KIDS FIRST! News

Will Shadley, child actor in The Spy Next Door from Lionsgate, shares his filming experience alongside the world-famous Jackie Chan.

CP: The Spy Next Door came out in theaters and was a big success, and now the combo pack DVD/blu-ray is out. How does it make you feel when you hear reactions to the film?

WS: I really enjoy hearing reactions to the film! Most of the kids I have talked to loved the movie, especially the parts where Jackie and the kids beat the bad guys. I think it makes kids feel more powerful and like they could do it too!

CP: I was reading an interview your did in which you stated that when you try out for a part you should be memorable. What do you personally do to stand out among all the others?

WS: I am not sure I do anything different. What I do is make a strong choice on how to portray the character I am auditioning for. It’s hard to know how the writer sees the role, so all you can do is go in there with a clear choice and if it’s not what they were thinking they will redirect you.

CP: In another interview you stated that Jackie Chan really helped you learn about physical comedy. What exactly did you learn?

WS: The most important thing I learned from Jackie, was that the action is not random. Each part is planned so that it looks like it just happens. You always have to be aware of the camera and make sure that the action can be captured. It may look like we are just running around, but we actually do the same thing multiple times!

CP: Please give me an anecdote of something that happened on set that really inspired you as an actor.

WS: Something that really inspired me was seeing the way that Jackie was so approachable for someone who is an international star. He makes a point to learn everybody’s names no matter who they are. He never said “no” to a picture or an autograph. He played with us kids all the time instead of hiding out in his trailer! He set a great example for us.

CP: How do you think you grew personally as an actor while filming The Spy Next Door?

WS: It was a big part, I worked almost everyday, and I loved it. A lot of parts for kids aren’t very big, so it was great to get to do one that was. I learned that could I could handle the challenge of being a main character. I can’t wait to do it again!!!

CP: Many actors start thinking about directing. I know you love acting,
but have your dreams ever included any other parts of the film
business (if so, what)?

WS: I would really like to direct and produce someday. I like the idea of being able to have more input and develop projects. But, I would still like to be in front of the camera.

CP: What are your thoughts on the types of films children should be viewing?

WS: I think that it should be up to their parents as to what is right for both the kids and their families. Everyone has different values and boundaries. I do like that films like Spy are available that are just good clean fun.

CP: What are you working on now?

WS: I have a couple things coming out, a Hallmark movie called Dad’s Home and an episode of Ghost Whisperer that I did. I have also been doing a lot of voice-over projects and commercials. In this business, you never know what is going to happen next!

CP: Is there anything you would like to add?

WS: I am incredibly blessed to get to pursue something I love. I know that this is a privilege and not a right and I am thankful everyday for all the great experiences I have had. Can’t wait to continue on this journey!

Free Willy: Escape From Pirate’s Cove from Warner Home Video. It’s time to save an orca again, and this time it’s in a film starring Bindi Irwin and Beau Bridges. While the concept of saving the whale is similar to the other “Free Willy” films, you don’t ever find yourself bored. This might be because anyone following Irwin’s career knows that she’s truly passionate about animals, both on and off the screen. It adds a dimension of sincerity to the film.

It’s hard to believe it’s her first feature film debut since Irwin’s acting is so natural. In this engaging film, young Kirra joins her eccentric grandfather (Bridges) in South Africa at his rundown amusement park by the sea. An orca, which Kirra names “Willy,” gets stuck in their lagoon and can’t be freed until they find Willy’s pod. Things get tense when the wealthy amusement park owner down the road wants to buy Willy and their own funds get tight, making it difficult to feed the orca. It’s up to Kirra and her buddy Sifisu to find the pod and free Willy.

This DVD models respect for humans and respect for nature. It directly addresses why animals need to be in captivity sometimes, but if at all possible it’s best for them to be free.

KIDS FIRST! Child Juror Comments: It was a really good movie, and it was fun to watch because there were orcas and a penguin. The rivals treated each other poorly by calling each other names. Kirra and Sifisu become good friends and are nice to each other. They helped each other do different tasks throughout the movie like when the one kid helps Kirra free Willy.

I think my friends would like this because it’s a fun movie to watch. My favorite part was watching Englebert swim. It was live action, and it looked really good. The sound was really clear. Some people would like the music, but I didn’t. I loved when the guy was running away because they tried to poison then Willy came and bit him in the butt. The bad guy stood up and cut his back on the cannon and had to get stitches.

Look for Free Willy 4: Escape from Pirate’s Cove in a store near you.

Make the coming season sparkle with a fanciful new holiday-themed DVD collection from Scholastic Storybook Treasures.

Just in time for the holiday season, Scholastic Storybook Treasures™ presents more than two magical holiday hours of story time fun with “The Night Before Christmas, the Special Edition” a value-priced 2-disc set featuring a dozen favorite heartwarming holiday chestnuts!  The 12 colorfully animated tales included celebrate the winter holiday season, with stories about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other family celebrations.

Narrated by Anthony Edwards, the title story of “The Night Before Christmas” is based on Clement C. Moore’s beloved poem; Santa’s visit on a snowy Christmas Eve is beautifully brought to life with animated versions of Jan Brett’s exquisite illustrations and festive music. Brett’s original book sold more than one million copies.

The DVD includes six more holiday stories, including “In the Month of Kislev” (adapted from a story by Nina Jaffe and narrated by Theodore Bikel), “Seven Candles for Kwanzaa” (adapted from a story by Andrea Davis Pinckney and Brian Pinckney, narrated by Alfre Woodard), “Too Many Tamales” (presented both in English and Spanish, and adapted from a story by Gary Soto), “The Little Drummer Boy” (with animated illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats) and two Rosemary Wells classics, “Max’s Christmas” (narrated by Jenny Agutter and Rex Robbins) and “Morris’ Disappearing Bag.”

The second DVD, “The Twelve Days of Christmas… and More Holiday Stories” is new to the Scholastic Storybook Treasures collection. It begins with a rousing sing-along version of the “Twelve Days,” adapted from the picture book version by Robert Bloomfield. The DVD includes four more tales: “Great Joy,” based on the book by Kate DiCamillo and narrated by Jane Curtin; “The Clown of God,” based on the book by renowned author Tommy dePaola; James Marshall’s zany story, “Merry Christmas,” “Space Case,!” narrated by Christopher Lloyd; and a Chinese New Year story, “Sam and the Lucky Money,” based on the book by Karen Chinn.

Run Time: 124 mins.
Format: DVD/2 Discs
Price: $19.95srp

This November, Scholastic Storybook Treasures™ presents a menagerie of make-believe mayhem with the release of a new gift set for preschool children with “Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics and More!” Offering more than seven hours of quality children’s entertainment, whimsically animated to charm children who love the world of animals, the new set collects the most sought-after animal stories in the series.

50 award-winning and classic children’s stories are faithfully adapted and brought to life for this 7-DVD boxed set, priced for holiday gift giving!  And from the beloved stories “Harry the Dirty Dog” and “Make Way for Ducklings,” to newer family favorites “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type” and “I Stink!,” kids and parents alike are sure to enjoy these storybook treasures, featuring celebrity narration by Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Lithgow, and others. Together, these stories have won more than 80 awards including the Carnegie Medal from the American Library Association and the NAPPA Gold Award for excellence in children’s video production.

Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics and More!” includes the following DVDs. Each one features several stories, providing more than an hour of fun and an innovative read along function:

•    ANTARCTIC ANTICS
•    CHRYSANTHEMUM
•    CLICK, CLACK, MOO… COWS THAT TYPE
•    HARRY THE DIRTY DOG
•    HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS
•    I STINK!
•    MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS

Run Time: 8 hrs., 2 mins.
Format: DVD/7 Disc

Here are some interesting statistics the creative team offers regarding the production process:

“Ice Age Three” used 6.7 million render hours – the equivalent of 764 years on a single computer 24 hours a day seven days a week

Blue Sky employees ate 1935 donuts on “donut fridays” and 1290 bagels on “bagel mondays” during production.

The film used 18,000 man weeks of work – the equivalent of 1 person for 346 years!