their own music and I have always wanted to make my own music without being signed by a big company whose management will force me to do things I do not want to do.

TheSkyKid.com: In that respect I have another question. You know Troye Sivan or Justin Bieber – their way of achieving popularity is quite distinct. Many consider Justin Bieber’s success a direct result of music industry investments in him, aside from his talent, while Troye Sivan has been always represented himself as a musician. In his interview for the Rob Redstone show, Troye said he refused when an agent asked to represent him. Whose history is more appealing to you as a musician?

Shane Foxx: I agree with Troye. I think Troye is right. You don’t need to have an agent or a manager to be an artist, because they make you more fake and less natural in my opinion.

TheSkyKid.com: How do you share your music with the world? I know that you upload songs at YouTube and then also your songs play on theskykid.com radio. Do you use any other ways to share your music?

Shane Foxx: Yes. It all started on MySpace. I have a friend, Zak Laughed, who posted a few songs on My Space and then made some concerts. So he advised me to do the same – so I started uploading music to MySpace and then I did some gigs in my town in live concerts. Then I created my YouTube account and started posting YouTube videos and I still sometimes post my songs to MySpace. But now I am looking for more ways to spread my music like network radio, independent radio and other sites.

TheSkyKid.com: You have done many covers and written your own songs. Are you planning to release a single or an album in the near future?

Shane Foxx: Yes. I am starting to record my own CD, with my own original songs. Then, later on, as another project I would like to record a CD of covers of songs that I really like. I will probably produce the first one myself and I will be selling it in independent stores. My CD featuring covers will be distributed on the Internet for the fans.

TheSkyKid.com: Do you do live performances in addition to uploading your songs to YouTube? Especially when that first CD gets released, will you perform the songs from it in France or elsewhere because I noted that you travel quite a lot?

Shane Foxx: I travel a little sometimes to see concerts that I really like. I used to see Jay Brannan who is a singer that I like in Netherlands, UK and in Paris. So yes I can travel for playing gigs, but mostly I play in my town and around it for small concerts.

TheSkyKid.com: Now you are from France, but you speak pretty good English. Most of your songs are in English as well, even though you also sing in French. Why did you decide to sing in English predominantly?

Shane Foxx: Because I am very shy and I did not want people to understand the lyrics. So when I started writing songs I wanted them to be in English, so my parents would not be able to understand the lyrics. And at the same time I always listen to English music and I don’t really listen to French music, so I don`t sing in French very often.

TheSkyKid.com: The book of the moment listed on your site, is Choirboy by Charlie Anders. Do you like choir music and have you ever been a chorister yourself?

Shane Foxx: I have never been in a choir, but I adore choir music and treble music and this is the kind of music I always listen to, especially when I want to relax. I have never been in a choir, because I never asked to and now I regret it because I would have loved to have been in a choir.

TheSkyKid.com : Have you ever attended a choir concert ?

Shane Foxx: Yes. I know Jean-Baptiste Maunier who was the soloist of Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc, which was a choir in the French movie Les Choristes. I met him and went to a few concerts of the choir he sang in. And I really enjoyed going to those concerts – it’s a beautiful experience.

TheSkyKid.com : Do you have a hidden talent?

Shane Foxx: No. Not really.

TheSkyKid.com: Many young singers are involved in various charity projects. Are you considering doing the same yourself later on?

Shane Foxx: Yes. I think it’s important when you can do something to help others to do it. I have always been interested in autism. This is a disease I have always been curious about and maybe if I get famous I will work to help them.

TheSkyKid.com: What are your plans for the future? Are you going to pursue a career in music as an independent musician?

Shane Foxx: Yes. I want to be a musician. I want to always be a singer, but I am very stressed about losing my voice, when it will break and maybe if I won’t be able to sing in the future. I don’t really know. But, for the moment, I enjoy doing it and will keep doing it, but I don`t want to make it a job because I know that it is too difficult and I probably will never be signed anywhere or earn money doing it. So I want to work in a store and may be sell books or music.

TheSkyKid.com: Ah. it seems that you like to read a lot?

Shane Foxx: No. Well, I read a lot, but may be not as much as I used to before.

TheSkyKid.com: Do you support any young artists?

Shane Foxx: Yes. There are many out there who are really talented. I tend to support the singers/songwriters who actually compose and play their own music. In that respect, I would name my friends Robert Borden, or Eric Bradford from our collab channel on YouTube. I like Jessarae, and Tom Cully [his recent solo work] and, in fact, a thousand more as my music collection is huge…Oh and yes i’m a big fan of Lex Lamber from Throw Television too.

Thanks, Shane, for agreeing to do this interview. Our readers and radio listeners will learn a lot more about you from it and hopefully they’ll want to buy your music and also follow you on YouTube and MySpace.

Shane Foxx Official web site

And don`t forget to subscribe to Shane on YouTube

Exclusive interview: Yatharth Ratnum

Several months ago we introduced Yatharth Ratnum – a promising young singer and performer from the holy city of Varanasi, in the north-east of India. He was a contestant on a TV show from Mumbai called “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs” and was honored with a special award for Outstanding International Vocalist at the 31st Annual Young Artist Awards. A star in the making, the 13-year-old Yatharth is taking the world by storm. Due to the immense interest towards him and his music, we decided to conduct a special interview with him for the readers of theskykid.com and the listeners of our radio program.

Hello Yatharth and thank you for agreeing to this interview for theskykid.com and skykid.com radio!

TheSkyKid.com: You have a really great voice. Have you had any formal vocal training?

Yatharth Ratnum: Thanks … oh yes… I‘ve had formal training for voice since I was 11 and I also play guitar. And I am going to be starting guitar lessons soon …

TheSkyKid.com: How old were you when you started to perform?

Yatharth Ratnum: I was 5 years old when I did my first ever live performance… and I finished 1^st in that contest.

TheSkyKid.com: Recently you flew to Hollywood to be honored in America with a special award for Outstanding International Vocalist. Tell us something about the trip and what this award means to you?

Yatharth Ratnum: OH YES .. My trip to Hollywood was a life changing experience I would say … not only because I got this prestigious award but also because I met so many great people there It was awesome. I got the award for Outstanding International Vocalist…from the Young Artist Awards …which gives awards to young talent. The award was unexpected and I thank everyone at the foundation for this it. I had a lot of fun. Went to Disneyland, The Guitar Centre … etc…. Had a super cool tour….

TheSkyKid.com: Your talent has won you a lot of fans, not only in India but also in other countries. Are you planning any concerts in other countries, such as in Europe or Russia for example, either as a soloist or jointly with other artists?

Yatharth Ratnum: Well yes … I believe in the truth that there are lots and lots of super cool people who love me…. And I really love all my rocking fans … And yes, probably if my World Tour Plan goes well, then I would be having live concerts in the USA, UK, EUROPE and CANADA…. beginning in JULY.

TheSkyKid.com: Freddie Mercury (whose real name is Farrokh Bulsara ) was born in Zanzibar and grew up in India until his mid-teens. At his high school in Panchgani near Mumbai, India he formed a band with some of his friends. Have you ever thought about doing something like that yourself?

Yatharth Ratnum: My world of dreams and goals is very big. I have a dream of becoming a rockstar (singer), an actor and a music director — so my dream goes. I am working very hard at achieving it and, hopefully, I will surely achieve it with all the love I get from my fans and elders …

TheSkyKid.com: Mercury was greatly influenced by Indian music in his early years as a performer and was particularly fond of the work of Bollywood playback singer Lata Mangeshkar. Has any such singer influenced you?

Yatharth Ratnum: Yes I love MS. LATA MANGESHKAR … and she is a school in herself .. If you listen to her songs, they can teach you many things …My biggest personal influence is Michael Jackson…. His attitude towards his work is great … and also the way he presents himself is awesome …I love his music and style. Even if he no longer with us, his music will always remain alive …

TheSkyKid.com: We’ve read in the past that you’ve said English is your favorite subject at school. Do you continue to like studying it?

Yatharth Ratnum: Yeah .. English has been my favorite subject since my childhood … and is till my fav. I like science also …and, yes, I always read books and stuff … and also study English grammar.

TheSkyKid.com: What is like to be a student at the Sunbeam Bhagwanpur school in India?

Yatharth Ratnum: Well, I used to be in SUNBEAM BHAGWANPUR. But now, as I don’t have much time, I am taking private lessons.

TheSkyKid.com: The music of India is very colorful and filled with tradition. Do you feel like an ambassador for Indian culture when you perform abroad?

Yatharth Ratnum: Yes. Indian music is very bright but also it has many colors and flavors. I believe that the best thing you can do for your country is to represent the country internationally. You get respect from other people, for yourself and your country. I feel so honored to represent my country all over the world and I am proud that I am INDIAN.

http://youtu.be/Gl7LNHsY9lY

TheSkyKid.com: Have you given any thought to performing in movies or India’s culture festivals?

Yatharth Ratnum: As I have mentioned, I want to become an actor and that too in Hollywood (American film industry) and India. So I am very much hopeful of getting work in the USA very soon. Also, my agent in America, The Osbrink Agency, is doing a good promotion for me to the casting people there..

TheSkyKid.com: Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?

Yatharth Ratnum: There are many, many things to say … First of all, I would like to say thanks to all my fans for making me a hit and also for their love. You all can watch my videos on YOUTUBE — just search for YATHARTH RATNUM. And you all can follow me on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/YatharthRatnum. And I have big news! My very own brand of MERCHANDIS – the “YR” brand — is coming very soon. You can buy my autographed T-SHIRTS, caps and thousands of other things. They will be available on my website www.yatharthratnum.com. So watch for the merchandise and website … and tell everyone you know! THANKS

TheSkyKid.com: Thank you for spending some time with us.

Yatharth Ratnum: Thank you for giving me this honor…

[nggallery id=95]

We conducted the interview with Yatharth over the phone. In addition to what you have just read, above, he also performed a special song for the readers of theskykid.com and theskykid.com radio.

Forgotten: The Heartrending Story of Life in a Children’s Home

[quote_center]What if you feel like you could vanish off the face of the Earth and no one would care?[/quote_center]

I have read a lot of books. Yet, never one so skillfully written. I don’t know what caused me to pick this book at the store. The summary on its back cover was promised a drama. The book was described as a memoir and it seemed that the story could be characterized as being from the coming of age genre and thus of interest to me and the readers of this site.

At the very begining of this review, I should warn you that Forgotten is not an easy book to live (I know the word should have been “read” instead of “live”, but I did live through the story and therefore decided to stick with the word I unconsciously had written).

Les Cummings spent many years of his life in a children’s home near Portsmouth, UK and only left to find himself in even worse conditions due to the negligence of the people who were entrusted to care for him – starting with his mother, the city council, the police and every member of the society who chose to turn its head away. Forgotten is a non-fictional memoir and it traces Cummings whole life — from early childhood to elderly adulthood. His analysis of the life he has been forced to live is often heartbreaking.

He writes:

[quote_center]….I rarely thought consciously about my childhood but it was always there in very action I took, every argument I picked, every decision I made …..[/quote_center]

This is probably one of the reasons why watching coming of age films or reading coming of age books is a must for each responsible member of society. It allows us to have an alternative point of view of the world that surrounds us and the behavior of people with whom we have out daily interactions.

Yes, Forgotten was not an easy book to read, nor was it easy for its author to write. His words better illustrate that point:

[quote_center]….Finding the strength to put pen to paper has not been easy. In order to write each line I have had to relive each memory – in many cases painstakingly….[/quote_center]

His emotions and honesty, his writing makes the reader wonder if such things are really possible. Part of human nature does not want to accept cruelty and violence as characteristics of creatures that belong to the same race. I used the word “creatures” on purpose as I can’t force myself to consider them humans…as if that would bring me down to their level. The book of itself is so powerful, the story so provoking and realistic that one feels the need to stop reading for a while …as if to avoid the knowledge of what was happening inside the pages and the reality of what was being described in words and fit into a book. Yet, one keeps reading and feels proud for Les Cummings for the courage it must have taken to write the history of his life.

[pull_quote_right]I did not have any opinion on religion at that age. Like everything else, I went because I was told to go. I was not encouraged to have a view on anything.[/pull_quote_right]

Sadly, not many things have changed in our modern society, as people below a certain age are still considered inferior when it comes to issues that adults consider too complicated for youngsters to comprehend. A lack of experience is the most used reason given in this discourse. Yet, we often forget that kids are human beings with their own individuality and should not be denied the opportunity to express their views. They can often affect, and even modify, our own perception of the world, which often bears too many prejudices and limitations gained through each person’s unique living experience.

Never before have I seen such powerful opening and closing paragraphs to the chapters of a book. The author masterfully selected attention grabbing words that make the reader anxious to find out more or to think about what has just been read.

My biggest fear as a child was being noticed…Blending with everyone else became a necessary survival tactic

Even before picking up the book, you can get pretty good idea of what is inside it from the name of the chapters in the contents list: “One of the forgotten”, “What will happen to my children?”, “I’m never going to leave you again”, “She is not coming back”, “Who do you think you are?”, “It’s only for one day”…etc.

Then, as one goes through the chapters, one associates more and more with Les as he grows in the children’s home – deprived from affection or a caring word. He becomes a victim of violence and prejudice. Years later, however, when he finally manages to access his official file, the wording in it terribly twists the truth:

….I finished reading the documents…..According to the records in front of us I was Satan’s representative on Earth. I had bitten every hand that ever fed me – and I was fed very well, by the way, according to these statistics – I had stolen from everyone who tried to help me, and I had concocted wicked lies to innocent parties in hot water…

In the chapters of the book, you will find much reference to historical events that have occurred. One of them was the practice of the British of shipping orphans and disadvantaged children to Australia, which I referenced in my review of The Leaving of Liverpool. Another was the war and its impact on the people and the society as a whole.

I highly recommend this book to everyone over the age of fourteen, but re-state that it’s not an easy read and readers are likely to do a lot of thinking in the process.

Gotcha (1991)

The film is only 30 minutes in length. Even though the filmmakers were not able to secure adequate funding for their production, they managed a good portrayal of the coming of age story of twelve-year-old Marco – full of mischievous behavior and harmless pranks on the people around him.

Daniel D’Amico seems the perfect boy for the role as he has the same special aura of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone or of Mason Gamble in Dennis the Menace – a charming, cheerful appearance on-screen that leads to enjoyable entertainment. The wild rock music at the beginning of the film is misleading in terms of getting the viewers excited about the quality of the soundtrack in the film. Most of it ends up consisting of these typical jingles from the early nineties which, if nothing else, at least makes the film release year easily recognizable.

Looking at the bright side of the whole film, it can be seen as a tutorial of how to have fun (you know just like in that book called The Dangerous Book for Boys) without getting caught by store clerks or so-called “responsible adults”. The ending, however, is horribly clichéd, tasteless and quite stereotypical – which I consider to be a failure on the part of either the Screen Writer or the Director.

While doing my research for this review, I stumbled upon an acting resume of its main personage, Daniel D’Amico. In it he states: ”I have a natural passion for acting, and feel the need to explore my talent further and test my boundaries and challenge myself in this exciting industry. I believe I can mold into any role and I have the skills necessary to do so.”

While I agree with Daniel, it is a pity that he did not land a role in a full length feature film, where his talent could have really shone. Nevertheless, you won’t waste the 30 minutes you will devote to seeing Gotcha. It’s fun — if nothing else.

The Annunciation

Prologue:

I must confess. When I first watched this film, late one evening, I did not understand much. But then I watched it again in broad daylight and also read some about it and after that I understood much more. The Annunciation is a movie based on the play The Tragedy of Man, written by the Hungarian writer Imre Madach and first published in 1861. The play itself is often compared to the 17th century English poet John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Even if the film is entirely performed by children, it is very seriously done indeed.

Plot summary:

The story begins in the Garden of Eden where Adam (Peter Bocsor) and Eve (Julia Mero) are tricked by Lucifer (Eszter Gyalog) to eat of the forbidden fruit, and thereby get knowledge of good and evil. For having committed this sin, they are then cast out from Eden by God. Now Adam reminds Lucifer of his promise to let him know “everything”. Lucifer then lets Adam fall asleep and have a dream of the future history of mankind. In every part of history, he lets Adam be a known character, starting with Miltiades in ancient Athens, then Tancred in Byzantium, Kepler in Prague, Danton during the French Revolution in Paris and, in the end, a nameless man in Victorian London. Guided by Lucifer, Adam is taken through the horrors of human history. In the end, Adam wants to jump from a cliff to spare the world from mankind, but is stopped by Eve. And God tells Adam that his task is only to “strive on and have faith”.

Performance and dialogue:

Going through this film is not that easy since it’s a bit lengthy for what it wants to accomplish. The dialogue is quite interesting, the words are whispered rather than said out loud. The style of the dialogue is quite interesting also – it is like watching a visual poem. There is a phrase that is repeated many times during the film and if you paraphrase it one would get a pretty good idea of the film – “We exist and yet we don’t exist”. The movie is quite popular, but one could always say about it “It exists, yet it doesn’t exist”. Another quotation from the film is “Everything is beautiful, good and rightful. Only people consider one thing to be rightful and another thing unrightful.” If you think about it, there is so much wisdom in those words. Some say that this film is kind of unusual and spooky – yet it really shows what human kind has become in a way. In that sense, the movie could be seen as quite an interesting journey through the history of mankind. Others say that they can’t seem to catch the overall message of it.

Cinematography and sound:

Ever since its release on DVD (2007), the picture quality has not been that good, with bleak colors which are pale and sometimes unsharp. The sound is not top quality either. It simply doesn’t impress much. Some scenes also seem to have been over cast a bit. Most of the scenes in the film are quite surreal, and it must have been quite challenging for the young actors to understand them.

Recommendations:

Some say they don’t miss this flick in their collection, others that it is an interesting though challenging movie. With almost all the cast being children, it is quite unusual in respect to its rather serious topics and should therefore perhaps have a special place somewhere among the other coming of age movies.

Note : This review is result of the joint efforts of myself and two other reviewers.

The Next Megastar: Straalen McCallum

One year ago, Tony introduced Straalen McCallum at TheSkyKid.com. Recently, I have noted that a lot of people have found out about this blog thanks to this article. It seems the interest towards Straalen has increased due to the recent TV shows on which he has appeared. Lately, there seems to be many other young singers appearing on such shows, as the search by producers and managers for “The new Justin Bieber” continues. Justin’s phenomenal success has helped to create a new trend. Like Usher, now many artists and managers have begun to actively seek out and support young and budding artists. This is quite a precedent. Before this, singers such as Troye Sivan and Noa Johannesson managed to become world famous on their own – just by using the wonders of social media. Now, the kids have an even bigger chance for success thanks to the mentoring of experienced professionals — singers and representatives of the music industry.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnDxocsPMHI

Straalen McCallum amazed me back when Tony introduced him and it seems that his hard work and devotion to music have helped him to further develop his musical skills. Today, he is considered by many (including me) to be the next megastar on the world’s music scene. Recently he wrote on his blog : ” Justin Bieber is everywhere at the moment, and there are heaps of kids trying to become the next ‘Bieber’. While I think Justin has done incredibly well, I just want to be me. “. And he is, indeed, quite unique – not only as a vocalist and performer, but also as a person. I was impressed that on his blog he is really being himself – none of the hype PR talk and cliché phrases which many singers seems to switch to as soon as they find themselves under the spotlight. While I am well aware that the industry has standards and the artists have to go along with them – some over do it and a part of their charm gets lost forever. Troye Sivan is one of the few exceptions of this general trend, as he also has never stopped being himself despite the fame.

We at theSkyKid.com will be watching Straalen’s progress very closely and will keep you updated here at the blog.

Follow Straalen on Twitter and subscribe to his YouTube account

New : An exclusive interview with Straalen McCallum for TheSkyKid.com

Traumzähler (Dream Counter)(2001)

It’s a little bit more than 15 minutes in length. Short films are tough to make and tough to review as the Director has a limited time to express his ideas and the viewer has a limited time to grasp them. That is probably the reason why short films never become too popular to general audiences or achieve recognition outside of the selected film festivals circuit where they are screened.

To begin with, Traumzähler (also known as Dream Counter) has quite an intriguing title. They say your home is your castle. We have all heard that phrase at school, ever since kindergarten. Whatever problems you have in the world, once you close the front door of your home you are safe. The monsters of your nightmares can not get you once you are inside. But what if the monsters are inside the house as well? Or what if you’re a child forced to live with them?

The first scenes briefly explain why Max (Pablo Brandecker) has decided to leave his home to head for the streets that seem safer…

Overall, the film has quite a depressing atmosphere – with the lead character barely speaking anything but his name – Max. Once on the run, 11-year-old Max stumbles upon an odd stranger (Maverick Quek) who is obviously involved in drug dealing and has a disturbing knowledge about weapons. The stranger remembers the time when he was a runaway himself. So now he takes runaway boys under his wing – trying to teach them life lessons coming out of his own experience.

Max has escaped from his home, only to be returned there forcefully a few scenes later, but maybe now better prepared to fight the monsters that await him behind closed doors.

An excellent job by Director Jens Barlag. Traumzähler is a good short film which, even if a bit depressing, raises some moral dilemmas and makes the viewer think about if we really live in the perfect society or at least in anything remotely close to it. The music score by Sven Rossenbach and Florian van Volxem brilliantly add to the atmosphere of the film and overall makes its title a good choice. Yet, I do recommend that you see this short film at least twice to fully grasp its meaning.

The Abduction of Zack Butterfield (2011) » Movie Review

I have often criticized American-made movies for their lack of realism and a tendency to either ignore serious issues or present them in a mild way to the extent they lose their meaning. However, there are certain filmmakers that have proven me wrong on that and one of them is Stephen Ryder. He often addresses controversial issues in a unique and truly provocative way and his latest filmThe Last Days of April is no exception. A coming of age thriller at its best, the film has rapidly attracted a lot of attention. The relentless perfectionism of Director Rick Lancaster ( Ahmed ) is apparent throughout the masterfully mounted, immaculately filmed thriller.

The Last Days of April – The Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClAxw08F4Ws

This is an exclusive review prior to The Last Days of April general release. The much anticipated film starts with documentary-like scenes from the war in Iraq. These shocking scenes illuminate the horrors of the war and are in strong contrast to the scenes that follow (featuring a calm and typical suburban American town – in a setting of flowers, front yards and green grass).

April McKenna (Brett Helsham) is a 25-year-old Iraq war veteran with a troubled past. She is pretty but, now when the war is over and she is back home, her troubled childhood and the stresses of adulthood have left their mark on her psyche.

“Never before in America’s history have women served in combat, as they are in Iraq and Afghanistan.”, says Stephen Ryder. “ This film examines the story behind the news.”

Trained to perfection, deadly and expert in demolition, she decides to kidnap a young boy. Her motives are unknown to the viewers, but they will observe how she expertly stalks and then kidnaps the 14-year-old Zachary Butterfield (T.J Plunkett). Zachary is a smart and sensitive boy who is into sports and is an outstanding athlete. Through hard training, he is one of the best in his Karate classes. His character image is built through conversations with his friends and scenes from his everyday activities, all of which leave no doubt that he is anything but a typical victim. He is not some overly shy and lonely boy. On the contrary, he is popular, has a lot of friends and obviously knows how to protect himself. Yet April picks him following criteria unknown to anyone but her, leaving the viewer to discover her motives as the movie unfolds.

April abducts the startled youth, taking him to her secluded home in the woods. She shows him around the place as if he were a guest and leads him into what she calls “your room “ – a typical room that most families would have for their teenage kids. Only it turns out this room was made specifically for Zachary. She handcuffs him to the bed at first and later affixes a beaded necklace to him and takes him to doors overlooking the backyard. Outside, there is a dummy on a stick – wearing the very same necklace. As he watches, she triggers a remote detonator in her hand and the necklace on the dummy explodes, blowing off its head. April explains to him, “C-4 — plastic explosive. The beads in your necklace are stuffed with it. This is the detonator.” She wears it around her neck, explaining that the necklace is “dead-switched”. If he tries to remove it – it will detonate spontaneously. She further tells him that henceforth he will have the freedom to wander the house and grounds, but that there is an electronic perimeter fence which would cause the explosive in her necklace to detonate if he tries to escape.

Zack is confused yet, being an intelligent boy, he desperately tries to understand what is going on. Money is obviously not the reason for his abduction, but then what is …?
In the next few days, he participates in conversations with April that give him and the viewers an insight into April’s character and Zack’s way of thinking and motives. All the while, his imprisonment is horrifying to him.

“I’m very proud of our production and our cast,” says Rick Lancaster, Director (who also co-wrote the film for Metropolis Films.) “I think it’s the scariest film we’ve ever made, and one of the most thought-provoking. We have a main character who is 14-years-old and forced into a circumstance that would baffle and terrify any adult. He learns more about life in a week then we would expect a kid to absorb in a decade.”

Aside from the characteristically slick script by Stephen Ryder, there are several other aspects of it that made an impression on me. One of them is the cinematography. Many of the scenes are shot in a manner that makes them a contemporary art form on their own. One example is the manner in which the cinematographer catches the sun’s glare while, in another, the camera work is perfected to a level where one can actually feel the slope of the road due to the angle from which the scene is shot.

Another thing that struck me from the opening scenes was the musical score. Composer Mark Krench assured that the score truthfully reflects the atmosphere of the film.

Last, but not least, the acting of the entire cast was nothing short of perfect. I saw TJ Plunkett for the very first time in The Last Days of April and was quite impressed by his acting abilities. He was very convincing in his role, ably conveying a combination of athleticism, youthful innocence, and a nascent manliness that proves an effective counterpoint to April McKenna’s character. Being a former national junior Tai Kwon Do Champion definitely helped Plunkett in this challenging role.

Exemplifying Rick Lancaster’s superb casting choices, Brett Helsham, who plays April, is also trained and very accomplished in Thai-Bo and other martial arts which, combined with her extensive acting training in various countries (including Hungary, Belgium and the US), leads to a very effective performance in the film.

I highly recommend the film it to anyone interested in psychology and adolescent development. The Last Days of April sets a high standard, which is not surprising given the track record of previous works of its screen writer, Stephen Ryder. Viewers are advised that the film touches on adult themes. While there are no direct indecent or unclothed scenes, I don’t recommend this film to anyone under the age of 12.

Readers should note that The Last Days of April has just begun the festival circuit and has not yet been made available to the general public in theaters. Stay tuned to theskykid.com for the latest updates about the film and feel free to join the Metropolis films mailing list atinfo {at} metropolis-films.com .

Read my preview article about the film which features an exclusive interview with its screen writer, Stephen Ryder.

[nggallery id=93]

The film is now available at theabductionofzackbutterfield.com

TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

Prologue:

Plot summary:

Cinematography and sound:

Recommendations:

The Last Days of April – The Trailer