Watch Kids' Reviews of
BOX: THE EMPATHY PROJECT

I like the general idea of the short film, Box: The Empathy Project. It is very thoughtful and could open up many people's eyes and minds.

This is a short film that was made during the time of Covid to broadcast different events for which people can or should have empathy. Friends come together to make scenarios and examples. The cast is a group of kids at the actOUT! KW Children's Drama Workshop.

The idea of making a film about the existence of empathy is very heartwarming. What I like about most about this film is how ironic it is. Shot during the pandemic, the young actors often appear in virtual boxes and discuss how to empathetic. Unfortunately, I find the film really confusing, especially at the beginning -- everything is all over the place and you have no idea what is actually going on. There is no description. We just see their heads or upper body parts as they float onto the screen talking.

Since everything was filmed on computers the images of the actors are all images that were shot again a green screen so there is no background; it's just black. The images are pretty pixelated; they are never crisp, but in some ways that adds to the comedic side to the film. In the second scene, the background is that of the interior a spaceship and they almost go into battle. This is probably my favorite background and it's well thought out. I also like the circus background. The costumes throughout are casual clothing typical of what kids this age would be wearing. When they are at the circus the person in charge had on a blazer replicating an outfit worn at this type of event. There is not a lot of background music; the piano music at the opening and the ending is impactful and the sound effects, which are few and far between, are well selected. Each of the actors adds their own spin which, considering the circumstances, seems to work out pretty well. What I like about this film is the idea behind it and the fact that these kids created it during the pandemic, which was a great use of their time and creative skills. My favorite part is the ending when all of the actors come together and explain the film.

The film's message is supposedly about how to show empathy towards others, and why it is important to do that. What I really took away is that this was an interesting way to spend the pandemic and these kids not only explored their own creativity, but formed relationships with each other, something that definitely was missing during the shutdown. Note that there is some profanity at the beginning.

I give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. By SaniyaRain F., KIDS FIRST!

I like the general idea of the short film, Box: The Empathy Project. It is very thoughtful and could open up many people's eyes and minds.

This is a short film that was made during the time of Covid to broadcast different events for which people can or should have empathy. Friends come together to make scenarios and examples. The cast is a group of kids at the actOUT! KW Children's Drama Workshop.

The idea of making a film about the existence of empathy is very heartwarming. What I like about most about this film is how ironic it is. Shot during the pandemic, the young actors often appear in virtual boxes and discuss how to empathetic. Unfortunately, I find the film really confusing, especially at the beginning -- everything is all over the place and you have no idea what is actually going on. There is no description. We just see their heads or upper body parts as they float onto the screen talking.

Since everything was filmed on computers the images of the actors are all images that were shot again a green screen so there is no background; it's just black. The images are pretty pixelated; they are never crisp, but in some ways that adds to the comedic side to the film. In the second scene, the background is that of the interior a spaceship and they almost go into battle. This is probably my favorite background and it's well thought out. I also like the circus background. The costumes throughout are casual clothing typical of what kids this age would be wearing. When they are at the circus the person in charge had on a blazer replicating an outfit worn at this type of event. There is not a lot of background music; the piano music at the opening and the ending is impactful and the sound effects, which are few and far between, are well selected. Each of the actors adds their own spin which, considering the circumstances, seems to work out pretty well. What I like about this film is the idea behind it and the fact that these kids created it during the pandemic, which was a great use of their time and creative skills. My favorite part is the ending when all of the actors come together and explain the film.

The film's message is supposedly about how to show empathy towards others, and why it is important to do that. What I really took away is that this was an interesting way to spend the pandemic and these kids not only explored their own creativity, but formed relationships with each other, something that definitely was missing during the shutdown. Note that there is some profanity at the beginning.

I give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. By SaniyaRain F., KIDS FIRST!

Begun as a collective creation intended for the stage, shut down by pandemic to become a film. A story of quirky kids and lively people trying to make sense of the world. Going into the project with nothing more than a single theme - "Empathy" - meant there was an opportunity to empower the cast and build our film the way we wanted to, together. Through a series of vignettes beginning with characters trapped in their virtual boxes, our cast explores individual meaning searching for understanding amongst themselves, and the audience.