Web series…
With the amount of time we spend online, many consider them to be the entertainment of the future. Here at TheSkyKid.com we have already featured Alec in WILDerland – a reality themed show devoted to exploring the outdoors.
Today I want to introduce Kid’s Town, a Canadian family-friendly web series that follows the adventures of 12-year-old Brian Russell (David Knoll) who, with his father, moves to a new town.
Nothing I have read or seen could have prepared me for such a divergent narrative as that of the 2012 movie Kid by the Flemish director Fien Troch. The movie explores the way children reflect (and are reflected upon by) their immediate surroundings and their manner of dealing with new, traumatic experiences. It focuses on the life of two young brothers: seven-year-old Kid (Bent Simons) and nine-year-old Billy (Maarten Meeusen).
While watching a video of the Jewish singer Avishay Rosen, I noticed a suggestion for another video on Youtube. Curious, I opened the clip titled Daddy Come Home and was blown away by the emotive performance of the young Yaakov Mordechai Gerstner (he was virtually singing his heart out) and the Yeslava Boys Choir. It was not long before I had obtained some of the choir’s albums, seen numerous of their videos online and began to plan the introduction of their music to the readers of TheSkyKid.com.
The Yeshiva Boys Choir was founded in 2003 by Eli Gerstner and Yossi Newman. It originally featured fifty-five talented young voices from the Yeshiva (religious school) in Cleveland. Today the choir is based in Brooklyn, New York. They have, over the years, released eight albums and toured both in the US and abroad.
That I am connoisseur of the treble voice is a well-known fact to the readers of this site. Additionally, I seem to have an affinity for original, new-wave sounding choirs (to the horror of some of my friends who are devotees of the classical choir sound). The vibrancy of the Yeshiva Boys Choir has won me over. They will likely become my second favorite choir ( the first being the Vienna Boys Choir and their Vienna Boys Choir goes Pop album).
For those curious about the sound of the treble voice and who seek something different from the sounds of the many popular young male singers you can find today online, but are perhaps not really prepared to experience and/or fully appreciate the beauty of a more traditional classical cathedral choir performance, I heartily recommend you check out the Yeshiva Boys Choir.
It’s a fact that there is the perception of elitism by some people with regard to members of boy choirs. Perhaps it’s because of the rigid, elegant and classy dress code associated predominately with religious choir formations. Such stereotypes are challenged by the boys of the Yeshiva Boys Choir as their style and the manner in which they are directed is more in line with the commercially released clips of today’s contemporary musicians.
The Yeshiva Boys Choir – Daddy Come Home
The musical style of the Yeshiva Boys Choir is original and creative, which could actually result in fans of their own age, rather than what is traditionally an adult audience that appreciates the music of young performers (teen girls and their teen idols are naturally an exception). There is a lot of sincerity in the videos of the choir. For example, in the clip of Daddy Come Home one can literally feel the emotions of its young soloists while, in the clip of Ah Ah Ah (Ashrei), the choir members charm us with their improvisations and expressions – urging the audience to have as much fun as they had while recording the clip. Most of the repertoire of Yeshiva Boys Choir is in Hebrew, but the lyrics of their English language songs can potentially resonate meaningfully with audiences of all ages.
The Yeshiva Boys Choir – Ah Ah Ah (Ashrei)
The personality and experience of the musical conductor is always important to the overall image that any choir projects. That is also the case with Yossi Newman, whose outgoing personality and creative potential evidently serve as a big motivational boost for his choristers. They appear extremely confident, and professional while being playful and innocent at the same time. With such energy in the Yeshiva Boys Choir, it’s nearly impossible to resist becoming a fan. Of course he works in close collaboration with Eli Gerstner who composes most of the songs performed by the choir. Apparently he is a well-known musical genius in the world of Jewish music .
The Yeshiva Boys Choir’s music feels fresh and different. It’s inspirational and emotive: a contemporary boys choir with a soul and real vibe. Their songs get my highest recommendation!
Yeslava Boys Choir Official Web Site
“A Little Closer is a hauntingly beautiful film and a remarkable debut.” —Martin Scorsese
A film doesn’t have to be filled with suspense or surprising story twists to be intriguing. I’ve found this to be especially true of the Coming-of-Age genre. The 2011 indie film by writer/director Matthew Petock, A Little Closer, brilliantly illustrates that notion. The narrative explores the experiences of an American family of three – a single mother and her young sons: 16-year-old Marc (Parker Lutz) and 11-year-old Stephen (Eric Baskerville).
I found reviewing Becoming Redwood challenging. In fact, half-way through the movie I felt an urge to turn it off before deciding to give it a chance and then watched it until the end. The result: while I still can’t wholeheartedly recommend the 2012 Canadian film, there are some positive things to mention that may help you decide if seeing it will be worth your time.
“Little rabbit sat in his burrow and was asleep, Sat and slept, “Poor little rabbit, are you ill, So you can’t hop about any more? Rabbit hop! Rabbit hop! Rabbit hop!
Little rabbit, beware of the dog, beware! It has a very sharp tooth To catch little rabbit with. Little rabbit, run! Little rabbit, run! Little rabbit, run!”
Little Rabbit In A Hole (Haschen in der Grube) is a German lullaby and, from it’s lyrics (above), I realized how much symbolism lies in Director Hanna Doose‘s decision to chose the same title for her 2004 short film. The film’s disturbing narrative focuses on life in a suburban German family which, at first glance, appears quite typical. There’s the hardworking parents with little time for their off-spring. Twelve-year-old Marcus and his annoying little sister, as children will do, both strive for the attention of their parents …
One night, Marcus makes a terrible discovery that shatters his innocence and forever changes his relationship with his father. Little Rabbit In A Hole is essentially a drama focusing on the interpersonal relationships in a family. The director achieves a feeling of sensuality and intimacy in the picture, while dealing with hard to address issues: i.e. the father-son relationship and the understanding of and mis-use of trust. The fact that the story is told through the perspective of the young boy greatly enhances the emotional impact of the film on its viewers. While watching the emotive acting by Christopher Reinhardt, one could not help but feel as equally confused, angry and powerless as Marcus. You could read all those emotions on Marcus’s face due to Christopher’s superb acting.
It would be nearly impossible to discuss the film further without spoiling its story. So, instead, I suggest that you watch it in its entirety (below). Be advised that the subject matter is not suitable for audiences younger than thirteen years of age.
Having read John Grisham’s thriller, The Client, I had doubts that any other author could write a Coming-of-Age novel that combines criminal investigation, a mystery and rite-of-passage experiences in such an intriguing and original manner. Then I discovered The Fort by Aric Davis! The reviews I had read praised the book, and I really liked its cover art (to me that is a factor in the decision making process of what to read next). So I started reading with high expectations and, after just the first few pages I knew I had made the right choice.
It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to watch and review a Russian movie. Sadly, although disturbing, the 2007 film titled Yarik does not compare well with the Russian Coming-of-Age masterpieces I have seen in the past (i.e., My Name is Ivan, The Return).
For me, it’s always fascinating finding new singers, especially when they’re from right here in Germany.
The first thing I noticed about Richard Istel, who turned 14 today (5-Aug-2013) is his impeccable English — an American English — with absolutely no accent!! When I asked Richie how this was possible, he answered it was simply a talent for emulating sounds!
Richard Istel lives in Leipzig with his family and has already been incredibly busy touring Germany and performing in Latvia and Poland. In Konin (Poland), he recently won the 13-18 category at the International Children’s Song and Dance Festival.
But even way before this, in 2009, Richie made his mark in a German talent show called Das Supertalent by being the only child to reach the final round (he placed 5th). Richie has also been on Teenage Rockstar and placed 3rd at the Europop contest, all of which is news to me because I had never heard him sing in the 20 years I‘ve been in Germany. Richie even sang for Nena on TV!
Michael Jackson/Jackson Five I´ll be There Cover by Richard Istel
I’ve found one original song called World‘s Turning, with lyrics by his sister Lisa and co-created with his dad, who seems to be a solo entertainer on the accordion.
What you hear when Richie sings is a harmonic, rich, treble voice capable of holding notes and full of young power. He has a natural, self-confident performing style and is certain of his ability to charm an audience.
His choice of music from the modern Pop genre shows his ability to deliver somber tunes like Stay, Vampire and Hallelujah, as well as romping tunes like Hollywood Hills. There are many more covers worth listening to on his Youtube channel: Skyscraper,Video Games, Angel and a very funny home video of him cracking up trying to sing Ben from a few years back. You can find out more about Richard Istel by visiting his fan-page.
Richard Istel – Hollywood Hills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVf803IYUm0
In introducing Richard to TheSkykid.com readers, I am still on a journey of discovery myself, Leipzig being a communist part of Germany before reunification. Perhaps I’ll have to travel to see him at the Classic Open in Leipzig on the 10th of August, where Richie will be at the Marktplatz. And then there‘s the Finale Singing Young Stars in Salzburg Austria on the 24th of August! Or maybe I should visit the Piratennächte (Pirates Nights), where Richie will sing in December.
Richard enjoys performing and is comfortable in front of either intimate or large audiences. His musical route seems well managed and I get the feeling this artist will be in the national and international spotlights increasingly as his popularity grows. My best wishes for success and I’ll watch for more inspiring offerings from Richie in the future.
Happy 14th Birthday from rjmendera and everyone at TheSkyKid.com!!
War. Child soldiers. A boy of fifteen forced against his will to join the army. Bamboo People is a novel by Indian author Mitali Perkins. It offers an intimate peek into the Coming-of-Age experiences of two teenagers who experience the horrors of the civil war in Burma (a small independent state that borders India and Thailand). Ethnic cleansing, child labor, slavery, human trafficking and a lack of freedom of speech are just few of the issues addressed in the story.
Some films can bore you to death with predictable narratives and slow paced action. Yet others manage to keep you in suspense, guessing what will happen next. The 2006 Dutch short film Birthday Boy, directed by Chris W. Mitchell, is doubtlessly of the latter kind.
The film appears to be shot utilizing hand-held cameras to emulate the home video recording of a birthday party for 11-year-old Sjoerd. At first, it appears that this is the typical pre-teen birthday featuring video games and treasure hunts, but soon the games the party guests play will put them into a hazardous situation.
Initially it was the film description on ShortFilmCentral.com that piqued my curiosity. It read: “It’s Sjoerd’s 11th birthday party and he’s got everything a modern boy could wish for. Now he just has to make sure he stays alive to enjoy it.“
With such a teaser, one could assume the film will feature action and surprising twists, but I didn’t as many surprises in the film’s scant seven minutes of screen time.
Birthday Boy features an original situation-driven narrative that really keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Recommended!
You can watch the film, below, courtesy of producer André Bos who shared it on his Vimeo account:
Are you ready? Really ready? For a WAR? Because I am and I DECLARE WAR!
Now that I got your attention, I’ll tell you about a film I just saw that’s wickedly cool and creative — its title: I Declare War. Nothing you can read or see can prepare you for the experience of seeing this 2012 film. It is unique! And that is a statement coming from a person who has seen hundreds of Coming-of-Age films.
Directed by Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson, I Declare War can be anything you want it to be: a war film, a drama, a romance, sci-fi, an adventure or a Coming-of-Age. And, if you prefer, you don’t even have to choose because it’s all those in one.
Essentially it is a film of a game – a game of war between two rival groups of boys. Think Stand By Me and War of the Buttons, both of which have clearly inspired Jason Lapeyre (who wrote the script in addition to co-directing the film). This tale is told with realism and fantasy mixed together as ingredients. Getting skeptical? Wondering why I would rave about a “childish film that focuses on a game …?”
The answer is – because it’s real! The film features first-class cinematography, which you would expect of an immense war-themed production like Spartacus or Rambo. The boys may be playing with wooden sticks, water balloons, binoculars or flying model planes, but they imagine and believe it’s a real war – so much so that the viewer starts believing too. Can you resist? I didn’t think so!
What makes this film seem so real? Well, to start with, the talent of the young cast and the devotion with which they play their roles. Each team is unique, comprised of unique “soldiers” with distinct personalities, strengths and weaknesses. There’s the Lone Ranger, the altar boy, the clever tactician, the mean enemy, the superhero, the leaders and the followers. During the course of the story you get to know each character by observing the kids who embody them. And just when you think you know them and can predict their actions, they manage to surprise you.
The film features stunning visuals, crisp images and brightly lit scenes. Realistic war audio effects are used throughout in such an effective manner that one feels in the midst of real battlefield action.
The narrative is filled with suspense, action and drama – cleverly scripted in a manner that won’t let you feel bored for the entire screen time of over an hour and a half. If you want to witness how clever direction and cinematic magic can transform an ordinary event into an extraordinary story, I Declare War is the film to see!
As soon as the final credits were rolling, I felt the impulse to get outside to play my own war games. I’m positive that if there were pals around at this hour I would have not hesitated for a minute. That’s how inspiring this film is. It made me recall a series of laser tag games I once played in New England, at which I was very good. My teacher told me that my being from the Balkans explained why I was so good at it (with the reputation soldiers from that region have). Growing up, my friends and I always played war themed games in the hills of the village where I spent my summer vacations – games that felt equally realistic to us then as the film now feels to its viewers….
I Declare War delivers a unique movie experience. Kids will love it – it’s tense enough to excite, yet perfectly suitable for audiences of all ages. I’ve struggled to think of a flaw to mention to balance out this review, but since nothing comes to mind – I will simply declare that I highly recommend it!
I Declare War Official Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2133239/combined
