Mary Did You Know….

Christian music – until a few days ago I had no idea what was behind this term. What came to my mind naturally was classical choirs (Vienna Boys Choir, L’Escolania de Montserrat, St Edmundsbury Cathedral Choir…etc.) or Gospel performers. Then I find out there is Christian Rock, Rap, Pop and even techno music. I knew that various events are organized across the globe – gatherings, festivals – but because of some (wrong) assumptions on my part, based on my feeling that most things associated with religion are not be on the “cool “side – I never expressed a real interest in so called Christian Music.

Then I discovered the music of Ariel Sebastian from Argentina. And I like it. I like it not only because of his astonishing treble voice, but because of the well-arranged and modern music he sings. After hearing this, I was on my way to changing my pre-set assumptions – when something happened to accelerate the process. I discovered a new independent label Technopraise that uses a totally new and unique approach – mixing techno (House actually) and Christian songs in what they call the “NEW sound of Christian music”. They have released a music video of Johnny Hammer performing Mary Did You Know? – a great song with a real message, set to catchy vibes that makes me want to dance. Of course, just as some people have wrong assumptions towards Christian Music, others have the wrong assumptions towards techno music. I should know. In the past few years I have been to hundreds of dance clubs across Europe and have a first-hand experience with what some people think about anything “different and new”. Yet, Technopraise proves that sending a positive message out there can be done just as effectively via modern vibes, which are guaranteed to have a bigger impact on youth than anything else.

Now what’s left for you is to watch the new clip of Mary Did You Know? and share your opinion of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77ZfKaP6I3IDon`t miss our exclusive interview with Johnny Hammer !

You can find out more about the newest releases of Technopraise at their official web site

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from TheSkyKid.com

The 6^th Christmas since theSkyKid.com was launched. Six wonderful years – more than two million people visited the site. 600 articles were published , 5284 comments were made. Thank you!

May your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season, and throughout the year! Wish your Christmas be filled with peace and love. Merry Xmas.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9JXATSbywc

Introducing Ariel Sebastian

His name is Ariel Sebastian and he is an immensely talented young singer with a beautiful treble voice that evokes strong emotions in those who hear it. It’s an angelic voice which reflects both his passion for God and for music. Regardless of what your religion may be – once you hear Ariel singing you will know just how the angels praise the Lord.

Ariel Sebastian is twelve-years-old and is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Raised in a religious Christian family, he has always felt close to Jesus. His parents recognized his talent and signed him up for piano lessons at the tender age of eight. He continued to develop both his vocal and instrumental skills and, at age eleven, was discovered by the legendary Argentinian producer Pablo Ramírez with whom he released his first album Roca Eterna, making him the Youngest Psalmist of Christian Music. His album contains thirteen songs containing a unique mixture of melodic pop vibes and touching ballads.

His talent was properly recognized when, in 2010, the National Academy of Music and Christian Arts nominated him in seven of the 22 categories of the Arpa Awards. Among the nominations were: Best Male Vocal Album, Launch of the Year, Producer of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Cover Design, Best Music Video and Best Independent Album.

When I first discovered Ariel’s music just few days ago, I could not believe that I had not previously heard of this gifted singer and his captivating voice. I have often wondered what the meaning of Christian Music is – Christian Pop, Rock…etc. and I think that, thanks to Ariel, I finally have an answer to this question. It is a music with a message – a message of love and hope, of peace and freedom. Currently, one can hardy find any information in English about Ariel. Yet, those of you who know Spanish will be able to discover many articles in various blogs and online publications.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgNW56m92-Q

I hope that you have enjoyed this introduction to Ariel Sebastian and will share your impressions of him and his music with the readers of theskykid.com, using the comments form below.

Ulvepigen Tinke (2002)

“I’m afraid of nothing….Once I bit a wolf!”

The Danish cinema is notorious for its high-quality films suitable for family entertainment (the same statement is valid for such films from almost all Scandinavian countries, including Norway and Sweden). Naturally, many of those films can be categorized as belonging to the coming of age genre. The 2002 coming-of-age drama Ulvepigen Tinke (The Little Big Girl), based on the novel Hungerbarnet by Cecil Bodker, tells the story of an eight-year-old girl (Sarah Juel Werner) who has to take care of herself after the death of her parents. The little girl has to find food and protect herself from the wild animals to survive.

One rainy day, she meets Larus (Peter Jeppe Hansen) – a young shepherd boy from a poor family who is tending the cows for a family in the nearby village. Scared but hungry, the little girl approaches the boy who shares some of his bread and milk, assuring her that she should not be afraid of him. Soon she approaches him again and the two begin to develop a true friendship. When Larus finds out that the girl doesn’t have a family, he does the only thing he can think of and takes her to the house of his employers. They are an elderly couple – and have different opinions about the new friend of their shepherd. The woman sees in her a chance to finally have a little girl who she could raise as her own daughter, while her husband is taken aback by their guest’s lack of table manners and respect/obedience. The old couple has a son of their own – but he is severely retarded, and the family keeps him locked in the stable.

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Short films vs Full Features in the Coming of Age genre

While looking for more information about the short film Displaced, which was recently reviewed at TheSkyKid.com, I stumbled upon an intriguing article in which its director, Rick Stevenson, shared why he believes that “Shorts are the Films of the Future” (1). In it, Mr. Stevenson shares his opinion that two main factors affect the international cine industry. The first being that independent film makers are having a hard time securing financing for their projects (you may recall the interview with the director of the acclaimed Canadian drama Jet Boy, Dave Schultz, in which he shared similar concerns) and the second being the impact on the video sharing sites such as YouTube and the shift of the audience’s preference towards the short time versions of entertainment now widely available. The opinion of Mr.Stephenson, and a follow-up conversation with a colleague of mine, made me realize that most of the films in the coming of age genre in the past few years have been released in the short format, while their longer counterparts somehow fail to create a hype comparable with the one that films such as The Sixth Sense or AI created in the past. While such a turn was expected by me (it explains why one of the main categories of theskykid.com is devoted to short features), the extent of this invasion of the short film format exceeded my expectations.

That being said, I would like to ask for your opinion. Where do you think the future of the coming of age films lies? Do you expect to see more short films than full features?

1. Rick Stevenson Shares Why He Believes “Shorts are the Films of the Future” by Allison Ackmann (via trulymovingpictures.org ) ( link)

Displaced (2010)

Well-produced and directed short films manage to transmit their message despite the time limitation typically associated with the format. The success of such films, as in full features, depends greatly on the acting skills of the lead characters and their ability to engage the audience. In 2010, Rick Stevenson directed Displaced, a moving short drama about a young boy having trouble adjusting to the foster homes he is being sent to. Nathan Gamble (The Hole, The Mist, Babel) plays the role of Daniel, delivering an emotional and moving performance that makes it clear why he is one of the most sought-after young actors in Hollywood.

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Jaime (1999)

“We are not the same. I have never carried other people’s bags. Even when I was your age”

Jaime (Saúl Fonseca) is a thirteen-year-old boy who lives with his mother, her boyfriend, and his two little sisters in a suburban neighborhood in Oporto, Portugal. The years are tough, and across the country, many children are made to work by their parents to contribute to the family budget. Child labor is illegal in the country, but most families are on edge and are forced to take desperate measures. The businesses are also willing to take in the kids and exploit them as they are able to demand as much from them as for adult workers while paying reduced wages and no taxes to the government.

Jaime’s parents are separated – he lives with his mother – but, unlike some of his classmates, no one forces him to work. Yet, he sneaks out each night to work at a local bakery and saves the money, hoping to improve his life and reunite his mother and father. The film opens up with a scene in the bakery where we see how Jaime and other teenage boys spend their evenings. The job is not easy and after witnessing a job-related accident with a friend of his who loses his fingers, Jaime is fired by his boss, who fears that the accident will attract the attention of the work inspectors.

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Second Hand Child (2003)

Tobias Baumann (Frederick Lau) is a troubled kid – and there is a reason for that. His family is not as well off as the other kids at his school, and the boys in his class enjoy picking on him because of his social status. The fact that he doesn’t know who his father is and has a young but careless mother (too young to have a teenage son anyway) does not help either. That is why it’s unsurprising that Tobias, tired of being ridiculed for things he has no control over, loses his nerve. His schoolmates call that “becoming anti social” – but can you blame him? I could not – he has no choice but to try to cope with life alone…

Alone until one day, he meets a man who moves into the neighboring apartment. They buddy up, and when the kids at school start to pick on him again for having no father, Tobias comes up with the idea to present his neighbor, Max Feldkamp, to his classmates – claiming that Max is his father. The lie causes some consequences – as it increases the chances of further complications in the life of the thirteen-year-old teenager. Is his new neighbor suitable for a father figure? Will he even consider playing such a role?

This is the premise in the German film Second Hand Child (Wer küsst schon einen Leguan?). The film is powerful and touching and is guaranteed to evoke a whole range of emotions from its viewers (and may even induce a few tears in their eyes). The action is set in an urban ghetto in Eastern Germany, and the soundtrack, which is predominantly German rap addressing social issues, perfectly suits the film’s theme.

A pivotal moment occurs when Tobias sits on a hill overlooking the city, symbolizing his isolation amidst a bustling world. The scene is underscored by the haunting lyrics of a German rap song, perfectly capturing his sense of loneliness. Second-Hand Child is heartbreaking to watch, but the movie does a powerful job of showing the effects of neglect on kids. You feel for Tobias and want things to improve for him.

The young Frederick Lau delivers an outstanding performance in the role of Tobias. If you see the film, he will likely leave quite an impression on you with his natural performance in the dramatic and turbulent situations in which his character finds himself. The film has an immense coming-of-age value as the story of a young boy striving for things that all children should be entitled to – love, friendship, and attention. The power in Second Hand Child does not lie in special effects and similar cinematic tricks. Still, instead, in the powerful story of the life of an ordinary boy dealing with issues many children have to deal with, bullying is just one of them, though by far the most significant.

The film’s ending is bittersweet, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. Second-Hand Child is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of childhood trauma and the enduring impact of neglect.

Second-Hand Child is one of the best German dramas I have ever seen, and I highly recommend it to the readers of theskykid.com. The film has received acknowledgments from various festivals in Germany and abroad, winning the European Children’s Film Prize and the Audience Award in 2003 and the “Best Children’s Film” award at the Children’s Film Festival “Golden Sparrow.”

Film title: Wer küßt schon einen Leguan?
Also known as : Second Hand Child
Release year: 2003 – Children’s Film GmbH , MDR
Director: Karola Hattop
Cast: Frederick Lau,Michael von Au,Antje Westermann,Mario Irrek,Justine del Corte,Dirk Schoedon,Carina Hinzen,Sven Lubeck and others

The Von (2007)

His pride is his superhero card collection, superheroes are his inspiration! It’s only that in real life things can be slightly different than in the comic books – and poor Alex Vonzitzavitz (known also as The Von) gets himself in some quite embarrassing situations. The short film The Von, directed by John Mavety, is just seven minutes long. And even if it doesn’t impress with its story, soundtrack or acting for that matter (OK – Jacob Bicknell shows some promise in the lead role), it’s still rather fun to watch. The story is narrated by the grown up Alexander who recalls one of the most humiliating experiences of his childhood. That is why the voiceover is of an adult – which somehow lessens the impact of the story. It would have been better if Jacob Bicknell (in the role of Alexander) narrated the story with his own voice.

Released in 2007, The Von participated in the Tropfest competition (you may recall another short film review from that competition: Marry Me) and won a Young Talent Award for the performance of its lead. Yet, when it comes to short films, the ones coming out of countries such as Denmark, Sweden or The Netherlands are clearly more engaging.

You can watch the film below :

Introducing Zulfat Gabdulin

Here at theskykid.com we take pride in introducing young talents in music and the arts from across the globe. Today we would like to introduce an incredibly gifted young singer from Russia. His name is Zulfat Gabdulin and he lives in the city of Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. While many singers perform in just one language –Zulfat, despite his tender age (he is only 10), can sing in Russian, English and even Japanese while captivating audiences with his cheerful performances.

He frequently participates in song competitions and festivals in Russia and is a winner of several of them. This year he also reached the final stage of the Russian national final for Junior Eurovision 2010 with his song Школа закрыта (School is Closed).

A performance sparkling with energy – isn`t it ? The unofficial Tatarstan motto is: Bez Buldırabız! (We can!) and the young Zulfat proves that slogan. He finds inspiration in the music of Michel Jackson, Queen and Street Magic and in his free time he loves to ride his BMX and play games on his computer.

You can find out more about Zulfat Gabdulin at his official site , where you can also listen to his songs and explore the photo and video galleries from his performances.

Yohan – The Child Wanderer

If you are looking for a good family film to watch – the Norwegian Yohan – The Child Wanderer is a title you should definitely consider. As with most Scandinavian films, Yohan – The Child Wanderer is well narrated and acted (mainly by the children in the cast). While there are no intense action or scenes filled with tension, the film impresses with its breathtaking nature scenes (mostly shot from the air) and a beautiful soundtrack.

The story is set in Southern Norway (1800 – 1910) when many children, as young as seven years of age who lived in poor families, were forced to leave their homes in search of work to help support families which often struggled to survive the harsh winters in the Scandinavian country.

During a family reunion, the grown-up Grete and Odd Hynnekleiv recall their childhood days. Back in that time, like many other kids, they had to “wander “as the only way of physical survival after the family was left without any food. A flashback brings us to the old days as the camera sweeps over and shows a young boy sitting on a cliff at a mountain playing at his flute.

Yohan – The Child Wanderer is a captivating and educational film and one learns a lot about that period in Norwegian history. Thirteen-year-old Robin Pedersen Daniel, from Mandal, plays convincingly the role of the young Yohan – a sensible and good-hearted boy who is forced by circumstances and his jealous brothers to leave his home — sold as a child laborer at a far-away farm. The 2009 Eurovision Song Contest Winner, Alexander Rybak, also stars in the film as a musician, a member of a traveling gypsy family. Unlike how they are customarily portrayed in many biased movies, the Gypsies in this film are presented in a rather positive light – which is a nice touch.

The film is shot in both Norwegian and the English language and is well done, with the exception of the mediocre modern pop music (in English) which backs some of the scenes – being totally unsuitable for events that take place in the past. Yet, the main musical theme of the film (played by the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra) is touching and memorable and is what you will likely really remember in the end.

Overall, Yohan – The Child Wanderer is a charming family film, which runs for a bit more than two hours, while managing to keep the audience engaged with its story. It has a few shortcomings and the story could have been made a bit more emotional to match the intriguing theme and masterful cinematography. While enjoyable to watch, the film could benefit from a bit more sentiment, which could have differentiated the film from the many Disney and Hallmark family productions that one is able to catch frequently on cable TV.

Film title: YOHAN – The Child Wanderer
Release year: 2010 – Penelope Film
Director: Grete Salomonsen
Cast: Robin Pedersen Daniel, Kris Kristofferson, Alexander Rybak, Mathilde Berg, Dennis Storhøi, Agnete G. Haaland, Adam Eftevaag, Jørgen Langhelle and others

Official site of the film

Flipped (2010)

Sometimes You Don’t See What Is Right In Front Of You

If you like watching coming-of-age movies, you will be able to recall at least a few flicks in which the main protagonists are a girl and a boy – learning about the world that surrounds them and each other. Here are a few titles to refresh your memory: Have Dreams, Will Travel (2007), Kisses (2008), My Girl (1991) and the short film Marry Me (2008). In the majority of these films, the viewer observes the evolving events, often led by a narrator or through the eyes of one of the characters. The 2010 film Flipped offers 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. To achieve that, the director decided to split the film into parts and allow the viewer to experience each scene twice. By doing that, the coming-of-age experience of both characters is presented in an entertaining, romantic, and uplifting manner.

The film is based on the novel Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen and it follows the relationship of two kids, Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) and Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe). When Juli sees Bryce for the very first time, she falls in love with him. Bryce, however, being overly shy like most boys his age, is terrified from the attention of the unknown neighborhood girl (as his wannabe girlfriend) and, in the next six years as they grow into teenagers, does everything he can to avoid Juli. That is the beginning of what he calls “a half a decade of strategic avoidance and social discomfort”. Juli, who is convinced that he secretly likes her but is too shy to admit it, plots plan after plan to show him that he has nothing to worry about. But is Bryce worth her efforts and attention? His behavior towards Juli reminded me of my own when I was his age – which gradually changed with time much as Bryce’s does when he “grows up” – in a way that is not necessarily related to age.

The strong performances of the two young leads contribute greatly to the overall atmosphere of the film. Yet Flipped doesn’t escape the typical Hollywood oversimplification of the story and its characters. Yet, in this case, the cotton – candy view of the world is rather suitable for this bittersweet account of first love and the confusion associated with it. As the film focuses on middle school-aged love and friendship, its main audience is expected to be of the same age group as its characters. However, given the nostalgic value associated with family-oriented coming-of-age films such as Flipped, one can safely assume that the film will appeal to an older audience as well.

Film title: Flipped
Release year: 2010 – Castle Rock Entertainment
Director: Rob Reiner
Cast: Madeleine Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Anthony Edwards, Aidan Quinn, Penelope Ann Miller, Rebecca De Mornay, John Mahoney and Morgan Lily

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Sometimes You Don’t See What Is Right In Front Of You