Pirates of the Plain (1999)

Not a pirate but an adventurer of independent means

What would you do if you met a real pirate – a high seas pirate who sails on a ship in pursuit of treasures and adventures? Maybe he will become your best friend – or foe…

Bobby (Seth Adkins) is a young boy with a wild imagination. He imagines aliens, cowboys and robbers – imaginary playmates filling his world, which otherwise would have been pretty boring as Bobby lives in rural Nebraska with his mom. Bobby’s fantasy world Bobby is so vivid, its characters so real to him, that his mother even thinks it’s spooky.

One day, fantasy becomes reality – supernatural forces sent through time in the form of a high seas pirate Captain — Jezebel Jack (Tim Curry). So a boy and a pirate meet and, despite their differences, they become friends – best friends. But can you trust a pirate? And what happens when Bobby, Jack and the crew of Jack’s ship, Delilah, end up “sailing the amber waves of grain “ in Nebraska?

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Coming Of Age Films For Girls Have Finally Come Of Age

As a genre, coming of age films are more usually made about boys becoming men, than girls becoming women. It has been a male dominated area, from the directors, to the stars, to the storylines. Yet one should not ignore the fact that there are movies out there, focused on girlhood, which both shaped and reproduced adolescent femininity.

Today, new films are emerging, made predominantly by female directors and covering the experiences of teenage girls. It is refreshing to see these films dealing with social issues. Girls are being featured in commercial films produced both within and outside of the Hollywood movie industry. The idealized image of girlhood concerned primarily with innocence and following the traditional forms of male authority is being replaced with a more realistic portrayal of the experiences shaping a girl into a young woman. Girls grow up in a harsh world and have to fight for what they want. Heightened teenage emotions are laid out in all their glory, making every step more tragic, yet more compelling.

The image of the rebellious girl ready to take on the world is projected in titles such as Thirteen, Mean Girls, Juno, and Fish Tank…to name but a few. The 2010 drama The Last Song offers an intriguing portrayal of a teenage girl in emotional turmoil. Other examples of the shift in the female coming of age films can be seen in the 2001 film Glitter, starring Mariah Carey, and Lone Scherfig’s film An Education. The 2009 film Precious leaves mawkish sentiment at the door and gives a view of urban female rite of passage not usually seen.

Its clear now the Coming of Age films for Girls have finally Come of Age !

For more on the topic we recommend the following articles : Coming of age films – boy`s or girl`s thing and Top 5 Coming of Age Films for Girls

Ulrik Munther

“I’m just a kid with a guitar in my hands,

but I know something that some can’t understand…”

That familiar feeling …. you hear a song and the next thing you know it’s stuck in your head. In the next few days you lose count of the number of times you have listened to that song over and over again. The singer releases a new song. Maybe you were thinking that he could not do better than his last release, but he does and now you have a new song to adore.

Meet 17-year-old Ulrik Munther from Sweden – gifted guitarist, songwriter and singer. When I first heard his original song – Boys Don’t Cry – I was blown away. Finally! A song with a meaning that I really enjoyed. It’s been a while since I’ve heard such a melodic song – especially nowadays when so many young singers lean toward the much hyped R&B style, with beats and lyrics one can hardly tell apart (they all go: “I love her, she doesn’t love me. Love me, Love me, Love me”. Or “Let’s party “…etc ).

Now listen to this:

Impressed?

If so, it’s not just you. Ulrik was spotted on YouTube and signed by Universal Music Sweeden. Boys Don’t Cry was released as a single in January 2011 and an album is in the works. In the meantime, Ulrik kept releasing hit after hit, covering Lady Gaga’s Born this Way (it’s astonishing how many young singers find inspiration in Lady Gaga’s music) and his own original composition – a powerful acoustic ballad titled Life.

Maybe you’ve noticed the similarities: Ulrik seems to be best performing ballads filled with emotion and meaning. Yet, recently, he released Sticks And Stones, which is a more upbeat song. It’s part of the promo for his first album, which is now available for pre-order .

Admittedly, Ulrik’s music reminds me of Hanson – and it’s no secret that I am a huge fan of that band. Ulrik’s music sounds real and sincere and, to me, that makes all the difference in the world. Ulrik is not only a wonderful vocalist but every video he creates is not only professional in appearance but is truly captivating. Take my word – this boy is going to go far!

Find out more about Ulrik Munther by visiting his official web site

Top 5 Young Actresses Everyone Loves

Hollywood is a place of glitz and glamor. But there are some people who see the stars of movies differently. More than actors, more than singers and more than fashion icons, these stars are endeared by the young and they aim to follow their paths. Being role models, these young ladies inspire their generation to become better people.

Could your favorite make it to the list? Check out the following young actresses of this generation:

1. Emma Watson

With everyone so hipped up by the soon to be released final installment of the Harry Potter series, who would ever forget Hermione Granger? From the time she was still in her curly locks strangled all over her face in the very first Harry Potter movie, to her becoming a prim and proper young lady in the later HP movies, a lot of girls have adored Emma. She is considered one of the richest young people in the world, though she would say that she did not even know much money she made playing her famous role from the J.K Rowling book series. One of the finest teen actresses of this generation, she is a symbol of persistence, low-profile and elegance and everyone loves her subtle aura wherever she goes.

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Billy’s Angel (2011)

More then a few coming of age movies deal with the issues of grief and loss. As children often lack the life experience of adults, the manner with which they face and react to loss and traumatic experiences can significantly differ from the ways society commonly associate with these unfortunate events in one’s life. Very often, for children, coming to terms with a loss in life becomes a transformational journey that shapes their identities.

In the 2011 short film Billy’s Angel, directed by Matt Metz, we meet Billy (J.R. Fondessy), a ten-year-old boy who has to overcome the feeling of loss after his granddad passes away.

Billy’s Angels is a calm and reassuring “feel good“ movie that features some of the most prominent features typically associated with coming of age experiences related to a loss: soft lighting, comforting background music, and heartfelt voice overs by the young protagonist of the film. This mise-en-scene is tastefully accented by symbols of life and death (a butterfly’s journey through life) and male bonding (a grandfather or a father spending quality time with the youngest member of the family while fishing and sharing experiences and thoughts).

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The Benefits of Watching Coming of Age Films with Children

“The rich and compelling history of films about youth informs us of more than changing social conditions and perceptions of young people; it gives us a special appreciation of how successive generations have endured the conflicts of claiming identity and seeking recognition for their actions.”^[1]

Parents, have you ever thought of watching a coming of age movie with your child as a way of reinforcing a point you’d like to make to him/her? There’s a lot to be said for using this medium when other attempts for getting through to the child don’t seem to work. And there could be a benefit or two for the parent as well.

Childhood can be a tough, yet unforgettably magical period of life. It’s a time when imaginations are running wild and new adventures can be found around every corner. You probably remember a time when that fort you built in the living room was your very own castle or private getaway. Having friends over, talking about the opposite sex, and trying to figure out if you were normal may have been an every weekend occurrence. Watching coming of age movies with your pre-teen or teenager can bring back some memories and perhaps allow you to understand the world they’re living in.

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Ronan Parke Represents The Fresh New Future Of Pop

If you pay attention to the world of new music or reality shows, you may have heard the name Ronan Parke recently. Ronan Parke is a 12-year-old pop singer hailing from the United Kingdom. Parke has shot to fame after reaching the finals of the popular UK talent show Britain’s Got Talent. But what’s next for this young singing sensation?

At only 12 years of age, this singer can look forward to a long and vibrant career in the musical spotlight. While highly popular singers like Cody Simpson and Justin Bieber represent the present of pop, Ronan might be in a position to spearhead the future. Being considerably younger than many singers currently enjoying popularity means that he can break into a younger, fresher audience. Besides that, he has shown the ability to attract fans of all ages and from all walks of life.

One reason to pay attention to this young singer is that his path to success has been spurred by a highly-publicized contest, rather than a careful marketing campaign. There can be a lot of appeal in seeing someone make their way through a grassroots competition, and a lot of pop fans may find this endearing. Many talent show competitors and winners have managed to use the buzz of intense competition to initiate their careers, and he will likely not be an exception to this trend.

Being British might also be a key attraction for Ronan’s future. With so many currently popular pop stars originating from either the United States or Canada, there is a true distinctiveness in having a young European singer attain worldwide popularity. As well, the North American love of all things Anglo-related may play a significant role in his appeal. The UK was home to many pop sensations during the 1990s and prior, and it’s time for a new singer to gain worldwide success.

Also, unlike stars such as Cody Simpson and Justin Bieber, this young singer’s work includes renditions of songs that appeal to listeners much older than himself. On Britain’s Got Talent, he performed covers of classics by Nina Simone and Adele, singers both popular with listeners who love classics and adult contemporary hits. This expands his appeal beyond “tween” fans.

Keep your eyes – and ears – peeled on Ronan Parke in the future. As a skilled singer with a diverse repertoire, he is poised for great musical success. Despite his youth, he’s no Bieber knockoff.

Introducing the Bandits (aka Gizonband)

Four years ago, four boys decided to form a band. Meet Jasper, Toon, Tim and Thomas – the Bandits. When thy created the band, they named themselves Gizonband – paying homage to the guitar school where Jasper crafted his wizardly musical talent. There he met Thomas (who plays bass guitar) and Tim (rhythm-guitar). Later, drummer Toon joined the band. The Bandits are known for their distinct rock sound (although they play pop as well). All members of the band made themselves popular by participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Most of their songs are sung in Dutch (after all, the Bandits are from Belgium), yet the boys are perfectly able to sing in English as well and rock you regardless of the language in which they choose to perform. Recently (1st of June 2011), the boys released their first single as the Bandits – an uplifting pop-rock song titled Stop. The frequent repetitions pay off as the Bandits have a lot of fans, not only in their own country, but also abroad.

The band is currently signed by Starway Entertainment. On 28th of June, the band will play at the kids festival Pennenzakkenrock in Belgium and soon after will hit the road touring in Flanders, which is a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5IRZLDCPkM

For more information about the Bandits check out their official web site at bandits.be

That’s What I Am (2011)

“Human dignity + compassion = peace.”

Every once in a while I stumble upon a Coming-of-Age film that truly deserves a standing ovation from start to finish. That’s What I Am is one of them. The film is a real marvel featuring a meaningful and well told story, first class acting and directing and significant Coming-of-Age value.

The story is told in the first person through the eyes of 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a middle school student in the late 1960’s (intriguingly, many of the best American Coming-of-Age movies are also set in that era). When Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), his teacher, hands out the final class projects he pairs each of his pupils with a fellow classmate. Andy is not too happy with the teacher’s choice for him, as he gets partnered up with no other than the class outsider, Big G (Alexander Walters), an intelligent boy (or a nerd/geek as the kids call such boys). Big G is constantly teased about the size of his ears and his red hair. Big G is obviously not the real name of the boy – his name is Stanley. But as kids will, they have made up the nickname for him – G stands for ginger – a derogatory term for red heads. As if Andy doesn’t have enough problems of is own!

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The Stone Boy (1984)

The Stone Boy is an American drama that deals with the sensitive subject of grief. Arnold Hillerman (Jason Presson) is a twelve-year-old boy living on a small farm in rural America. One morning he goes out to pick peas with his brother Eugene (Dean Cain) – taking a shotgun along in case they get lucky to hit a wild duck. While Arnold is trying to go through a fence, the shotgun’s trigger gets caught in the metal wire, and the shotgun fires, killing his older brother. Arnold is in shock, and so is his family.

For the rest of the film, the viewer observes how he and his family deals with their grief. Arnold blames himself for the death of his brother, and, though neither of his parents would say it out loud after the accident – they grow cold towards their youngest son …

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Exclusive Interview: Director Ivan Noel of En Tu Ausencia

Each genre in the cinema can be characterized using a few selected titles. A few years after its release – En Tu Ausencia (the independent feature film of the French film director, producer and musician Ivan Noel), earned its place among the films that first comes into one’s mind when the coming of age genre is mentioned. The film attracted a lot of attention and interest, which resulted in its becoming one of the Spanish films with notable sales in North America. True to its mission to report on the achievements in the coming of age genre, TheSkyKid.com contacted Ivan Noel with an interview request. We had many questions, both inspired by the film and the comments and suggestions received by our readers throughout the years. Below, you will find this exclusive interview:

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Il Miracolo (2003)

Do you believe in miracles? And, if so, would you define them as an extraordinary or an ordinary part of our lives?

Puglia , Italy. Twelve-year-old Tonio goes outside to ride his bike. Suddenly a speeding car hits the little boy. Next thing the viewer sees is the little boy struggling for his life, while the woman who drove the car rushes her companion to leave the scene of the accident as soon as possible. No one saw what happened, so no one would know….

When Tonio regains consciousness in the hospital, he remembers the light – the magnificent light guiding the souls to a better world. He is not sure what to make of these memories, but later that night, he finds himself in a room in which a patient’s heart abruptly stops. Medics run into the room as Tonio touches the seemingly dead man. And it happens — a miracle – the man’s heart starts beating again.

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TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

Not a pirate but an adventurer of independent means

Its clear now the Coming of Age films for Girls have finally Come of Age !

“I’m just a kid with a guitar in my hands,

but I know something that some can’t understand…”

Could your favorite make it to the list? Check out the following young actresses of this generation:

1. Emma Watson

“Human dignity + compassion = peace.”