Auditions for KIDS FIRST! Film Critics at DreamWorks, Nov 4
Wednesday, October 26th, 2016
Calling all kids who love film and love to be on camera! Do you have a child who loves film, loves talking about film and loves to be on – camera? If so, we have a program for you – the national, KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, a project of the 25-year old Coalition for Quality Children’s Media.
KIDS FIRST! is pleased to be holding auditions at the DreamWorks’ Glendale Campus on November 4, 2016 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. The auditions are open to any child between the age of 8 and 17. To audition, you must register online at the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Audition site no later than November 2, 2016. Go to www.kidsfirst.org to register. Only registered youth and their guardian will be allowed onto the DreamWorks Campus.
As part of your Audition Registration, you will need to include a 200 word review of any; film or TV show released in the last 6 months, rated PG-13 or younger. Auditions will be limited to 50 children. Special consideration will be given to youth who are bilingual in Spanish and English.
Participation in the KIDS FIRST! Film Critics program is voluntary. None of the reporters are paid. However, the program offers a unique opportunity for youth to attend press screenings and red carpet events, learn to critique and review films, present their reviews on-camera and interview celebrities. Many of the KIDS FIRST! Film Critic have found employment in the entertainment field as a result of their involvement in this program.
Brianna B. (age 16), comments, “Being a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic has provided me with skill sets that will last a lifetime. Who knew from being a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, I would have one of my quotes on the back of the DVD, Mom’s Night Out, appear on a national syndicated TV show, The Daily Buzz and interview so many great celebrities.”
Rather than talk abstractly about media, the KIDS FIRST! reporters are given a voice and their reviews reach up to 7 million people per release through KIDS FIRST! blogs on Huffington Post, Kidzworld.com, WorkingMother.com, Grandmagazine.com and its very robust YouTube Channel.
Gerry O.’s mom comments, “This program not only teaches kids how to be better communicators, more pleasant company and knowledgeable movie gurus, it gives them so much more. These kids will be able to socialize and speak properly, write great essays, participate intelligently in debates and become confident leaders. Last spring, Gerry was invited to present some of his film ideas to Morgan Freeman’s production team after interviewing Freeman on the red carpet three times in a period of six week. Gerry has completed over 100 reviews and is now close to reaching 200! Gerry has taken numerous workshop at YouTube Space LA, representing KIDS FIRST! as one of only 10 channels accepted. He has interviewed a number of industry greats including Brad Bird, Morgan Freeman, Ty Burrell, George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Zoe Saldana, John Ratzenberger, Tara Strong and many more.
“We are delighted that DreamWorks has provided space for us for these auditions,” comments Ranny Levy, Founder and President KIDS FIRST! / Coalition for Quality Children’s Media. “In the past, we have taught our KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Boot Camps in Los Angeles on the Disney and Paramount lots. Some of our 14 KIDS FIRST! reporters from the Los Angeles area are starting to age out and we are looking for some younger kids to step in when they head off to college. It’s exciting to do this audition in Los Angeles which has a large Spanish speaking population because we have a keen interest in kids who are bilingual.”
The bilingual component is co-hosted by the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN). KIDS FIRST! has enjoyed a partnership with HITN which co-hosted and provided sponsorship for KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Boot Camps in Brooklyn for the past two summers. “We are so excited to support the continued efforts that create opportunities to build a pipeline of youth that includes increasing numbers of bilingual reporters and film critics,” says Ed Greene, VP for Partnerships at HITN.
Who: Open to any child in the greater Los Angeles area, age 8 to 17 with special consideration for bilingual skills in Spanish and English.
What: KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Auditions
Where: DreamWorks Glendale Campus, 1000 Flower St., Glendale, CA 91201
When: November 4, 2016, 4:00- 6:00 p.m.
Register here: http://bit.ly/2dr5t2m
About KIDS FIRST! / Coalition for Quality Children’s Media: The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media is a national, nonprofit (501-c-3) organization founded in 1991 whose mission is to teach children critical viewing skills and to increase the visibility and availability of quality children’s media. The KIDS FIRST! Film Critics are a group of 50+ youth reporters, age 8 to 18, nationwide who review new film and TV releases, interview talent and share their views on entertainment geared for kids. Their reviews and interviews reach more than 7 million people every month. KIDS FIRST! is supported by major entertainment industry leaders, teachers, librarians, media professionals, lobbyists, policymakers, child advocates, educators, parents and families nationwide. For more info, go here: http://slides.com/rannynm/deck-02802409-3352-462d-b30e-949e5ffba6c3
