First Time Youth Film Critic Camp Comes To Seattle

June 8, 2015 - PRLog -- KIDS FIRST! joins with top video production company B47 Studios to host Seattle’s own KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Summer Boot Camp. Taught by leading producers, directors and filmmakers, children ages 10-15 become red carpet film critics and reporters through this unique star-making program. In addition to Seattle, KIDS FIRST! partnered with four other venues around the country to host this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity including New York City, Martha's Vineyard, Santa Fe, NM and Washington, DC.

The KIDS FIRST! Film Critic's program, now in its fifth year, reaches more than seven million viewers monthly through affiliations with broadcast, print and online publications including Huffington Post, Kidsville News, Working Mother Magazine and many more.

Through this camp, kids will learn a variety of behind-the-scenes skills of the film industry as they critique the latest films, write reviews, improve on-camera interview techniques and get the opportunity to meet celebrities, directors and producers of some of their favorite films. Following the camp, campers will have the opportunity to join the KIDS FIRST! film critic team of reporters.

Fourteen-year-old KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Keefer C. Blakeslee, a third year critic, comments, “My experience with KIDS FIRST! has been a blast! I have walked the red carpet at movie premieres and interviewed stars such as my idol, Mel Brooks. KIDS FIRST! has really built my self-esteem for interviewing people, talking on camera and asking good questions about film.” Fifteen-year-old Brianna Beaton, also a third year critic, added, “Because of my reviews with KIDS FIRST!, I have landed three well-paying jobs. For my auditions, I submitted my best reviews and I was hired as a result. It really has been a career enhancer for me.”

Leading the star teaching team this year is founder and president of KIDS FIRST! and Coalition for Quality Children's Media, Ranny Levy. Other guest teachers include documentary filmmaker, Nancy Kenney; former  manager of outreach for Thirteen/WNET, Terry Solowey; and long-time media literacy instructor, Carol Darcy.

The week long camp will be held June 22 – 26  (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily) at B47 Studios, 942 Elliott Ave W. Seattle, WA 98119. This experience is only $459 and there are only 20 spots available so act fast! A limited number of scholarships are available, please inquire.

KIDS FIRST! is a program of the 24-year-old, Coalition for Quality Children's Media, a national nonprofit (501-c-3) organization whose mission is to teach children to become critical media users. For more information and to register, go to http://www.kidsfirst.org or call 505.989.8076.