10-yr-old Film Critic Perry Chen Youngest Cox Communications Asian American Heritage Month Honoree

May 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Perry Chen, a world-renowned, award-winning 10-year-old film critic, has been named one of Cox Communications’ 2010 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month honorees.  Perry, the youngest honoree in history for this recognition, is a fourth-grade student at Torrey Hills School in the Del Mar Union School District  He reviews family films with his signature and kid-friendly 1-5 starfish on a multi-media platform.

Throughout the month of May, Cox Communications will feature Perry in a public service announcement. He will also appear on Channel 4 San Diego’s signature show, “Shades of San Diego,” the county’s only local television show that celebrates the diverse cultures and people in San Diego.  Perry is scheduled to for interview and filming at Cox Channel 4 studio on May 11, 2009.  Cox Communications also gave Perry and his family four VIP tickets to watch the Padres vs. Giants baseball game on May 18.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by this wonderful recognition from Cox Communications,” said Perry.  “I became an accidental movie critic as an 8-year-old with the loving encouragement of my mom and my teacher Ms. Harris.  I have learned so much in the past year and half about movies, writing, multi-media journalism, and most importantly, the power of dreams, and the potential in each child to create and to impact the world.  As I wrote in my review of the 5-starfish-rated movie “The Perfect Game”: If you believe, you can achieve!”

Each May, Cox Communications celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by recognizing outstanding individuals for their contributions to the community. The honorees are featured in public service announcements and will appear on “Shades of San Diego” on Channel 4 San Diego.

In addition to Perry, Cox Communications also selected Dennis-Michael Broussard of Silk Road Productions and Robin Tarr of the the Jonathan Tarr Foundation as 2010 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month honorees.  

"Perry and I would like to thank Cox Communications for this wonderful recognition,” commented Zhu Shen, Perry Chen’s mother and Executive Producer of Perry’s first animation “Beyond the Forest,” and “Perry Previews the Movies” on wsRadio. “Children can learn so much about life and the world around them from actively watching movies, not only as entertainment, but also education and learning in a fun environment.  Children can develop analytical skills, critical thinking, creative storytelling, and so much more from active engaging in the movie watching experience and discussion with their parents, friends, and teachers afterward."

Zhu Shen and Perry Chen are planning to start a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting education through family-friend entertainment and movies for children.  Shen believes that "Perry’s achievement will continue to inspire the three-way collaboration among children, parents, and educators so that each child’s creativity and imagination can take flight under the loving care of parents and teachers."    

Perry is looking forward to taking on more challenges, now as a young filmmaker and animator to create an animated film with twice-Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton & filmmaker Kevin Sean Michaels.  The animation short, “Beyond the Forest” which will premiere in 2011 at film festivals, is about Ingrid Pitt, a child survivor of the Holocaust. Perry chose this project because the Holocaust is a horrible crime against humanity, and he feels that he can do his part to educate today's children about history lessons from the Holocaust.  He is honored to be working with such a world-class animation master as Bill Plympton on this project, and is excited for a child to be involved in creating this film that tells another child's story.

Perry Chen started writing movie reviews of G and PG-rated films from a child's perspective in November 2008, when he was an 8-year-old third grader at the San Diego Del Mar Union School district’s Torrey Hills School.  It started when Perry’s 3rd grade teacher Joli Harris told Zhu Shen at the parent teacher conference that Perry was already decoding words at high school level. Shen and Harris thought writing book and movie reviews would be something fun and challenging for Perry to take on since he was such a voracious reader and movie buff.

Perry became a national sensation after appearing on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009, and was a major hit on National Public Radio (NPR) when he was interviewed by NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday host Liane Hansen on March 28, 2010 about his experience at the press junket for Dreamwork’s blockbuster hit animation “How to Train Your Dragon.”  Perry has been extensively featured on regional, national, and international media, including Fox, KUSI, CBS 8, CW Channel 6 San Diego Living, NBC 7/39, ABC 10 News, Cox Channel 4, Roots Up Radio, The Big Biz Show, Art Rocks! Radio, The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego News Network, San Diego Magazine, San Diego Family Magazine, San Diego CityBeat, SanDiego.com, World Journal, The China Press, and more.

Perry won an “Excellent Writer Award” given by “We Chinese in America” newspaper and magazine in January, 2010 for his movie review column from a child’s perspective.  He also won art awards for his paintings exhibited at the San Diego City Hall in October 2009 and at the 14th annual San Diego International Music & Art Festival in January 2010.

Perry is also a young philanthropist who gives back to the community.  He performed at the Asian American Journalist Association San Diego Chapter’s fun-raiser “San Diego”s Got Talent” in March 2010, and donated all proceeds to AAJA student scholarship fund from the auctioned dragon sculpture he made on stage.  Perry also gave away free press screening passes to under-privileged children in foster care through the Walden Family Services.  In 2008, Perry together with his parents, donated to the China 2008 earthquake relief fund through ACCEF (American Chinese Culture & Education Foundation) to rebuild schools destroyed by the massive quake.

Perry Chen’s new Webseries “Perry’s Previews” is slated to be launched in June 2010, in collaboration with Mental Eclectic, a San Diego-based film production company. The Webseries shows an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into Perry’s experience and life as a renowned child film critic, budding filmmaker, and a 4th-grader in elementary school.  

Perry Chen has been invited to attend the red carpet and world premiere of the new 20th Century Fox family film MARMADUKE on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Imperial Beach, San Diego, where Perry will interview director Tom Dey, producer John Davis, voice talents Owen Wilson (Marmaduke) and George Lopez (Carlos); party and enjoy the premiere on the sandy beach with his mom and the Mental Eclectic crew.

Perry welcomes visitors to sign up on his website for FREE movie passes, prizes, newsletter, and more on:

http://www.perryspreviews.com

For Perry’s radio talk show, and special events video, visit:
 
http://www.wsRadio.com/perry    
http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews    

Perry Chen has close to 1,200 followers on Twitter (on 23 lists), over 5.6 million connections on Linkedin network.  Connect with Perry on his social media sites:

http://twitter.com/perryspreviews  
http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviews  
http://www.linkedin.com/in/perryspreviews  

For questions about Perry Chen, please contact Zhu Shen, wsRadio executive producer, email: bioforesight@gmail.com

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Perry's Previews features reviews by Perry Chen, an award-winning 10-year-old critic of G/PG-rated family movies and the youngest radio talk show host. Details: www.perryspreviews.com
www.wsRadio.com/perry
www.youtube.com/perryspreviews