First Love in Coming-of-Age Movies

Coming-of-Age films touch a special part in the hearts of everyone. When you watch a first love relationship in a movie, you are transported back to your own experiences. Not only do these films cause you to reminisce about your first love, but often you also recall the pain of your first heartbreak. Although the times you are remembering may have been painful, they are nostalgic glimpses into the past.

Typically, these films are categorized as Coming-of-age movies. They often involve themes surrounding rites of passage for teens and young adults. The plot is usually based on a first love or heartbreak, conflicts and rebellion with parents, and teen troubles or fears. It is not uncommon for these usually serious subjects to be played down or made light of in these films.

The first love experience can be portrayed differently in a Coming-of-Age film, depending on the sub-genre to which they belong. The 1991 drama My Girl, starring Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky, is just about the most stereotypical film about growing up and adolescent love that exists. The young actors deliver impressive performances, and their story is guaranteed to bring you back to the days of that magical first kiss. You remember your’s, don’t you?

Tender-hearted Coming-of-Age romance is also present in the 2005 film Little Manhattan – a brilliant story providing a great insight into that age when interest in girls is such a new and scary transition for a confused young boy. A romantic comedy about two youngsters in New York, Little Manhattan is a feel-good movie with a young protagonist one can easily identify with, thanks to the first-person narration and adorably sincere portrayal of young love.

Compared to the two examples given above, the 2008 Swedish masterpiece Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) provides a unique mixture of horror and Coming-of-Age experiences. A human boy and a vampire – an impossible love, a mixture of affection and empathy in a young person’s life – and the sacrifices one is ready to make for a loved one.

An unusual first love in Let the Right One In

Though young protagonists in Coming-of-Age films focusing on first love are predominately boy and girl, same-sex attractions in movies have not been neglected either. While this remains a taboo theme for many, films such as the French Amitiés particulières, Les (This Special Friendship) and the Danish Du er ikke alene (You Are Not Alone), offer as beautiful and heart touching portrayal of the first love experience as those in which the protagonists are the traditional girl and boy characters.

Some of the Coming-of-Age films with a focus on first love that has been reviewed at TheSkykid.com include the Norwegian film Totally True Love, the 1994 French Quand j’avais cinq ans je m’ai tué (When I Was Five I Killed Myself) – which features a complicated plot involving romance, psychology and loss of innocence. Others are 2010 Flipped that provides a rather intriguing take on the familiar “boy meets girl” theme by giving us a glimpse of both the boy’s and the girl’s mentalities, the 2008 film Kisses, and the sweet short film from Australia Marry Me.

This type of movie often is in a high school setting or involves characters in that age group. Some early examples of this type of film are the beach movies made in the 1950s and 1960s. The films involved the typical first love, breakups, peer conflicts, parent conflicts, and other identity issues often faced by adolescents.

First love …

Depending on the film’s cultural context, the code of conduct and principles will vary. However, they typically include subjects like high school, proms, relationships, cliques, social groups, and parties. Many films have been set in a high school located in a very affluent town or one set in the ghetto. While the teen may be rich or poor, they all encounter the same personal challenges of Coming-of-Age.

It is typical for teen movies to be based on American pop culture. They tend to be stereotypical and include such popular themes as the rebel, the jock and the cheerleader, misfits and geeks, the new kid in school, the loner, the girl next door, or the band geek.

Setting these films in or around a high school makes it easy to include and show the different social groups and cliques. In this type of setting, there are so many different groups that can carry out the storyline. The variety in the social groups also allows a lot of room for setting up conflicts.

No matter how old you are or what part of town you lived in growing up, there is a film that has been made that you can relate to. Over the years, the same conflicts and challenges of teenagers and young adults have been portrayed in various films. The times may change, but the subject matter stays the same.

Regardless of which first love Coming-of-Age movie you choose to watch, you will be able to find a connection to your past. Just as you can relate to the movie’s subject, so too make the teen and young adults who watch them today—the only difference between the movies of the ’50s and ’60s in the year. Throughout history, the challenges of being a teen have stayed the same.

Do you have a favourite movie that brings you back to the wonders of first love?

Giuseppe Bausilio and Life After Billy: An Interview

Hi Giuseppe and thank you for agreeing to this interview with theskykid.com.

You’ve had a pretty exciting last couple of years starring in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM), which has included moving to the US from your native Switzerland and then playing the title role with three different casts of the show: in Chicago, all over the USA with the National Tour and then on Broadway. That had to have been a very hectic time during which you were “in the spotlight”, both literally and figuratively.

We thought we’d visit with you, now that the Billy spotlight has been turned off, to update your many fans as to what life is like for you after Billy. It’s been three months since your last show on Broadway and a month after the show closed there, which included the big finale that you participated in.

Note: For this interview, the questions posed by theskykid.com will be represented by an “SK” and “GB” will indicate Giuseppe’s answers. To view captions on any of the pictures in this article, just run your cursor over the picture.

The Interview

SK: For those readers of theskykid.com who may not have followed your career as Billy Elliot, what was your pre-Billy training like? You started out as a dancer, correct?

GB: Yes, I did start out as a dancer. And that was really all I knew. Up until I was discovered by Nora Brennan (Kids Casting Director for Billy Elliot The Musical) at the World Dance Competition “Youth America Grand Prix” where I was 3^rd in the World. I was very excited. And then, because of Billy, I started doing Tap, Acrobatics, Singing, and the Acting just came along.

Giuseppe as Billy Elliot

SK: Could you just briefly recap what the process was like being “discovered” for BETM and then the training/rehearsal process leading up to your debut?

GB: It was hard, intense but FUN work. After I was discovered by Nora Brennan, I was training every day (as I had before), but this time I had to also fit Tap and Acrobatics into my schedule. It wasn’t too different. At the callback, I was at the same level of Tap as all the others. I had improved a lot in Acrobatics. And I really liked it.

SK: What were some of the highlights of your time as Billy – things that you’ll always remember about that experience?

GB: The thing that most impressed me was the fans traveling all over the US to support the show. Some of them became really good friends and I started to find out that they had the same passion as the actors and re-lived it through the actors on stage. I really miss the fans I don’t get to see a lot. They gave us a lot of power and energy on stage. I will also remember all the good times I had in and outside the theater. Of course, there were also the awesome press events, which I loved doing.

SK: So now the glare of that bright Billy spotlight is off. Those hectic days of rehearsal and training and performing in the show have ended. In these post Billy days, what is a typical day like for Giuseppe Bausilio?

GB: I usually take two ballet classes a day with my mother. And then I have rehearsal for competitions. Then I have some Acting, Singing, Acrobatic and Tap lessons. Or Guitar. I do school work. Sometimes I go home to Switzerland.

SK: Doesn’t sound all that different from your days as a Billy. Speaking of schooling, how are you continuing your academic schooling now that you don’t have the tutoring at BETM?

GB: I do Virtual Schooling, which is online, with online teachers and everything you would have in a regular school program. It definitely also teaches me discipline.

SK: Is dance still your primary focus? Are you doing any formal dance training?

GB: Yes, I dance every day about 4 to 5 hours. I also sing and act. I like to keep my options open. And I wouldn’t dare lose all the things I learned in Billy Elliot the Musical.

SK: So you’re taking most of your dance training from your mother now. What about the singing, acting and acrobatics? From whom do you take that training?

I still do formal singing/acting/acrobatics training. I sing with Amelia DeMayo, take acting lessons with Susan Batson Studios/Jagger Kaye’s “Castings n’ Classes”/TVI… and also a couple of others. I take acrobatics at Chelsea Piers.

SK: We hear through the grapevine that you have a couple of very exciting projects coming up in the near term: The Gala in Paris and the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) competition in New York City. Could you tell us when they will happen, what each of those involves and how you’re preparing for them?

GB: The Youth America Grand Prix starts on April 22, 2012 and finishes on April 26, 2012. Then comes the Gala in Annecy, in France, where I will dance with my brother (Editor’s Note: Giuseppe’s brother, Yannick Bittencourt, is a soloist with The Paris Opera Ballet). And then I have another competition in Paris. YAGP is a competition, for which I train 1-1¹/₂ hours a day with my mother. Chausson D’or is an International competition, and I also train 1-1¹/₂hours a day with my Mother for that. For both of those, sometimes my father and brother also see me through Skype. Annecy is a competition, but this year they have asked me to dance at the Gala there. I’m very excited for all of them.

Giuseppe Dancing in the 2011 YAGP

SK: We know from several articles published about you over the past couple of years that, aside from performing, you have a variety of other interests ranging from blacksmithing to cooking. Please talk about your hobbies and if you’ve found time to participate in any of them recently.

GB: I love cooking and baking, and I always do it at home where I sometimes cook for my family. I make really good cookies too. I also love Blacksmithing. It has always felt really natural working with iron and metals. I do a lot of sports. For example: Boxing, Soccer, Football, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming… and there are many others. I’m also very handy, which I learned from my father. I help my mother with her new ballet school “AS Ballet NY”, where I both study and train dancers.

SK: How’s your dog? Is he in America with you now?

GB: I actually have 2 dogs — Billy and Fina. Billy is with my mom and me in the USA. He comes back with us to Switzerland when we go. Fina, who is in Switzerland right now, comes with my dad to the USA. I love both of them.

Giuseppe playing with his dog “Billy” while in Durham, NC at the start of the BETM US Tour

SK: Besides the performance projects we’ve already mentioned, do you have any others on the horizon for 2012 or beyond?

GB: I am going to record some songs Thommie Retter wrote, take some Master Classes at colleges, and act in some large/lower budget movies. And, of course, there are the ongoing auditions for various other projects.

SK: Is there anything else about Giuseppe Bausilio that you’d like to share with our readers that we haven’t specifically asked about?

GB: I really thank my parents for giving me such a big opportunity.

SK: Is there anything you’d like to say to your many fans?

GB: Thank you so much for all the support all of you have given me. And I really want you all to know that I appreciate every second of that support.

We’d like to thank Giuseppe for taking time for this interview so as to update his many fans on how his “Life After Billy” is going. There is no doubt this talented and personable young man will go far in the entertainment world, if that’s where his desires take him. We wish him all the best on that journey.

For more information about Giuseppe: visit his website, read his Billy Elliot profile or visit his thread at Billy Elliot the Forum

Tomorrow Will Be Better (2011)

“I know that many of us hope that life is better, different, and more beautiful somewhere else. Wherever that is…”

_{Dorota Kedzierzawska}

Having previously seen the Polish Coming-of-Age film Jestem (I am), when I found out that the 2011 film Tomorrow Will Be Better (Jutro bedzie lepiej) was also directed by the outstanding filmmaker Dorota Kedzierzawska, I knew that I had to watch it. And, when I did, I was not disappointed. Present was the familiar artful photography and camerawork of Arthur Reinhart, which made an impression on me while watching Jestem. That, combined with Dorota’s dexterous directing of the young actors, created in Tomorrow Will Be Better a beautiful visual poem of childhood and hope – which reminded me why many think of cinema as the seventh art.

Just like the meaning of a poem can sometimes be hard to grasp, the plot of Tomorrow Will Be Better does not offer much story development. However, the lack of complex or dramatic scenes does not hinder this film. On the contrary, instead of seeking out meaning, one is overpowered by the visual aesthetics and the charming appearance and talent of six-year-old Oleg Ryba (whom I took for a girl at first), his brother (11-year-old Jewgienij Ryba -one of the most expressive young actors I have ever seen) and 11-year-old Kinga Walenkiewicz . They play the roles of homeless boys who live in a railway station in an unnamed Russian city.

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Totally True Love (2011)

http://youtu.be/ooSfe00n8Tc

First love – this frequently occurring theme of Coming-of-Age movies – is the essence of the 2011 Norwegian film Totally True Love (original title: Jørgen + Anne = sant). Unlike most films of the genre, which predominantly focus on the boy’s experiences and worries, in Totally True Love the main protagonist is Anne Lunde, a ten-year-old girl with a unique take on the world. “I never understood why girls had to be princesses and boys Vikings “, says Anne as she narrates her own story (which is always the best approach in movies about feelings and discoveries of youth).

Anne does not get why everyone around her is talking about love. But she is not too worried about thinking that one can’t fall in love at her age. She is just like Pippi Longstocking — tomboyish, rebellious, and full of energy, and she could care less about boring stuff like love and feelings…

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The Strange Ones (2011)

The Strange Ones, also known as Deux inconnus, is a 2011 short film directed by Christopher Radcliff and Lauren Wolkstein. True to its title – the film is quite strange. It starts as a road movie and as the story develops transforms into suspense. Or, better said, it might transform into suspense if you let the stereotypical soundtrack lead you in that direction. There are but three characters in the film – a man and a boy who travel to an unknown destination and a young woman who they encounter in a motel swimming pool.

There is not much more than that, though there are some subtle hints that there might be more than meets the eye. I expected more development of the storyline – a bit of controversy or a surprising ending at least – of the kind that often transforms what would be an ordinary short film into a masterpiece. Yet, none of my expectations were met. Instead, a weak opening began thirteen minutes of weak character development, stilted acting and boredom.

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Jungle Child (2011)

It is a pity that many wonderful films do not receive the distribution they truly deserve. Thus, if one is not living in the country where the movie is released or is not fortunate enough to attend a cinema festival where such films are screened, chances to see those films are quite slim. And, in fact, you may not even know about the existence of such films. Dschungelkind/Jungle Child (2011) is such a gem – a movie that deserves to be discovered.

The film is based on real events and it tells the story of Sabine Kuegler’s unusual childhood; a Coming-of-Age story of a young girl (played by Stella Kunkat) who grew up deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Sabine’s father is a linguist and, when a new tribe is discovered, he decides to build a house in the jungle and learn the tribe’s language and culture. His wife and children: Sabine, just eight years old at the time, her older sister and their younger brother move into the house after the tribal chief promises that the family will be safe as long as they do not interfere with the customs and the daily lives of his people. As it turns out, this simple condition is hard to follow when a culture clash is present. And, when the family finds itself in the middle of a tribal war, choices have to be made that may jeopardize the family’s safety.

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Real Steel (2011)

Depending on your perspective, Real Steel could be considered one of the most surprising films of 2011. It’s a film that is a very loose interpretation of a Richard Matheson short story wherein robots have replaced humans in the boxing ring in an all too proximate future.

However, if one looks at the film’s trailers, it’s clear the intended effect the film is supposed to have and the genre it’s supposed to occupy: it’s a crowd-pleasing action/drama that’s fun for the whole family. That’s not an easy feat to pull off, especially considering the fact that the trappings wherein those sentiments are to be felt can be dismissed as Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots: The Movie. After a few viewings of the trailer, I figured I’d think it was good but didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did.

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The Armoire (2009)

Some movies are filled with messages that both protagonists and viewers are expected to decode. Decoding these messages to grasp their meanings can be challenging, and the results can vary. The plot of the 2009 short film The Armoire has a lot of hidden messages and enigmas and, while I can’t affirm that I fully understood its story, I felt deeply engaged with it.

The protagonists of The Armoire are two young boys – Aaron and Tony. They are classmates, best friends and both are members of their school’s choir.

One day, Tony mysteriously disappears. While everyone is desperately trying to find the lost boy, Aaron slowly realizes that the key to the mystery is buried in his own mind. Worried about their troubled son, Aaron’s parents put him under hypnosis, and the story of Tony’s dissonance starts to unfold…

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Fourth Annual Coming-of-Age Movie Awards

Winner`s announcement !

It’s that time of year again. As we begin 2012, we look back over the past year and at the movies that were released in 2011. As the largest online media site focusing on the Coming-of- Age genre, we are happy to again host the Coming of Age Movie Awards — our fourth consecutive year of doing so.

Here’s a reminder of what the short definition is regarding what a movie must possess in order to belong to the Coming of Age Genre:

“A Coming-of-Age movie is a film in which the central plot revolves around a person suddenly facing a life changing experience, trial or tribulation. That person, who was once naive or childish or pre-pubescent, is now suddenly older and wiser because of the experience. They see life and their place in the universe for the first time.” Alternative descriptions can be consulted at the Coming-of-Age Films Definition article.

In 2011, we were fortunate to witness an abundance of movie releases. So many excellent coming of age films were released that an author on our site wrote an article titled Coming of Age Value in 2011, fueled by the desire to recall the Coming-of-Age masterpieces that deeply moved him personally and delivered a cinematic experience to remember.

We had over seventy films from across the globe competing in the traditional categories that TheSkyKid.com has established: Best Acting, Coming-of-Age Value, Best Newcomer, Best Cinematography, Best International Film, Best Short Film, Special Soundtrack and Best Performance in A Film Made for TV. All films deserved to be nominated, but as this is impossible – we have decided to include a list of all movies we worked with as a reference to you. Additionally, all films – nominated or not – will be included in the Ultimate Coming-of-Age movie list we maintain here on the site.

(Note: only films released in 2011 were considered for a nomination )

The nominated movies and actors are presented below in their respective categories :

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Tom Andrews – An Exclusive Interview

The world is impatiently awaiting the debut album of 18-year-old Tom Andrews.

Back in September 2010 – Tom became the second artist signed by Eleveneleven, the record label owned by the US television host Ellen DeGeneres. Everyone’s expectations are set high – similar to when Greyson Chance’s album “Hold On ‘Til the Night” – the first album to be ever released by the Eleveneleven label – delivered a smashing repertoire of hits. Tom Andrew’s talent guarantees that he won’t settle for less than such a spectacular debut.

As to what’s been happening with Tom in the meantime, Rjmendera contacted Tom for an exclusive interview for TheSkyKid.com:

Introducing Daniel J: That London Boy

The latest skyrocketing internet sensation is a 14-year-old singer from London – Daniel John (Daniel J). Only four weeks ago, Daniel started posting covers on YouTube and promoting them on Twitter with aplomb! Now he‘s also using Tumblr to promote his videos and updates and recently did his first live stream on Twitvid for his fans.

I found Daniel on Twitter pleading for users to sub his channel and bring him to 3,000 subs before January 1, 2012. HUMBUG, I thought. This was ten days before Christmas and, at that point, he had around 700 YouTube subs. What a shock when I checked his channel a few days before the 25th and it was already at circa 2,000 subs! Like a Christmas Miracle, his popularity zoomed. By December 26th, Daniel had 45,270 views and 4,017 subs (#52 – on the December most subbed list in the UK), well over the goal of 3,000!

Currently (January 2, 2012) DANIEL J has 58,508 views and 5,181 subs! We haven’t seen this kind of star birth on YouTube since Justin Bieber (now iconic) did it some years ago.

http://youtu.be/G12TCUBhQ98

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Introducing Johnny Hammer: An Interview

One year ago I discovered an intriguing singer – Johnny Hammer – a young boy singing Mary Did You Know? – a Christmas song celebrating the birth of Jesus. The surprise came when I realized the music Johnny sang the song to was an upbeat dance vibe.

A little research led to my discovery of Christian Techno – a music genre I had no idea existed. I found a few labels (Andy Hunter, Scott Blackwell, Owl City to name but a few… ) and a DJ rocking the club scene with songs filled with positive messages. Johnny recorded Mary Did You Know? when he was only twelve years old. Signed by the Nashville-based Christian dance music label Technopraise, his youthful appearance and clear treble voice made Mary Did You Know? appeal to people his age (and younger), casual listeners and devoted fans of electronic vibes.

A few weeks ago, Technopraise released Hands to the Sky, a new song starring Johnny Hammer (by then aged thirteen) and Alexis Lundt. Hands to the Sky features the same upbeat, modern sound and encourages people, especially teens and younger kids, to put their hands in the sky and show their love to God by raving. The song is accompanied by a grand movie video in which Johnny and his singing partner Alexis sing to their dancing friends (more than 50 kids are featured in the video).

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TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

“I know that many of us hope that life is better, different, and more beautiful somewhere else. Wherever that is…”

The nominated movies and actors are presented below in their respective categories :