Granny Ranny's Coming Attractions

Would you like to visit the set of the upcoming film THE HELP, and meet the all star cast? Here’s your chance!
Enter the contest, hosted by iVillage, and encourage others to do the same. We hope to see you on set! T

o Enter: http://the-help-ivillage-community.fotobabble.com/  

For Official Rules: http://www.ivillage.com/official-rules-help/1-a-218422  

ABOUT THE PROJECT: The Help has captivated readers and become one of the most talked-about books in years is coming to the big screen. DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media and Touchstone Pictures are excited to share Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling debut novel with you.  Published over a year ago, and propelled by passionate word of mouth, The Help spent the summer of 2009 circulating on everyone’s “Summer Must Read” lists. It continues to sit on The New York Times’ best-sellers list, where it has remained for 60 straight weeks. DreamWorks’ Stacey Snider and Holly Bario were early fans of the book and jumped on board after the project was acquired by 1492 Pictures. Participant Media recently joined the film and we all couldn’t be more thrilled to bring The Help to life on the big screen, especially for the book’s enthusiastic fan base. 

SYNOPSIS: The Help is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens when a southern town’s unspoken code of rules and behavior is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship. Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, the film features Skeeter, a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives—and a small Mississippi town—upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen, Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up—to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories—and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges—but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly—and unwillingly—caught up in the changing times. 

ABOUT THE CAST: Headlining the cast are newcomer Emma Stone (from last year’s breakout hit “Zombieland”) as Skeeter and two-time Tony® winner and recent Oscar® nominee Viola Davis (“Eat Pray Love”) as Aibileen. Joining them is Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) as Hilly, the Junior League President whose obsession with maintaining the social status quo pushes everyone to their breaking point. Octavia Spencer is headstrong Minnie, Aibileen’s hot-tempered best friend, whose blatant honesty is always getting her in trouble. Jessica Chastain is Celia, the outcast from the wrong side of the tracks who marries a man above her “station” and whose desperation to fit in with polite society hides a painful secret.  Tate Taylor, a childhood friend of the author’s, is directing the film from a script he wrote. Brunson Green is producing along with 1492’s Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan. The film’s executive producers are Tate Taylor, Mark Radcliffe, Dean Jones, Nate Berkus, Jennifer Blum, Jeff Skoll and Mohamed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei.  

Filming begins this summer in Greenwood, Mississippi, and will be released in theaters in 2011 and YOU have the chance to visit the set of the movie and meet the all star cast! We’d love for you to enter the contest, hosted by iVillage, and encourage your readers to do the same. We hope to see you on set!

A panel of America’s foremost children’s authors, illustrators and content experts will serve as final judges in the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest, a national-local contest designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning.  The Contest, sponsored by PBS KIDS GO! and WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto, encourages children in grades K-3 in communities across the country to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their original work.
 
Eighty-seven (87) public television stations participated in this year’s contest, which generated over 25,000 submissions.  The national Contest winners are expected to be named in July 2010. The winning stories will be posted on the Contest Web site at ReadyToLearnReading.org , alongside a message from singer-songwriter and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks about the influence of writing in her life. Other new site features allow kids to create “Story Mashups,” put together “Story Stuff Pages,” vote for their favorite stories, and use a customized search tool to explore over 1,100 kid-created stories.
 
The PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest is a part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national initiative which uses the power of public media to build the reading skills of children ages two to eight, with an emphasis on children from low-income families. The effort is funded by a Ready To Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a cooperative agreement with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), PBS and The Ready To Learn Partnership. 

Presented by AFI Silverscreen Education, as a special feature of the AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs International Documentary Conference, SchoolDocs is an innovative strand of workshops, panel discussions and films investigating cutting edge practices in visual education directed to the needs of 21st century educators and students.

Activities:

• 3 days of engaging discussions
  Exposure to new technologies
  New pedagogical techniques with more than a dozen panels and hands on workshops
  one on one networking with documentary filmmakers
  An examination of race and representation in film
  Critical literacy: making connections with film
  Using filmmaking to help students understand subtext
  Turning curriculum into dynamic student movies
  Best practices and fair use for education
  Web resources for educators
  Stay ahead of the new technology for education

For more info go to www.silverdocs.com

Never Say Die: “The Goonies” Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary in Historic Astoria, Ore.

Fans Gather from Around the World to Commemorate Cult Classic Movie on Location, June 4-7

Eager to revisit secret caves, treacherous traps and hidden treasure, fans will gather in historic Astoria, Ore., to celebrate the anniversary of the cult classic film “The Goonies” June 4-7, 2010. Over the four-day event, Goonies lovers can retrace the steps of characters in the film by touring filming locations including the famous “Goonies House,” bowl at “Chunk’s Bowling Alley” and more, plus have the chance to mingle with original cast members including Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen, Joe Pantoliano and Curt Hanson.  

As part of the 25th anniversary festivities, the new Oregon Film Museum will open its doors for the first time. Converted from the old Clatsop County Jail featured in “The Goonies,” the museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the art and legacy of Oregon films and film-making.  One of the many highlights is a special exhibit in the actual jail cell from, “The Goonies,” as well as stories, mementos and props from famous movies made in Astoria and across Oregon, such as “Kindergarten Cop,” “Animal House,” “Twilight” and more.

Original cast members and other celebrities will be on-hand to mark the occasion, including:

·         Corey Feldman, who played “Mouth,” plus his band Truth Movement
·         Jeff Cohen, the hilarious and beloved “Chunk”
·         Joe Pantoliano, who appeared as the villainous “Francis Fratelli”
·         Curt Hanson, who portrayed “Mr. Perkins,” the richest man in Astoria
·         The alternative band The Ataris, whose album “So Long, Astoria” was inspired by a trip to visit Goonies sites

“The Goonies” 25th Anniversary

Friday – Monday, June 4 – 7, 2010

Weekend events include:

·         Bus tours of filming sites, including an interior tour of the Goonies House
·         Red carpet event and showing of “The Goonies” and a new documentary about the film at the Liberty Theater on Friday, plus additional movie showings throughout the weekend at other local theaters
·         Stars from the movie signing autographs, along with local residents sharing memories from being on set
·         An ‘80s night out on Friday in downtown Astoria with costume contests, music, bowling at “Chunk’s Bowling Alley” and more
·         A “Goonies” themed concert on Saturday at Warren Field featuring Corey Feldman’s band, Truth Movement, the alternative band The Ataris, bluegrass band The Whiskey Rebellion and the pop-punk band Troy’s Bucket
·         Hand-crafted “Goonies” beers created by local breweries
·         A “Truffle Shuffle” 5k Run/Walk on Monday
·         The new Oregon Film Museum grand opening and “Goonies” exhibit
·         An Ecola Park picnic with fans and cast members in nearby Cannon Beach

Visit http://www.GooniesAnniversary.com for complete event details. Official memorabilia, including t-shirts, hats, glassware, collectible doubloons and more, will be available at the event headquarters affectionately named The Goon Docks, located at 15th and Marine Dr. in Astoria.

March 20th would have been Fred Roger’s 82nd birthday, and we’re celebrating his legacy on our third annual Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day. You can join in by wearing a sweater and doing something neighborly.

Participants so far include knitting stores, libraries and preschools who are creating to celebrate some of the many ways we are all neighbors – helping one another, reaching out to meet a new neighbor, making something special to give to someone, and saying thank you. Many cultural institutions will be celebrating by offering free or reduced admissions to children and families.

The United Way of Allegheny County, is using Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day as a way to kick off a “commitment to volunteer” effort, as well as to say thank you to their volunteers. The day’s activities will include volunteer fairs at corporations and community sites, where agencies will be available to promote volunteer opportunities.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day gives everyone the opportunity to say ”Thank you” to your neighbors, — for  their ongoing support of your work and is a great way to honor Fred Rogers’ legacy.

As Fred often said “thank you” are the two most important words in the English language. For more information, go to http://www.fci.org/e-newsletters/March-2010/neighbor.html