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• Hollywood Power Players Show Their Kids How To Be Creeps

  Here's a lovely story: Hollywood big shots use their power and position to take their kids to advance screenings of children's movies and shows and so on. Okay. But as it turns out, these parents sometimes have to weasel and threaten to make sure Junior gets a first look at the latest kid flick. And even worse, a kind of one-upping and power playing has become part of the allure for some on the A, B, and C-lists. Check it: "A lot of these parents simply want to be heroes at home. Still, as with most matters involving the inner workings of the entertainment business, this jockeying carries a heavy flavor of status and bragging rights." Um, gross. Feeling all special because you have the power to get your kid into the latest film screening is lame, but it's equally as lame to go all out to try and impress your own children. Note to industry folks: we are supposed to be raising and caring for our kids, not bowling them over with our star pull, okay? "Look honey, Daddy's a bigshot!" I wish that was the end of it, but naturally, there's more ick to come. Read More... Posted Nov 05 2007, 04:29 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: celebrity, New York Times Magazine, kid movies, kids activities, fame, bad behavior, power

• Babble Talk: New Children's DVDs Reviewed

  Television.  Love it or hate it, there will come a time when you'll need/want your kids to watch it.  The nice thing about DVDs is you can free your kids (and yourself) from the undue influence of TV advertising and unknown content streaming into your living room. Lucky for you, Babble reviews a slew of new children's DVDs to save you from Barnie hell, or Dora overload.  Think of this as your Netflix and Blockbuster Clif's Notes. Here is a selection: 1. Free to Be You and Me - A classic from the 1970s that is at times dated, but still a great watch.  Marlo Thomas and friends sing songs and tell stories. 2. It's a Magic Al World - Potentially annoying for parents, but great for kids who appreciate magic (aka: "loving lie"). 3. Gustafer Yellowgold Wild Wide World - Apparently, best viewed when high (parents only). Lisa Carver's kids thought it was boring. 4. Peter Pan Two Disc Platinum Edition - You'll feel guilty as hell letting your kids watch the totally inappropriate racist carryings-on with "injuns" and sexist nonsense about how girls and boys act, but the children will enjoy it, so fair warning. For more suggestions, go here.  Posted Apr 15 2007, 01:19 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: kid movies, babble talk, DVDs, reviews

• Children's Film Festivals: A Guide to What's Happening This Month

  What do April showers bring besides May flowers?  A calendar full of children's film festivals, that's what! April seems to be the de facto month for cities to host film events for the kid set.  Check out our guide below and if you live in one of these host cities you can have your finger on the pulse of the "latest-greatest" in kid cinema entertainment. Lucky you! Philadelphia International Children's Film Festival— The Philadelphia International Children's Festival is the oldest festival of its kind in the United States, and is regarded as one of the top ten in the world. Every spring, approximately 17,000 children and families of all backgrounds come together to celebrate myriad cultures and experience the magic of some the finest children's performing arts in the world. Tribeca Family Festival—Give the babysitter the day off, round up the family and enjoy the movies together! San Diego International Children's Film Festival—The festival will showcase full-length and short films from around the world, made for children and teens ages 1-17, including live-action, animation and documentaries. Special guests, filmmaker appearances and filmmaking and animation workshops for kids. Film programs will be clustered for different age groups. Sprockets Film Festival, Toronto—The festival opens with the North American premiere of The Reef, a U.S.-South Korea co-produced animated comedy about underwater life. Other highlights include the Canadian drama Luna: Spirit of the Whale about an orphaned orca, a tribute to the Degrassi series and Azur et Asmar by noted French animator Michel Ocelot.  Don't forget the organic popcorn! Posted Apr 04 2007, 09:02 AM by Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) with | with no comments Filed under: children's film festivals, kids' movies, children's movies, kid movies